The tough decision to geld God Of Thunder could reap dividends this autumn as Hawkes Racing prepare to raise the bar for the talented sprinter. The four-year-old resumed with a last-stride win in the Radisson Blu Hotel Sydney Handicap (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday, a week after missing his scheduled… Read More »
Brilliant Brisbane two-year-old Rothfire could make a belated appearance at the Sydney autumn carnival after his impressive return to racing. Rothfire ($2.15) made it three wins from three starts when he cruised to the lead and went on to a 4-1/2 lengths win over Kisukano ($11) in the $125,000 QTIS… Read More »
Fabric has clinched her third city success with a front-running victory at Flemington and Danny O’Brien’s assistant trainer Ben Gleeson believes a stakes win is within the mare’s scope. Having the third start of her current campaign, Fabric ($2.50) was able to dominate Saturday’s Furphy Ale Trophy (1600m), run in… Read More »
Bjorn Baker will let the dust settle before deciding his next move with She’s Ideel after the promising stayer extended her winning streak to three at Randwick. Stepping up to 2400 metres for the first time in Saturday’s Catanach’s Handicap, She’s Ideel loomed up strongly at the top of the… Read More »
Co-trainer Peter Snowden will not be rushing Mount Tabora back to Sydney to run on wet ground despite his all-the-way victory at Flemington. Snowden says the US-bred import will relish a wet track after his victory in The Glorious Goodwood Handicap on Saturday. Run in drizzle, Mount Tabora under Kerrin… Read More »
Trainer James Cummings is confident Bivouac is on target for a first-up tilt at the Oakleigh Plate after continuing his preparations in a Flemington jump-out. This season’s Golden Rose winner, three-year-old Bivouac settled back in his 800m-heat on Friday and worked home well under Craig Williams. “I was delighted with… Read More »
Trainer Clayton Chipperfield cannot fault star New Zealand three-year-old Catalyst ahead of the Group One winner’s introduction to Australian racing in the C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington. But Chipperfield hopes the outside draw in the seven-horse field does not play against Catalyst because he does not want to have… Read More »
BLACK CAVIAR LIGHTNING STAKES Group One. 1000m. Weight-for-age. Flemington. Saturday February 15 HISTORY * First run in 1955. Group One since 1987 * Re-named the Black Caviar Lightning after the champion, and unbeaten, mare who won the race in 2011, 2012, 2013 * Other notable Winners: Todman (1960); Sky High… Read More »
Anthony Freedman rarely comes away from a Sydney raid empty-handed and he will have two bites of the cherry at the Apollo Stakes day meeting at Randwick. The Victorian trainer will start Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lyre in the Group Two Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) and two-year-old Supreme Idea in… Read More »
Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir and others accused of torturing horses and corrupt betting have won a bid to move their case to regional Victoria. Weir, together with his ex-foreman Jarrod McLean, and stablehand William Hernan, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday. A fourth alleged conspirator, stablehand Tyson Kermond,… Read More »
Luke Nolen has cherished memories of his association with Black Caviar and the jockey marvels at the condition of the retired champion almost seven years after her last race. Nolen has been reunited with the great mare in the past two days, with the now 13-year-old Black Caviar in Melbourne… Read More »
Leading Brisbane jockey Michael Cahill has been given the all-clear to return from a long injury break and hopes to be back race riding by the end of the month. Cahill has not ridden since October 25 when he has found to have a fractured right foot. He had been… Read More »
In-form Impasse will make his open company debut at Eagle Farm despite weights for the race being lifted. Impasse was accepted in Saturday’s Family Raceday Open Handicap and the Class Six Plate, both over 1400m. When the original topweight Hallelujah Boy did not accept in the open handicap, weights were… Read More »
A wet track could be the key to delivering talented mare Lashes some valuable black-type when she rises to stakes grade for the first time at Randwick. A week after her Matt Smith-trained stablemate Fierce Impact narrowly missed landing his third Group One win in the C F Orr Stakes… Read More »
Royal Ascot recruiter Nick Smith has already seen what Nature Strip can do and is looking forward to the star sprinter’s return in the Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington. Saturday’s weight-for-age Lightning Stakes (1000m) will be the Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip’s first race since he dominated the VRC Sprint… Read More »
A conversation with rival jockey James McDonald has given Tim Clark confidence quirky mare Verry Elleegant can run a race when she resumes in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick. McDonald is the mare’s regular rider but he will be in Melbourne on Saturday to partner top sprinter Nature Strip in… Read More »
Tony Gollan is the first to admit Snitch has had a disappointing campaign with one placing from five starts. But Brisbane’s leading trainer believes Snitch can turn his form around in Saturday’s Family Raceday Open Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm. The new look Eagle Farm track is developing a reputation… Read More »
For a trainer predisposed to patience, Peter Snowden is the first to acknowledge he is stepping outside his comfort zone by pitting Sangria against some of the country’s best fillies. The decision to run her in the Light Finger Stakes has been anything but rash and is a sign of… Read More »
The talented Cruze gets the chance to return to the winners’ list when he runs over his favourite course and distance at Eagle Farm. Cruze’s summer campaign has been hamstrung by an unsuitable distance options but he gets back to 1400m in Saturday’s Open Handicap. The gelding set a 1400m-course… Read More »
The Taree race meeting is the latest to be affected by heavy rain in NSW and Queensland. Friday’s meeting has been postponed with several sections of the track causing concern. The Gunnedah program has been transferred to Scone with Racing NSW stewards to monitor other meetings over the weekend. The… Read More »
