A race that looked as if it would not pan out for The Party Girl has turned out to be the ideal platform for the backmarker to score a confidence-boosting win. Burning Crown appeared to be the only natural front runner in Saturday’s Schweppes Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill and that… Read More »
Jockey Jarrod Fry was the lucky recipient of last-minute pick up ride, guiding Yulong January to victory at Pakenham. Ben Melham was stood down with a wrist injury following Saturday’s Pakenham Cup, in which he finished fifth aboard Carzoff. He had to forgo the ride on Yulong January in the… Read More »
The patience and persistence of Canberra trainer Gratz Vella is finally being rewarded with Stephan, who has notched back-to-back wins at Rosehill. The seven-year-old was lining up for just his 17th start in Saturday’s Elderton Homes Made. You Look Sprint (1100m) and for Vella and his owners, it has been… Read More »
Toowoomba galloper Niccanova returned to his best stakes-winning form but there is no chance the gelding will venture interstate for feature races in the near future. Niccanova ($7) charged home to beat Sydney galloper Sir Plush ($5.50) by a neck with three-quarters of a length to The Candy Man ($3.30)… Read More »
Fred Kersley went out with a plan to make the Pakenham Cup a strong staying test on Etah James. And it worked to perfection as the apprentice jockey his biggest race win. In an upset on the Matt Cumani-trained mare, Kersley stood high in the irons as he crossed the… Read More »
A daring Hugh Bowman ride aboard Handspun has produced a few pearls of wisdom from Godolphin’s Darren Beadman, who was thrilled to see the mare score an overdue win at Rosehill. Bowman was angling for a run aboard the well-backed $3.80 second favourite but just as he manoeuvred her into… Read More »
Apprentice Nick Keal has been suspended for a month after admitting steering his horse into another runner past the post in the Hamilton Hotel Handicap at Doomben. Keal rode Advance Warning and was charged with directing the horse into Les Tilley’s mount Romakash as the field was pulling up. Keal… Read More »
Jockey Les Tilley put aside some drama earlier in the day to steer Spurcraft to a brilliant return win in the Listed Bribie Handicap at Doomben. The win was Toowoomba trainer Charlotte White and Tilley’s first stakes victories but there is likely to be more to come with Spurcraft. Spurcraft… Read More »
Trainer Kelly Schweida couldn’t help cracking a joke when his veteran gelding Stella Ombra scored his first win in nearly 28 months at Doomben. Given the run of the race by jockey Mark De Plessis, Stella Ombra ($34) recorded his first win since August 12, 2017, in the BRC Christmas… Read More »
Bjorn Baker was a relieved man after former New Zealander Bobby Dee broke a frustrating run of near-misses for the stable to land a surprise win at Rosehill. The trainer had experienced a rough week with stakes-placed filly Let It Pour beaten at Gosford midweek as a $1.10 favourite and… Read More »
Apprentice Fred Kersley says Future Score is set for a good autumn campaign after recording a first-up victory at Pakenham. Trained at Ballarat by Matt Cumani, Future Score took out the Hanson Handicap (1600m) on Saturday, his first start since scoring over 2600m at Flemington in July. Cumani is contemplating… Read More »
Canberra gelding Gunga Din has relished a hot tempo to street his Highway Handicap rivals and pull off another training coup for veteran horseman Keith Dryden. With Acquittal overdoing things in front, Nash Rawiller settled Gunga Din ($3.90 fav) midfield and the four-year-old quickly gathered in his rivals on straightening… Read More »
Trainer Chris Munce relied on his memory to help Smart Meteor score an upset win in the $125,000 Eagle Way Series heat (2000m) at Doomben. In a sprint home, Smart Meteor ($12) finished too well to beat Don’t Waiver ($4) by 1-1/2 lengths with 2-3/4 lengths to Tears of Love… Read More »
Gold Coast gelding Scout remained on course for the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas but not before surviving a Doomben protest. Scout ($4) scored by a short half-head to Rothenburg ($4.40) with a short neck to Ziemba ($3.2) in the QTIS Three-Year-Old (1350m). But Stephanie Thornton, who rode Rothenburg, claimed Scout… Read More »
Peter and Paul Snowden have continued their impressive start to the two-year-old season, unveiling Magic Millions 2YO Classic contender Sancy for a fighting debut win at Rosehill. A daughter of top stallion I Am Invincible, Sancy was passed in at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale and retained by Canning… Read More »
A possible trip to Dubai for Sunlight to the World Cup meeting has been ruled out after the star mare suffered a hind leg injury in a paddock accident. However, trainer Tony McEvoy said the multiple Group One winner could still be in line for an overseas trip to Royal… Read More »
Caloundra filly Red Stiletto shrugged off her reputation for being lazy and earned herself a Magic Millions 2YO Classic start with her win at Doomben. Trainer David Vandyke wasn’t surprised when Red Stiletto ($12) was last early in the QTIS Two-Year-Old (1200m.) However, Vandyke was pleasantly surprised when Red Stiletto… Read More »
Trainer Mike Moroney may be forced to put Star Surprise into open company after the three-year-old scored a first-up win at Pakenham. Moroney said the Group Three Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day may be considered as there was a lack of suitable three-year-old options after Star… Read More »
Eight-year-old Mewstone Rock can write herself into the history books as the oldest mare to win a black-type race in Brisbane if she can claim the Listed Just Now Quality at Doomben. The Just Now is one of a series of black-type races for fillies and mares in Brisbane during… Read More »
Cambridge Stud stallion Burgundy has been euthanised after contracting acute laminitis in his front feet. The 11-year-old’s condition had deteriorated over the past 72 hours and the decision was made between the major partners on Friday that he should not suffer further. Burgundy was a $1.3 million yearling when sold… Read More »
