Trainer Matt Cumani is unsure what to expect from Future Score when the stayer makes his return to racing at Pakenham. A three-time winner for Cumani, the European import runs first-up over 1600 metres in the Hanson Handicap on Saturday. While Future Score was successful over 1614 metres at Pontefract… Read More »
Toowoomba gelding Tycoon Ace has again drawn barrier one which trainer Tony Sears believes is the key to him upsetting the speed horses in the Listed Bribie Handicap at Doomben. At his last start Tycoon Ace drew the inside and was able to sit behind the pace before finishing strongly… Read More »
Leading Brisbane apprentice Baylee Nothdurft will seek an internal review of a decision to suspend him for a month for causing interference resulting in a fall. Stewards suspended Nothdurft after he was found guilty of careless riding in an incident that led to Tegan Harrison falling at Doomben on October… Read More »
Bjorn Baker is adopting the adage, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ as Hinchbeast bids to replicate his debut win and shore up a Magic Millions Classic berth. The two-year-old will contest Saturday’s Drinkwise Plate (1100m) at Rosehill over the same track and distance he scored at last month…. Read More »
Trainer Barry Baldwin has a good reason for restricting popular grey The Candy Man’s build-up to the Brisbane Handicap to swimming in pools rather than the ocean. The Candy Man returned to form in the Mooloolaba Cup two weeks ago and is aiming for back-to-back feature wins in the $125,000… Read More »
With just two metropolitan wins to his name, apprentice Thomas Stockdale is hoping to make the most of a prized opportunity to notch a stakes race success in the Pakenham Cup. Stockdale rides the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Maracaibo in the $300,000 Listed Pakenham Cup over 2500 metres on… Read More »
John O’Shea began the week upbeat about the chances of Southern Lad at Rosehill as the sprinter continued to thrive in the stable. But the trainer’s confidence took a dive when the horse came up with the outside barrier in Saturday’s 10-horse field for the Elderton Homes Made You Look… Read More »
Robert Smerdon wants to avoid a lifetime ban and hefty fine over the ‘Aquanita eight’ cheating scandal, despite not planning to return to training. Smerdon and fellow trainers Stuart Webb and Tony Vasil want their disqualifications shortened after being found guilty of a reduced number of charges on appeal. Racing… Read More »
Trainer Kelly Schweida has had mixed luck this summer but hopes it is on an upward swing for Lady Lancaster at Doomben. Lady Lancaster is among a host of two-year-olds aiming to qualify for the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 11 at the Gold Coast. At her… Read More »
Racing officials will continue to monitor Sydney’s air quality but they have given the green light for race meetings at Randwick and Rosehill to go ahead. Friday’s twilight meeting at Randwick was in doubt because of hazardous air quality conditions, the result of smoke from bush fires burning around the… Read More »
Memories of Bart Cummings will be revived when Latin Boy, one of the last equine links to the legendary trainer, makes his Brisbane debut. A rousing track gallop on Tuesday morning encouraged Sydney co-trainers Richard and Michael Freedman to send Latin Boy north for the Listed Bribie Handicap (1000m) at… Read More »
Hollie Doyle has set a British record for a female jockey with her 107th win for the year. Doyle equalled Josephine Gordon’s tally of 106, achieved in 2017, at Wolverhampton on Saturday – and did not have to wait too long to overtake her friend and colleague, although she rode… Read More »
Dual Group One winner In Her Time has drawn ideally in barrier four for the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin. The only Australian-trained horse at Sunday’s International meeting, the Newcastle mare will have 13 rivals, headed by local galloper Aethero. Regarded as the most exciting sprinter in Hong Kong,… Read More »
Few horses racing at this time of year have claimed the scalp of a Melbourne Cup winner but that is a form reference Rosehill contender Fun Fact can boast. Vow And Declare finished sixth behind Fun Fact in the Grand Prix Stakes during the Brisbane winter carnival, returning in the… Read More »
The ongoing effects of bush fires in NSW is threatening a race meeting in Sydney. Friday’s twilight racing at Randwick is in doubt because of poor air quality from the smoke surrounding the city. Racing NSW said it had received advice from the NSW Department of the Environment that Friday’s… Read More »
The crippling effect of the drought on NSW country towns has Tamworth trainer Sue Grills rethinking plans to take in-form sprinter Burning Crown to Brisbane. While the gelding will head to Rosehill on Saturday for the Schweppes Handicap (1200m), Grills says the race is now likely to be his final… Read More »
Caloundra trainer Natalie McCall has cancelled plans to take veteran Spectroscope to Sydney to concentrate on the Brisbane summer. McCall had planned to take Spectroscope south for the Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday week but instead will target Saturday’s Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) at Doomben. The… Read More »
The past 12 months have not been plain sailing for Galaxy Raider and his trainer Grahame Begg. Just as the gelding was building to a win in his last campaign, Begg was forced to abandon the preparation. Galaxy Raider has raced only three times in the past 18 months and… Read More »
John Sargent has scrapped Villiers Stakes plans for House Of Cartier but remains hopeful stablemate Tinkermosa can keep her stakes goal on track with a solid performance at Rosehill. Sargent had earmarked the Group Two Villiers at Randwick on Saturday week for House Of Cartier but confirmed that was off… Read More »
Flying gelding Spurcraft has not had an official trial but has had two jump-outs in preparation for his return at Doomben. Spurcraft is one of several genuine speedsters in Saturday’s Listed Bribie Handicap (1050m). The gelding has won eight times and been minor placed five times but is yet to… Read More »
