A new custom-made 20-stall starting gate made in Australia will be in place for this year’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs to ensure a uniform start for the largest field in American horse racing. The gate, which is being designed and constructed by Australian-based Steriline Racing, will eliminate the wide… Read More »
Having recorded two Group One handicap victories during the spring, Fierce Impact will now try to add a weight-for-age victory at the highest level. Trained at Warwick Farm by Matthew Smith, Fierce Impact is one of 17 horses nominated for the first Group One race of 2020, the weight-for-age C… Read More »
Time To Reign will return to Melbourne for the Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield after a less than happy experience at Flemington. Trainer Gary Portelli has also entered him for the Eskimo Prince Stakes at Warwick Farm but said although the colt liked rain-affected tracks, Sydney might be too wet. The… Read More »
On the same day as the announcement his stablemate Yes Yes Yes has been retired, Nature Strip has turned in a sparkling barrier trial win at Warwick Farm. The two sprinters had been due to clash in the Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington on February 15. Connections of The… Read More »
Jockeys have escaped sanction after an inquiry into a fall in the Group Two Australia Stakes at The Valley that claimed the life of Group One winner Manuel and left jockey Barend Vorster with a fractured collarbone. Vorster was riding the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Manuel who fell in the… Read More »
Golden Slipper favourite Cellsabeel heads 25 entries for the $2 million Inglis Millennium at Warwick Farm. Trainer Ciaron Maher has indicated the filly will take her place in the 1100m-race despite the prize money for the sale-restricted race not counting towards a Slipper start. The filly is the $6 favourite… Read More »
Retired jockey Stephen Baster says he has fielded countless messages of support but will not be making a comeback to ride Gold Fields in the All-Star Mile. Trainer Logan McGill has said he would like nothing more than to have Baster aboard Gold Fields in the $5 million All Star… Read More »
A Queensland country jockey has been suspended for a month and fined $500 after being found to have used modified spurs on a horse in a race. Stewards at Dalby, west of Toowoomba, opened an inquiry into the post-race condition of Smarty Jack who won the second race on Saturday…. Read More »
Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare will take another step towards an autumn return with an important barrier trial at Cranbourne. Vow And Declare’s Cup-winning jockey Craig Williams takes the ride in the trial over 1190m on Tuesday morning. Trainer Danny O’Brien is in the United States for the Super… Read More »
Premier trainer Tony Gollan believes he has a genuine chance to become the first to reach 100 metropolitan winners in a Brisbane season. Gollan has his seventh metropolitan premiership at his mercy with 61-1/2 winners after six months of the season. He already holds the Brisbane metropolitan record with 90… Read More »
Faugheen has rolled back the years at Leopardstown to claim a thrilling victory in the Flogas Novice Chase at the Dublin festival. The Willie Mullins-trained 12-year-old added a second Grade One win over fences to his multiple tally over hurdles including the 2015 Champion hurdle at Cheltenham. Sticking to the… Read More »
Top Queensland three-year-old Alligator Blood will head to Melbourne after a solid hit-out in an unofficial trial at the Sunshine Coast. Alligator Blood went around with four other runners over 1000m on Sunday and raced three-deep before winning by a long neck from another talented three-year-old, Eric The Eel. Check… Read More »
Two of Victoria’s biggest stables are set to dominate the field for the state’s richest two-year-old race, the Blue Diamond Stakes. After third acceptances last week for the $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 22, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable has 17 of the 90… Read More »
While trainer Chris Waller has an anxious few days waiting for tests on star colt Yes Yes Yes, the best filly in his stable is ready to race. Funstar is likely to begin her campaign earlier than planned with Waller citing the Group Two Light Fingers Stakes on February 15… Read More »
Mike Moroney is preparing to throw stakes winning three-year-old Alabama Express in the deep end to chase a Group One win against older horses in the C F Orr Stakes. The trainer has a high opinion of Alabama Express and is keen to give the colt his chance at weight-for-age… Read More »
John Sadler says a lack of suitable options for lightly raced sprinter Sartorial Splendor means the colt will kick off his campaign in a Group Two race after missing a run at Caulfield. Sartorial Splendor was scratched from Saturday’s W J Adams Handicap because of a wide draw and will… Read More »
Visiting English jockey Tom Marquand has been cleared of any injuries to his shoulder or neck after a fall at Randwick where he rode a Group Three double. Marquand will, however, have to undergo a concussion test before he can ride again. After riding two-year-olds Away Game and Prague to… Read More »
The Kilcoy Race Club will turn back the clock to a golden period of Queensland racing when it hosts its first Wednesday meeting in 50 years. Kilcoy was part of a thriving midweek circuit which included Laidley, Oxenford, Southport, Gatton and Esk until the late 1960s. The club went to… Read More »
Ben Looker has been suspended for a month after stewards took exception to his ride on Husson’s Pride at the Gold Coast. Looker mainly rides in northern NSW and had been getting his career back on track after being suspended for a month on a handling charge in October. Stewards… Read More »
Honeysuckle has been forced to work harder than she has before to maintain her unbeaten record in the Grade One Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. She is the 9-2 second favourite for the Champion Hurdle at next month’s Cheltenham Festival behind the Nicky Henderson-trained Epatante at 4-1. The Henry de… Read More »
