Jockey Mickael Barzalona is to return home to France but will continue to ride for Godolphin. Barzalona, who won the Epsom Classic aboard Pour Moi in 2011, was snapped up to join Godolphin in 2012 and won both the Dubai World Cup aboard Monterosso and the St Leger on Encke… Read More »
Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe is upbeat about the condition of Cirrus Des Aigles, saying X-rays have cleared him of serious injury. The eight-year-old clinched his sixth Group One win in Saturday’s Coronation Cup at Epsom but was lame after the race. He was sound enough to walk into the winner’s enclosure… Read More »
It’s rare in racing for a horse to live up to the hype but Australia certainly did when giving Aidan O’Brien an unprecedented third successive Epsom Derby. Hailed as potentially the best he had trained by the Ballydoyle handler, some statement considering the likes of Galileo, Giant’s Causeway, High Chaparral… Read More »
California Chrome’s Triple Crown dream ended in heartbreak at Belmont with owner Steve Coburn criticising the winner’s connections for not running in the first two legs. Coburn’s beloved Chrome, the unlikely champion he and Perry Martin bred for about $10,000, had set US racing alight with victories in the Kentucky… Read More »
Group One winning sprinter Snitzerland has been retired from racing and has a possible date with Black Caviar’s half brother All Too Hard in the spring. The four-year-old was pulled up in an exercise gallop on the eve of the BTC Cup in April. Although cleared of serious injury, she… Read More »
Dual Group One winner Norzita is progressing well towards her comeback after missing most of the season with a tendon injury. The four-year-old has returned to the paddock for two weeks after spending three weeks working at Bart and James Cummings’ Randwick stable. The winner of the Flight Stakes and… Read More »
Trainer Trent Pennuto will know if eccentric mare Nordic But Nice is on her game before she leaves the mounting yard at Mornington. Nordic But Nice’s antics have all but forced Pennuto to race her exclusively on her home track, which is the venue of Monday’s Join As A Member… Read More »
Racing Queensland officials will rename a major Queensland feature race after the late race caller Wayne Wilson. Tributes have flowed for the popular Wilson since the cancer he fought for 15 years finally claimed him on Friday night. RQ’s chief executive Darren Condon said there would be no better way… Read More »
David Payne has demonstrated his support for juvenile staying races with half the field in the 1800m event at the Randwick public holiday meeting. Before coming to Australia at the turn of the century, Payne forged a successful training career in South Africa where distance races for two-year-olds were part… Read More »
Trainer Liam Birchley has confirmed recent Doomben winner Underneaththeradar has been sold to Hong Kong and warns others will follow if prize money in Brisbane is not raised. Underneaththeradar won his only Brisbane start when he landed a $12 to $4 plunge on May 28 at Doomben. Birchley was immediately… Read More »
Tonalist sprinted across the finish line to win the Belmont Stakes, spoiling California Chrome’s bid to win the first Triple Crown in 36 years. California Chrome finished in a dead heat for fourth. The result means the longest drought without a Triple Crown champion in history is extended. California Chrome… Read More »
Aidan O’Brien became the first trainer to win three successive Epsom Derbys on Saturday as favourite Australia prevailed in a thrilling race. Australia, ridden by O’Brien’s 21-year-old son Joseph, repelled a late challenge by Kingston Hill (15/2) to take the honours at 11/8 while Romsdal was third at 20/1. Australia,… Read More »
A ground-saving ride from apprentice Jackie Beriman aboard Fast And Free has helped to end the winning run of rival Akavoroun at Moonee Valley. Akavoroun won his first four starts on predominantly provincial tracks but drifted from $1.75 to $2.10 for his bid to stretch his winning streak to five… Read More »
Consistent mare Floria dispelled any stamina doubts when she won Saturday’s Group Two Brisbane Cup in an effort that may convince trainer Peter Moody to extend her winter campaign. Floria ($9) won by 1-1/4 lengths from Moriarty ($4.40) with favourite Zephyron ($3.80) two lengths away third. In the process the… Read More »
Natalie McCall’s decision to miss the Sydney autumn with River Lad has reaped a million dollar pay day and given the trainer her first Group One win in the Stradbroke Handicap. In a race of firsts on Saturday, McCall became the first woman to train a Stradbroke winner since the… Read More »
Les Bridge has been training long enough to be called a veteran but even he admits he has been surprised by the way Avoid Lightning has adapted to his stable. The former Adelaide mare made light of her 59kg topweight to claim the Listed June Stakes (1100m) on a wet… Read More »
Less than a year after saddling up his first runner as a trainer, Henry Dwyer celebrated his maiden Group One victory when Sonntag capped a meteoric rise to fame by winning the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The winner of a maiden race at Sale in April, Sonntag… Read More »
John Sadler had to check himself to remember his charge Vain Queen was carrying the blue silks of Aquanita Racing. Sadler rejoined the Aquanita team at Caulfield on June 1 after previously training at Flemington as part of the Malua Racing operation with Troy Corstens. “My assistant trainer said, `we… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse has celebrated the 124th Group One win of her career after Almalad defied favourite Brazen Beau to claim the J J Atkins on Saturday. The big Eagle Farm crowd was set alight when Almalad ($4.80) and Brazen Beau ($2.45) settled down to a two-horse war in the final… Read More »
River Lad has given Queensland a local victory in the state’s flagship race with a head-bobbing win in Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm. In a race dominated by the on-pace runners, River Lad and Temple Of Boom settled first and second in the run and that’s how they finished…. Read More »
