A second round of donations will be gifted to drought-stricken towns in northern NSW struggling to pay the rising cost of horse feed. The Australian Turf Club Foundation will announce on Thursday another lot of grants for racing industry participants to help pay for hay bales. It follows earlier drought… Read More »
As the boss of New Zealand’s Te Akau Racing operation, David Ellis is used to success at home and abroad but takes nothing for granted. Te Akau has New Zealand champion Melody Belle vying to become the first horse to win the Hastings triple crown on Saturday and Te Akau… Read More »
At least four horses will carry half a kilogram more than their original weights in the Epsom Handicap with 10 of the 18 runners on less than 51kg. So far Kerrin McEvoy (Rock 50.5kg), Dom Tourneur (Archedemus 50.5kg) Michael Dee (Star Of The Seas 50kg) and Damien Thornton (Junipal 50kg)… Read More »
Surprise Baby gets a second chance at securing a start in the Melbourne Cup when he contests the Bart Cummings at Flemington. The winner of Saturday’s race is afforded a ballot exemption into the $8 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 5. Surprise Baby missed by millimetres in the… Read More »
The New Zealand TAB has paid out on champion Melody Belle to win the Hastings Group One triple crown before the final leg has been run. Melody Belle is the short-priced favourite to add Saturday’s Livamol Classic (2040m) to her wins in the Tarzino Trophy and Windsor Park Plate. If… Read More »
Last year’s third placegetter Osborne Bulls will press his claims for the Godolphin slot in the $14 million Everest when he runs in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick. His biggest stumbling block in Saturday’s Group Two 1200m Premiere Stakes appears to be Classique Legend who is already an Everest runner… Read More »
The two trainers of imported Cups horses part-owned by Australian Bloodstock have cast their eye over their prospective charges and are looking forward to spring ahead. Newcastle trainer Kris Lees saw Mustajeer for the first time in quarantine at Werribee on Wednesday with Paul Preusker having his second look at… Read More »
A field of 12 will line up for the Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, a race that could shape the prospects of a number of spring contenders. Mystic Journey will be out to bounce back from her defeat in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on September 14 when… Read More »
Senior Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes likes the look of his two spring carnival purchases from Aidan O’Brien after they were put through their paces at Werribee. Caulfield and Melbourne Cup hope Constantinople was joined by 2019 Cox Plate contender Cape Of Good Hope in a workout on Wednesday morning,… Read More »
Nagano Gold has an opportunity to put racing in the Czech Republic on the world map when he runs in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp. While he will line up alongside Enable and the rest as one of the outsiders on Sunday, Nagano Gold has proved already… Read More »
Hugh Bowman will ride favourite Dalasan in the Caulfield Guineas replacing Raquel Clark with connections opting for a strong left-hand whip rider. Co-trainer Leon Macdonald said connections decided on the change after Sunday’s Guineas Prelude in which Dalasan was second to Alligator Blood after again laying in down the straight…. Read More »
Gai Waterhouse has prepared more winners of the Metropolitan Handicap than anyone else with her training partner Adrian Bott looking for his first. Waterhouse has eight wins in the Group One staying feature, her first in 1992 with Te Akau Nick and her most recent Glencadam Gold in 2012. She… Read More »
Trainer John Shelton’s two contenders for The Kosciuszko have featured on their home track at Grafton, with Tarbert winning a race under a big weight before stablemate Belflyer scored in a barrier trial. Belflyer won the inaugural Kosciuszko (1200m) for country-trained horses at Randwick last year. He will be joined… Read More »
Star mare Lys Gracieux and two other Japanese horses have arrived in Victoria ahead of their major spring carnival targets. Lys Gracieux and fellow 2019 Cox Plate invitee Kluger touched down in Melbourne on Tuesday along with 2019 Caulfield Cup contender Mer De Glace. Their arrival from Japan adds to… Read More »
Two of the fillies involved in a thrilling finish to the recent Tea Rose Stakes are again expected to be the major players in the Group One Flight Stakes. The Chris Waller-trained Funstar defeated New Zealand filly Probabeel by a nose in the Group Two Tea Rose (1400m) at Randwick… Read More »
Cascadian continues to garner support for the Epsom Handicap with the Godolphin import now into single figures for the $1 million Epsom Handicap. Although he has finished fifth and fourth in his two Australian starts, he is now at $9 from $15 for Saturday’s 1600m Epsom Handicap at Randwick. He… Read More »
International singing star and former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland is headed to Sydney for the world’s richest turf race event to perform at The Everest. The Grammy Award-winning artist will perform for ticketholders following the final race of the day in the Theatre of the Hore at Royal Randwick…. Read More »
Luke Nolen expects to head to the Werribee quarantine centre this week to have his first ride aboard import Constantinople who he is booked to partner in the $5 million Caulfield Cup. The former Aidan O’Brien-trained Constantinople is now in the care of the Lindsay Park stable after being sold… Read More »
The Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington looms as a defining race for Queensland Derby winner Mr Quickie. The Phillip Stokes-trained gelding flashed home for third in his season return in the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 14 and he steps to 2000m on Saturday…. Read More »
The jockeys competing on Turnbull Stakes day at Flemington will also be vying for $50,000 to be awarded to the best and fairest rider. Racing Victoria has introduced a ‘Star of the Saddle’ concept for five of Melbourne’s feature spring race days this year, beginning with Saturday’s Turnbull meeting. “The… Read More »
