An association spanning more than 15 years continues to pay dividends for trainer Danny O’Brien. Fabric, winner of Saturday’s Fight Cancer Foundation Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield, is the latest O’Brien winner to wear the Waikato Stud colours. The association between O’Brien and Waikato Stud dates back to 2004 with Glamour… Read More »
John Thompson has continued his heady start to the season with Cuba landing an all-the-way win at Randwick to give the trainer his ninth metropolitan victory this term. Cuba ($6) came into the race with strong form lines, boasting a decision over subsequent Cameron Handicap winner Rock and Queensland Guineas… Read More »
Only weeks after arriving in the country, lightly raced Irish import Shared Ambition has made a winning start to his Australian career at Caulfield. A three-year-old to northern hemisphere time but racing as a four-year-old in Australia, Shared Ambition stepped out for his new trainer Chris Waller in Saturday’s Grassroots… Read More »
Trainer Robert Heathcote has been saying for months Guntantes could defy his breeding to prove a top 1600m-2000m horse and it was confirmed at Eagle Farm. The Dave Hickey 30 Handicap (1600m) drew together some of the most promising young horses in Queensland and the race proved a thriller. Guntantes… Read More »
Leading jockey Michael Cahill made the most of a late pick-up ride to help Ocean Addict break a frustrating run of minor placings at Eagle Farm. Ocean Addict had run three consecutive seconds for a apprentice Jackson Murphy but the Toby and Trent Edmonds training partnership elected to book senior… Read More »
If loss of form or misfortune strikes a slot runner in the lead-up to the $1.3 million Kosciuszko, the Matt Dunn stable believes it has an able replacement in La Scopa. La Scopa ($7) finished powerfully to beat Smug Satusfaction ($3) by a half neck with a neck to Jay… Read More »
Tim Clark has continued his excellent record in Newcastle’s feature spring races taking out his second Gold Cup aboard the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Hush Writer. The Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) and Cameron Handicap (1500m) have been happy hunting grounds for Clark who teamed with Tulloch Lodge to win… Read More »
Group One-winning mare Winning Ways will have to return to top form at Eagle Farm if she is to head south for spring features. Winning Ways, who won the Group One Queensland Oaks in June, steps up to 1800m in the Makers Mark Open Handicap on Saturday. She finished last… Read More »
The oldest living Golden Slipper winner Burst has reached another milestone after turning 30 at her home at Newhaven Park where she was born. The thoroughbred nursery posted a picture on Twitter on Friday of the mare with her trophies saying it was a special day. “The champion race filly… Read More »
Promising Hawkes Racing four-year-old Rock has booked his spot in the Group One Epsom Handicap with a stunning victory in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle. The race did not go to plan early with Tommy Berry forced to settle the horse towards the rear from a wide draw but once… Read More »
GEORGE MAIN STAKES 1600m, $500,000, weight-for-age Recently renamed Colgate Optic White Stakes HISTORY *Established in 1945 and first won by Modulation *Originally named after George Main who was chairman of the AJC *For 26 years initially contested over 1400m, before being altered to 1600m in 1972 *Upgraded from Principal Race… Read More »
Australasian Oaks runner-up Mirette is set to launch her spring campaign at Caulfield, with her trainer Archie Alexander thrilled with the way the mare has been preparing for her return to racing. Mirette went close to giving Alexander his first Group One win when she finished second to Princess Jenni… Read More »
The rain in Sydney has prompted Melbourne trainer Mike Moroney to add the Group One George Main Stakes at Randwick to the spring program of import Mr Marathon Man. Moroney said Mr Marathon Man had experience winning in the right-handed direction in France and when a rain-affected track loomed for… Read More »
Australian Oaks runner-up Scarlet Dream will take the next step towards her Metropolitan Handicap goal when she lines up against a tough field of seasoned stayers in the Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick. Keen to get some more miles in her legs, trainer Mark Newnham confirmed Scarlet Dream would take… Read More »
With his place in the Melbourne Cup already assured, Steel Prince gets an opportunity to win his way into the Caulfield Cup. Steel Prince has the second start of his spring preparation at Caulfield in Saturday’s Group Three MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) which carries a ballot exemption to the winner… Read More »
Graff is likely to be the sole representative for trainer Kris Lees in The Shorts with heavy rain in Sydney all but ruling In Her Time out of the race. If she is withdrawn, she will join Santa Ana Lane and Sunlight who have both been scratched because of the… Read More »
Trainer Stuart Kendrick will be disappointed if Don’t Waiver does not confirm his rating as one of the most improved horses in his stable when he runs at Eagle Farm. The three-year-old races in Brisbane have been competitive at every meeting this season and Saturday’s Dave Hickey 30 Handicap (1600m)… Read More »
Despite Madison County stretching his brilliance to a Derby trip in Sydney during the autumn, New Zealand trainer Andrew Forsman insists the dual Group One-winning gelding is at his best over shorter distances. Madison County was second to Angel Of Truth when he was stretched out to 2400m in the… Read More »
Tim Clark does not know how Samadoubt will handle a heavy track in the Group One George Main Stakes but he does know the horse is fit and in the form of his life. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding has been a revelation this spring, stamping himself as the form weight-for-age… Read More »
The Chris Waller-trained imported stayer Abdon is one of the few horses to race in Brisbane who has had the distinction of having had Frankie Detorri as his regular rider. Abdon makes his Brisbane debut in the $105,000 Makers Mark Open Handicap (1800m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The gelding… Read More »
