Americain’s stallion career is off to a perfect start with his first starter making a winning debut at Woodbine in Toronto. Two-year-old filly Folk Magic, a product of the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner’s first northern hemisphere crop, won a 1200-metre maiden by 3-3/4 lengths on Sunday (AEST). Americain stands the… Read More »
Fair Eva is the favourite for the next season’s 1000 Guineas after giving her sire Frankel his first stakes winner in the Group Three Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot. The filly was sent out the 4-6 favourite in Saturday’s race and claimed an impressive four-length victory in the hands of… Read More »
Sea King has given trainer Patrick Payne and jockey Steven Pateman another big jumps win with his victory in the Mosstrooper Steeple at Bendigo. The nine-year-old was on his favourite wet ground for Sunday’s race but had to work hard to get the better of Gold A Plenty by a… Read More »
California Chrome has come out on top in a duel with Dortmund in the Grade Two San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. It was California Chrome’s first start since he won the $10 million World Cup in Dubai in March. With regular rider Victor Espinoza aboard, the Art Sherman-trained California… Read More »
Sam Clipperton has had his last ride in Sydney before he jets off for a stint in the highly competitive Hong Kong arena. Clipperton has been given a club contract to ride in the Asian racing capital until December. “I can’t wait to get over there, Clipperton said. “I’m going… Read More »
Paul Hammersley has bounced back from injury to cement his place as No.1 jockey for the rising powerhouse in Brisbane racing, trainer Steve O’Dea. Hammersley missed 10 days of racing after being thrown on the way to the barriers in a race at Doomben on July 9 when he hurt… Read More »
Jim Byrne faces a huge task to retain his Brisbane jockeys’ premiership but he can take heart from a titanic battle from 50 years ago. Jeff Lloyd is now $1.10 with bookmakers to win his first Brisbane metropolitan title after scoring on Angel Dancer at Doomben on Saturday. It took… Read More »
Cox Plate placegetter Highland Reel could return to Australia after claiming his first European Group One win in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. The much-travelled four-year-old won the Secretariat Stakes in North America in August and the Hong Kong Vase after running third to Winx… Read More »
The premiership hopes of Craig Williams remain intact despite a careless riding suspension at Flemington. He was outed for six meeting after pleading guilty to careless riding aboard Black Tomahawk at the 150m mark in Saturday’s Bitalli Handicap. Stewards deemed the interference in the low range and took Williams’ good… Read More »
Long-shot debut winner Astro Castro has given trainer Alan Hunter his first winner at Flemington. Astro Castro was sent to the barrier as a $201 outsider in Saturday’s VRC Recognition Handicap. Ridden by Jason Benbow, Astro Castro defeated Tyrannize ($9) by a half-neck, with Badajoz ($4.80) 1-1/2 lengths away at… Read More »
While Slots’ days in racing are numbered, she has shown what makes her special to trainer Grant Marshall. Slots ($15) won a 1250m benchmark handicap at Canterbury on Saturday, edging out Powerline ($4.40), with Allez Chival ($9) third. Bought as an unraced filly for $1700 at Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm… Read More »
Darren Weir has added another two wins to his season tally at Flemington but concedes Lee Freedman’s metropolitan record in Victoria is safe. Wins to stayer Au Revoir and Royal Rapture on Saturday took Weir to 105 metropolitan wins in Melbourne for the season, and moved him past David Hayes’… Read More »
Melbourne trainer Ciaron Maher will be asked to leave Akavoroun in Brisbane after the gelding broke his long winning drought at Doomben. Akavoroun ($5) scored his first victory in 741 days when he beat Brettan ($8) by 1-1/2 lengths in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) on Saturday. The gelding was… Read More »
Trainer Mick Price has been pleasantly surprised by the first-up win of Mighty Like at Flemington. The Caulfield-based horseman was expecting the gelding to need the run in Saturday’s Bruce Gadsden Handicap (1200m). “I thought he was pretty fat in himself but I had to run him somewhere first up… Read More »
Any fears Kerrin McEvoy might have had about Redzel doing too much early in the race have been allayed by the three-year-old’s dominant win in the July Sprint at Canterbury. Although the plan was to lead in Saturday’s 1100m dash, McEvoy worried he had gone out of the gates too… Read More »
Ben Thompson has denied his good mate Beau Mertens in a close finish to the Rising Stars Final for apprentices at Flemington. But Mertens’ second placing on Khutulun was still enough for him to clinch the overall series win. Saturday’s Rising Stars Final over 1800m was the culmination of a… Read More »
A day after the anniversary of his son Jay’s death, Jim Litt has trained Song And Laughter to an emotional win at Canterbury. With Litt in his native New Zealand, stable representative and Litt’s son Richard said it had been a tough year for his family. “We lost my brother… Read More »
Wet winter tracks and a routine of swimming have brought out the best in King’s Officer, who has stretched his winning sequence to four at Canterbury. His affection for water is somewhat surprising to trainer Terry Robinson given the gelding’s early experience when he went swimming at the beach near… Read More »
Londehero has again been in top form for new best friend jockey Robbie Fradd, with the pair combining to land a betting plunge at Doomben. Backed from $6 into $3.80, Londehero made it two wins in a row when he beat The Monstar ($6.50) by 1-1/4 lengths in the Tattersall’s… Read More »
A late decision by trainer Mathew Ellerton to switch plans with Pin Your Hopes has been rewarded at Flemington, with the in-form gelding adding to his winter winning streak. Ellerton had been planning to start Pin Your Hopes in Saturday’s 1600m benchmark 90 but instead opted for the Henry Bolte… Read More »
