Three-year-old Tashbeeh has earned himself a trip to Dubai for the rich racing carnival after returning from a let-up to score a convincing win at Flemington. The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained colt is raced by Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Stud and Dabernig said the son of Commands was bound for… Read More »
Tony Pike is hoping form behind NZ Derby favourite Volkstok’n’barrell will prove the best guide to the Group One Levin Classic. Pike saddles up Huka Eagle for the 1600m feature for three-year-olds at Trentham on Saturday, hoping the Swiss Ace gelding can make it four wins from five starts. His… Read More »
Racing Victoria will pour its resources into a swift conclusion to its investigation of high cobalt levels in horses from three leading Melbourne stables. Horses in the care of Peter Moody, Mark Kavanagh and Danny O’Brien were all named this week as having returned elevated levels of cobalt in swabs… Read More »
An inquiry into a positive swab returned by the winner of the feature race on one of Australia’s richest days of picnic racing will be held on Monday. Trainer William Slater will face Racing NSW stewards after Color Purple tested positive to lignocaine after winning the $15,000 Fernhill Picnic Cup… Read More »
Red Excitement’s physical strength is matched only by his mental toughness and will to win, traits Gerald Ryan believes can take him to new heights. The gelding shoots for his fifth consecutive win when he runs in the Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington on Saturday and punters have rallied to… Read More »
Clare Lindop has kicked clear in the Adelaide jockeys’ premiership but Victorian-based apprentice Josh Cartwright is out to start bridging the gap again. Cartwright has made his mark in the past couple of months, venturing across the border for Saturday meetings in Adelaide and regularly riding winners. He has ridden… Read More »
Impeccably bred colt Banksy will get a chance to live up to his bloodlines when he takes a step up in class at the Sunshine Coast. By Coolmore stallion Mastercraftsman who stood several seasons at New Zealand’s Windsor Park, Banksy will be having his third start and second of the… Read More »
The latest Joe Pride-trained sprinter to leave an imprint on black-type racing will have the depth of his best win scrutinised sooner than expected when a stablemate runs at Randwick on Saturday. Pride will start Casual Choice in the TAB.com.au Handicap – eight days after the chestnut was rated an… Read More »
Mighty-midget Jumbo Prince is on trial for a Queensland Derby campaign when he tackles older metropolitan-class horses for the first time at the Sunshine Coast. Jumbo Prince’s rivals in Saturday’s Coastaline BMW 3 Series Handicap (2200m) include several hardened stayers such as Flying Home, Secret Garden and Try Four. Trainer… Read More »
A filly from the family of Black Caviar has made an impressive debut in country Victoria. Three-year-old Sistonic stepped out in a maiden race over 1100m at Sale on Thursday and raced to a convincing 4-1/2 length win. Like Black Caviar, Sistonic is a daughter of Bel Esprit. And her… Read More »
Kieran Shoemark has ridden two provincial trebles and a midweek city double during his summer stint in Australia. But a win at Flemington on Saturday would top those achievements for the English apprentice. “I never really set goals or aims when I came out here but when I rode my… Read More »
Investigations into cases involving elevated levels of cobalt from three of the most prominent stables in Victorian racing are expected to take months. Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey says trying to find the source of the positives will be an exhaustive process. Investigations will decide if charges are laid… Read More »
Cobalt irregularities have appeared in swab samples taken from Queensland-trained racehorses, the state’s peak racing body has revealed. Racing Queensland sent a batch of urine samples to the National Measurement Institute in September 2013 when intelligence first emerged regarding cobalt use in harness racing. “Our trainers were then made aware… Read More »
Robert Heathcote is set to end a good week at the yearling sales by emerging from his annual mid-summer hiatus with five top chances at the Sunshine Coast. Heathcote is second in both the metropolitan premiership with 36 wins and on the state ladder with 54 wins for the season…. Read More »
A familiar milestone for Chris Waller could also come with a stable first for the season as the champion trainer closes in on another century of winners. Waller sits third on the national premiership with 98 wins and there’s an outside chance he might reach triple figures during racing on… Read More »
It is nearing two years since Aeronautical contested a 1400-metre race but trainer Lionel Cohen is optimistic a step up in distance will have results in the Chester Manifold Stakes. Aeronautical contests Saturday’s Listed race at Flemington having not started beyond 1200m since finishing last on a heavy track in… Read More »
Trainer Liam Birchley has no qualms about backing up Magic Millions Classic runner-up Pepperano a week after her valiant effort at the Gold Coast. Pepperano will line up in the $150,000 Racing Minister’s 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. Birchley said Pepperano had done well since her… Read More »
Mates since their days as apprentice riders, trainer Robbie Griffiths and jockey Ivan Culliver have combined for a metropolitan win at Sandown. Griffiths said Culliver, 49, was an important part of his team, riding trackwork and helping educate young horses, but Wednesday’s win on Winston’s Lad was a rare city… Read More »
Three leading Melbourne trainers say they are at a loss to explain how horses in their care could have tested positive to elevated levels of cobalt. Over the past two days Peter Moody, Mark Kavanagh and Danny O’Brien have all issued statements after being told of the analyst’s findings of… Read More »
Hathras, the imported horse which less than two years ago was probably the best stayer in Kris Lees’ stable and rated one of the most promising in Sydney, is heading for an early retirement. Lees, who now counts Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist and Caulfield Cup placegetter Lucia Valentina as stars… Read More »
