Trainer Matt Dunn is hoping he made the right decision to skip a Sydney start and keep his promising colt Verbal Assault for the Gold Coast. Verbal Assault will get one chance to qualify for the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic but Dunn is confident he is up to… Read More »
The Gold Coast Turf Club has devised an innovative plan to cater for the huge number of owners expected to support unbeaten Dusty Tycoon in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Dusty Tycoon is raced by the MiRunners syndicate and 1000 shares were sold in the filly. The idea is backed… Read More »
Former trainer Robert Smerdon has lost his appeal against a life ban for his part in the “Aquanita Eight” scandal. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal issued the decision late on Tuesday confirming the lifetime ban and $90,000 fine for Smerdon but reducing disqualifications for fellow trainers Tony Vasil and… Read More »
Trainer Tony McEvoy is planning to run Grand Scholar at the Gold Coast in the hope she will clinch a spot in the rich Magic Millions 3YO Guineas at the same track a week later. McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his son Calvin, has nominated Grand Scholar for Saturday’s… Read More »
Phillip Stokes admits Snitzkraft exceeded his expectations in his first start back from an injury lay-off and the trainer believes the sprinter has improved leading into the Standish Handicap. Five-year-old Snitzkraft won a 1200m open handicap on the Pakenham Cup program on December 7, his first start since a third… Read More »
Andrew Castles has been appointed chief executive of the Waikato Racing Club replacing Ken Rutherford who is to assume the same role at Hawkesbury in NSW. Castles’ background includes 11 years as director of racing for the Auckland Racing Club, four years as secretary/manager of the Otaki-Maori Racing Club and… Read More »
Multiple Group One winner Hey Doc has won a jump-out at Werribee as he continues ticking over towards his next race assignment. Hey Doc returned from a lengthy injury absence and made a late spring cameo in Melbourne when third in the Group Three Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Sandown. He… Read More »
King Tomlola will have to defy a big weight to win at Randwick but trainer Gerald Ryan hopes that is countered by a drop in grade. The gelding has 62.5kg in Wednesday’s Bowerman’s Office Furniture Handicap (1800m) with senior jockey Brenton Avdulla to ride. Ryan was not tempted to to… Read More »
Racing at Gosford on the NSW Central Coast has been called off after two races because of oppressive heat. The temperature climbed towards 40 degrees on Tuesday and Racing NSW stewards called the meeting off in the interests of human and equine welfare. The Nowra meeting on the South Coast… Read More »
Respected New Zealand trainer Frank Ritchie came within a neck of Group One glory in the Zabeel Classic on the first day of the Ellerslie carnival and is looking to go one better in the Railway. Fiscal Fantasy ran second to True Enough in Thursday’s Zabeel (2000m) and Ritchie will… Read More »
In-form jockey Nash Rawiller will get a chance to avenge one of the most controversial incidents in Magic Millions history when he rides Kavak in the 2YO Classic. Kavak has a win and two seconds from three starts with Jim Byrne his regular jockey. With Byrne out indefinitely with a… Read More »
After their one-two finish in the Listed Sandown Cup at the end of the Melbourne spring carnival, stablemates Azuro and Wall Of Fire are now set for their next staying assignment. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained pair will run in Wednesday’s Listed Bagot Handicap over 2800m, one of the… Read More »
Unbeaten Brisbane filly Dusty Tycoon has shown the interstate horses will not have it all their own way in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with an impressive barrier trial win at Doomben. Dusty Tycoon was having her first serious hit-out since winning her second race from two starts at Doomben… Read More »
Premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan is still undecided on the Magic Millions target for Outback Barbie after her impressive barrier trial at Doomben. Outback Barbie ran in a 1000m-heat on Tuesday against several Magic Millions contenders and turned in one of the best efforts of the morning finishing a nose… Read More »
The forecast for extreme heat has prompted officials to reschedule an upcoming race meeting at Wangaratta, pushing it back by two days. Wangaratta was due to race on Saturday but Racing Victoria has moved the meeting to Monday after consultation with its veterinary department, the Bureau of Meteorology and the… Read More »
Star steeplechaser Sizing John will make his return to the races after an injury-enforced absence of two years when he runs in a hurdle at Punchestown. The 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner takes on Willie Mullins-trained stablemates, Cesarewitch winner Stratum and Irish National winner Burrows Saints, over two miles 3-1/2… Read More »
Racing has been called off at Nowra on the NSW south coast where bush fires are impacting on the area. Racing NSW made the decision on Tuesday morning to call off the afternoon’s program with hazardous smoke and hot temperatures forecast. There are also government warnings in place against travel… Read More »
Leading Magic Millions Guineas contender King Of Hastings has tuned up for his assignment with a barrier trial win at Rosehill. Trained by Anthony Freedman, King Of Hastings has done all his racing so far in Victoria but handled a major clockwise test on Monday with aplomb. He cruised to… Read More »
Lindsay Park three-year-old Conqueror will be racing for a trip to New Zealand for a rich sales-restricted race when he returns from a short break at Caulfield. Conqueror will run in a benchmark 78 race over 1400m on Saturday as a lead-up to the $1 million Karaka Millions 3YO Classic… Read More »
Mark Newnham believes Arousal is a stakes filly in the making and she will be given the chance to capitalise on a last-start win when she lines up at Randwick. She will be the trainer’s only representative at the meeting on Saturday when she runs in the Benchmark 72 for… Read More »
