Likening his Everest outsider Nature Strip to a high-octane Supercar, Chris Waller admits fuel concerns are front of mind for Saturday’s $14 million sprint. On-pacer Nature Strip ($23) is tipped to dictate terms early in the 1200m race at Randwick despite drawing barrier 12 of 12 in the all-star The… Read More »
Hong Hong-based Australian jockey Blake Shinn will reunite with Humidor in the Cox Plate if the gelding makes the field for the $5 million race. Shinn rode Humidor in the 2017 Cox Plate when the gelding gave Winx a scare, getting within a long neck of the champion in the… Read More »
Connections of Cox Plate favourite Lys Gracieux are leaving nothing to chance with the mare having a familiarisation gallop around The Valley. Lys Gracieux and fellow Japanese Cox Plate 2019 invitee Kluger were taken to track on Wednesday morning having completed their quarantine period at Werribee. Damian Lane, who partnered… Read More »
Chris Waller has declared rising star Arcadia Queen ready to take on the world’s best sprinters and assume the Everest throne. The leading Sydney trainer paraded two of his three runners, Arcadia Queen ($5) and Yes Yes Yes ($8.50), at Rosehill on Wednesday after they had their final hit-outs ahead… Read More »
Caloundra galloper Victory Eight will take the first step towards rich mile races during the Brisbane summer carnival when he resumes at Eagle Farm. Victory Eight is first-up in the DSS Law Open (1200m) in a race trainer Trevor Miller believes will give a good guide to the gelding’s summer… Read More »
Racing Queensland will trial a new format for midweek and Saturday metropolitan racing, starting at Doomben on Wednesday. There will be seven races on Wednesdays with the usual eighth race being moved to make 10 races each Saturday. The experiment will initially run for four weeks. Racing Queensland chief executive… Read More »
Verry Elleegant is set to head to the Cox Plate after galloping at The Valley and will not be an acceptor for the Caulfield Cup. Trainer Chris Waller wanted to give Verry Elleegant a look at The Valley ahead of the 2019 Cox Plate, at the same time keeping options… Read More »
Japanese Cox Plate invitees Lys Gracieux and Kluger have galloped together at The Valley. The pair made the trip from Werribee where they have completed their quarantine period ahead of the Cox Plate on October 26. Race rider Damian Lane was aboard 2019 Cox Plate favourite Lys Gracious while Tommy… Read More »
Jockey James McDonald has given Verry Elleegant the thumbs-up after riding her at The Valley ahead of a potential start in the Cox Plate. Trainer Chris Waller wanted to see how the dual Group One-winning mare handled The Valley before committing to a start in the Cox Plate on October… Read More »
Frankie Dettori described himself as “absolutely buzzing” after it was announced superstar mare Enable will stay in training next year. Dettori admitted he shed a tear after she came up just short in her attempt to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for a third time, being beaten just… Read More »
Santa Ana Lane remains the favourite for the $14 million Everest after drawing barrier two in the sprint at Randwick. The Anthony Freedman-trained Santa Ana Lane is at $4.40 in The Everest odds, shading Pierata who is at $4.80 and will start from gate one in Saturday’s The Everest. Nature… Read More »
Trainer Shawn Mathrick has been charged with a stomach tubing offence. Racing Victoria stewards issued Mathrick with two charges on Tuesday stemming from a race day stable inspection by the RV Compliance Assurance Team on April 17. Acting on a report from CAT, stewards ordered the withdrawal of the Mathrick-trained… Read More »
Trainer Kris Lees believes how Mustajeer handles the occasion and the Caulfield track will have a major bearing on his chances to make a winning introduction to Australian racing. Mustajeer makes his Australian debut and first start for Lees in Saturday’s $5 million Caulfield Cup over 2400m, his first race… Read More »
Three horses who had been in the top 50 in the Melbourne Cup order of entry, including imported stayer Torcedor and Group One winner Trap For Fools, have been withdrawn at the latest declaration stage for the $8 million handicap. Second acceptances for the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November… Read More »
Sam Freedman is keeping his nerves in check as Everest favourite Santa Ana Lane eyes redemption in the $14 million sprint at Randwick. The gun sprinter ($4.60) can prove his world-class credentials when he returns for a second crack at Everest riches on Saturday. The Freedman Racing stable has been… Read More »
New Zealand trainer trainer Roger James has made the call to run Tancred Stakes placegetter Rondinella in a Group Three race against her own sex at Caulfield ahead of bigger assignments. James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood, has chosen Wednesday’s Ladies Day Vase (1600m) over the Coongy Cup… Read More »
A few months after his successful riding stint in Japan, Australian jockey Damian Lane could reap even more rewards from that trip in a couple of Melbourne’s major spring races. Lane has the ride on Japanese horse Mer De Glace in Saturday’s $5 million Caulfield Cup and star mare Lys… Read More »
The $14 million Everest is riding high on a wave of momentum but comparisons to Australia’s most iconic race are unwarranted, Kerrin McEvoy insists. McEvoy’s uncle Tony, co-trainer of Everest rival Sunlight ($13), reignited the cross-border debate on Monday after labelling the 1200m sprint “Australia’s big race”, with the Melbourne… Read More »
Michael Walker has been rewarded with a golden opportunity on Caulfield Cup favourite Finche and the jockey’s hopes of a first win in the race have grown after riding the Chris Waller-trained import in an important gallop. With Kerrin McEvoy riding in the $14 million Everest in Sydney on Saturday… Read More »
Queensland three-year-old Eric The Eel has pulled up lame after the Caulfield Guineas and will return home without another run. Trainer Stuart Kendrick says Eric The Eel has inflammation of the near side front leg and will have a break. Eric The Eel finished second-last in Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas after… Read More »
