Undefeated country galloper Harbour Views is making his city debut at Caulfield, which could eventually lead him to Group One races on the other side of the country. Harbour Views resumes in Sunday’s Bass Strait Beef Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield following victories at Warrnambool, Bendigo and Swan Hill at his… Read More »
The little brother of now-retired multiple Group One winner Shoals gets his chance to emerge as a Caulfield Guineas contender when he runs in the Group Three Prelude. Three-year-old colt Groundswell, a $2.3 million yearling, won a 1218m maiden at his second start at Geelong in his season return earlier… Read More »
Having come close to winning the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups in the past couple of years, jockey Ben Melham is even more determined heading towards this year’s major spring carnival features. Melham rode She Will Reign to win the Golden Slipper in 2017 and had Melbourne Cup glory in his… Read More »
A subtle gear change has helped Desert Man win the TAB Class 3 Plate in record time at Doomben. Ridden by in-form apprentice Stephanie Thornton, Desert Man clocked a brilliant 59.21 seconds on Saturday, lowering the class record by 0.43 seconds, and was only 0.37 seconds outside the track record… Read More »
Caulfield Stakes winner and Cox Plate runner-up Benbatl has scored a dominant win in the Group Two Joel Stakes at Newmarket. Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is now eyeing Group One options on Champions day at Ascot for the five-year-old. Having been off the track since chasing Winx home in… Read More »
Nature Strip has bounced back from his last-start failure with a performance of sustained speed to win the Group One Moir Stakes at The Valley and press his claims for a spot in the $14 million Everest. Coming off a fourth placing in the Concorde Stakes when he over-raced, Nature… Read More »
The Chris Waller-trained import Captain Cook has landed his first Australian win at his third attempt, edging out Sully by the barest of margins in the Listed JRA Cup at The Valley. Captain Cook’s victory by a nose in Friday night’s 2040m race denied the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young… Read More »
Exciting filly Loving Gaby has made an impressive spring return at The Valley, beating a quality field in the Group Three Scarborough Stakes. After a busy first preparation during the autumn in which she contested four of the five Australian Group One races for two-year-olds, Loving Gaby had taken time… Read More »
Nature Strip has made amends for his last-start failure to stake his claim for the $14 million Everest with victory in the Group One Moir Stakes at The Valley. Ridden by James McDonald, the Chris Waller-trained quirky speedster settled well and took control rounding the turn, beating Miss Leonidas and… Read More »
Australasian Oaks winner Princess Jenni has shown her class with victory in the Group Two Stocks Stakes at The Valley. Having her second start as a four-year-old after a successful three-year-old season, $3.90 favourite Princess Jenni hit the line strongly in Friday night’s 1600m race for mares’ to score by… Read More »
A crack at the $2 million Group One Caulfield Guineas looms for The Holy One after the colt’s frontrunning victory in the Group Two Stutt Stakes at The Valley. The Holy One brought up an early double for the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable on Friday night’s Moir Stakes… Read More »
Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter has entered pre-export quarantine in England ahead of his trip to Australia to defend his title. He was one of 17 horses to enter quarantine in Newmarket and County Tipperary in Ireland on Thursday for their two-week quarantine. They are due in Melbourne on October… Read More »
The usually reserved Kris Lees believes punters continue to underestimate Gem Song and he is looking to the horse to prove his point in the next two weeks. While the four-year-old is an early favourite for Saturday’s Group Two Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill, Gem Song remains at $15 for… Read More »
UNDERWOOD STAKES 1800m, $750,000, weight-for-age at Caulfield HISTORY * First run in 1924 when won by Whittier NOTABLE WINNERS * Whittier (1924-25); Phar Lap (1931); Ajax (1938-39-40); Tobin Bronze (1966); Rain Lover (1970); Bonecrusher (1986); Jeune (1994); Octagonal (1996); Northerly (2001-02); Weekend Hussler (2008); So You Think (2010); It’s A… Read More »
Bendigo trainer Shane Fliedner is seeing the benefits of having a well-bred horse in is stable. With a buying budget between $5000 and $50,000, Fliedner is forced away from the better-bred horses. But with an owner and breeder like Mario Cesnik, Fliedner has been able to get his hands on… Read More »
A few days after winning the VRC Oaks Trial at Flemington on a half-sister to the 2018 winner of the same race, Tim Clark is looking to achieve a similar feat in the Group Three Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill. Clark made a flying visit to Melbourne to win Wednesday’s Oaks… Read More »
Trainer David Brideoake sees his home track of Mornington as a advantage for Self Sense ahead of the gelding’s run in the R M Ansett Classic. Saturday’s 2400m-handicap is a replacement run for Self Sense after the gelding, who successfully combines flat racing with hurdling, missed the MRC Foundation Cup… Read More »
It has taken a leap of faith for training partners Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to commit to starting their two runners in the Group One Golden Rose, but with risk can come significant reward. Waterhouse and Bott have backed the ability of Dawn Passage to rebound from a disappointing… Read More »
Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams believes Group One winner Gailo Chop is still one run away from producing his best but he is expecting a better performance from the gelding at Caulfield. After a lengthy lay-off, Gailo Chop runs for the second time for Williams in Sunday’s Group One Underwood Stakes… Read More »
David Vandyke admits he was stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to determine which race dual acceptor Constant Flight should contest at Doomben. Running in Saturday’s open handicap would have meant a clash with the smart Meet Mr Taylor, while tackling the Membership at BRC Class 6… Read More »
