The weather will decide how far Coup Acclaim races into the colder months after the imported stayer confirmed his preference for dry ground at Hawkesbury on Saturday. Another northern hemisphere horse who has paid his way in Australia for trainer Chris Waller, Coup Acclaim won his most important race since… Read More »
He has claims to the title of Victoria’s most durable horse, but to his regular rider he is simply the best. Whisper Downs, who came into work last June and had the first run of his current campaign in August last year, won the sixth race of his preparation at… Read More »
Kris Lees-trained stablemates Express Power and Soapy Star have run the quinella in the Gold Coast Bracelet but will take different paths for the rest of their campaigns. Express Power ($4.40 fav) was ridden confidently by Jim Cassidy, striding past Soapy Star ($5) to win the Bracelet by a length…. Read More »
Zoustar has a lot to learn about his trade but the unbeaten colt instantly won over jockey Hugh Bowman with a gritty win at Hawkesbury on Saturday. “He’s still very new and raw as well as being a little bit colty and he’s not totally switched on at the moment,”… Read More »
Strawberry Boy, a horse owned by John Singleton and formerly trained by Gai Waterhouse, showed he is more than comfortable in his new Melbourne home with a game win at Flemington on Saturday. Singleton transferred Strawberry Boy from the Waterhouse stable long before his latest falling out with the champion… Read More »
Le Val has surprised punters but not trainer Noel Doyle with victory in the Ken Russell Classic at the Gold Coast at his first start in blinkers. Le Val ($13) overhauled Londehero ($10) in the final 100 metres to win drawing away by 1-1/4 lengths with Diamond Oasis ($5) a… Read More »
Damian Lane returned to the city winner’s circle at Flemington on Saturday, regaining his momentum after an enforced lay-off last month. Lane notched his 17th metropolitan win of the season aboard two-year-old Moparee ($6) in the Spotless Plate (1100m). It was his first city win since he returned from a… Read More »
Australia’s top-ranked racehorse All Too Hard could be a surprise runner in Saturday week’s Scone Guineas. The colt’s co-trainer Wayne Hawkes threw the $500,000 race into the mix on Saturday, suggesting the Group One Doomben Cup, which is run on the same day would also be considered. The feature event… Read More »
The career of champion New Zealand galloper King Mufhasa might be winding down but a final overseas mission could yet reap another big reward. The 10-time Group One winner has pleased connections as he prepares for Sunday’s Champions Mile in Hong Kong, an event his owner has indicated is likely… Read More »
Rosie Napravnik isn’t worried about history. She is, however, working on her chemistry – with a horse named Mylute in the Kentucky Derby. Two years after achieving the best finish by a female jockey in the Derby, she will try to become the first woman to win it. Napravnik’s pursuit… Read More »
Long shot Black Onyx was a late scratching for the Kentucky Derby because of a chip in his left ankle, leaving 19 horses to vie for the roses. The scratching occurred on Friday after wagering for the race had opened, so Black Onyx’s No.1 post position will be left empty… Read More »
Racing officials have interviewed Andrew Johns over the rugby league personality’s involvement in events leading up to the acrimonious split between John Singleton and racehorse trainer Gai Waterhouse. Johns met with a Racing NSW investigator on Friday, giving a statement ahead of Monday’s inquiry into the performance of Singleton’s outstanding… Read More »
Jockey Tim Clark has cemented his homecoming from Hong Kong with victory on Scream Machine in the Wagga Wagga Gold Cup. Clark returned to Australia this week after two seasons in Hong Kong and ventured to his former home town in the NSW Riverina on Friday to ride the Jason… Read More »
Tumult has been a significant firmer to make a winning debut at Flemington on Saturday and continue his sire’s impressive season. The Peter Snowden-trained Tumult opened at $4.40 with TAB fixed odds earlier in the week but was into $2.35 on Friday for the Spotless Plate (1100m). The colt is… Read More »
New Zealand trainer Lisa Latta has two horses confirmed for the Brisbane winter carnival but a third will depend on what happens at Hawkesbury on Saturday. Latta is looking to Platinum Kingdom making it two Australian wins from as many starts in the $150,000 Hawkesbury Guineas to confirm Queensland plans…. Read More »
The transformation of Dances On Stars since being gelded has been remarkable, according to trainer Gerald Ryan. Frustrated the three-year-old wasn’t showing his true potential, Ryan made the decision to geld Dances On Stars after he ran fifth in the Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben last December. “In the… Read More »
Time ran out for Darren Weir to have Prince Of Penzance ready for Saturday’s South Australian Derby and the trainer is hoping the emerging stayer can post a Flemington win instead. The lightly-raced Prince Of Penzance was a fast-finishing second to Hunger over 1800m at Caulfield last start and is… Read More »
Jockey Damian Browne says he won’t be looking for any shortcuts when he rides Solzhenitsyn in Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast. Solzhenitsyn has drawn barrier eight in the 13-horse field which Browne believes can work to his advantage. “He doesn’t like to be locked away on the fence… Read More »
Peter Gelagotis knows Hvasstan needs to lift on his Sydney performances but the trainer believes the colt won’t get a better chance at Group One success than in Saturday’s South Australian Derby. It will be Hvasstan’s third crack at a Derby victory this season having finished fourth in the Victoria… Read More »
Whether Monton wants a spelling paddock instead of the winning post remains an unknown for trainer Ron Quinton ahead of the $150,000 Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury. In a wide market on Saturday’s feature at the redesigned Sydney provincial track, Monton is one of the favourites for the Listed race. But… Read More »
