Group One handicaps figure in trainer Danny O’Brien’s spring plans for Iconoclasm who will press his claims for those lofty targets in Melbourne’s first stakes race of the season at Flemington. Iconoclasm races for the first time in two months in Saturday’s Group Three Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m). The horse… Read More »
Toowoomba trainer Steve Tregea is hoping for a change of luck at Doomben after spending more time than he wanted at the veterinary clinic this week. Tregea is coming off one of his best seasons with his “Three Musketeers”, Bergerac, Niccanova and Prioritise all performing well in top company. Bergerac… Read More »
After making an immediate impression at his first start during the final week of his juvenile season, Heirborn is favoured to take another step up in his city debut at Flemington. Heirborn strode to a 3-3/4-length victory in a 1300m-maiden against older horses at Bendigo on July 28 and runs… Read More »
Tough stayer Exoteric can justify the decision to race him for another season by winning at Doomben. Exoteric will have a sharp drop in class when he tackles Saturday’s TAB Open Handicap (2200m). Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller has won about 40 middle distance and staying races in Queensland since… Read More »
Jockey Tim Clark has laid down the challenge to Dawn Passage to convert his abundant promise into racetrack results, starting with the first three-year-old stakes race of the Sydney season. The Tulloch Lodge-trained colt resumes in the Listed Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday and it will be no walk… Read More »
Ballarat trainer Mitchell Freedman has been handed the task of rejuvenating the career of Bassett. The recently turned seven-year-old runs for the first time for Freedman in Saturday’s VRC Member Brenda Nugent Handicap (1000m) at Flemington. Bassett started his career with Peter Moody before being transferred to Mick Price’s stable… Read More »
Trainer Ian Williams has ruled out sending Magic Circle back to Australia for a second shot at the Melbourne Cup at Flemington in November. The seven-year-old, who was unplaced as second favourite last year, is set to be seen next in the Listed Chester Stakes on August 31. Finishing third… Read More »
Smart three-year-old Xanthus resumes at Doomben and is ready to shed the unwanted title of the best of his sire’s offspring yet to win a race. Xanthus is by champion rookie sire Better Than Ready who had 23 individual winners in his first crop last season. Although Xanthus is still… Read More »
Australian Bloodstock import Loveisili has been given the benefit of the doubt, and the chance to put his Newcastle Cup campaign back on track at Rosehill. The five-year-old strung together three wins in May and June but his sequence came to a halt when he struggled into sixth behind Dr… Read More »
Leading Everest contender Pierata has run a comfortable second in a Warwick Farm barrier trial at his first appearance since he won the Group One All Aged Stakes. Friday’s 1000m-heat on the course proper was won by Cradle Mountain who took up his customary front-running-role. The Clare Cunningham-trained Cradle Mountain… Read More »
The Lloyd Williams-owned Latrobe has won his first race since the Irish Derby with his victory in the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown. After his Classic success in June, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Latrobe was runner-up in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington in November and Australia is again on the… Read More »
On the back of a record-breaking juvenile season, all eyes will be on Godolphin’s squad of three-year-olds this spring with Athiri set to pave the way in the Listed Rosebud. The Lonhro filly was part of Godolphin’s richly talented two-year-old team which took all before them in the autumn, culminating… Read More »
One thing jockey Stephen Baster has learned over his long career is that racehorses can make you look foolish. Baster had been eagerly awaiting the Australian debut of Japanese-bred stayer Hush Writer ahead of the 2018 spring carnival after some solid trackwork. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained horse was… Read More »
The Phillip Stokes-trained Sansom will try to complete an unbeaten winter campaign when he runs for the first time as a three-year-old at Flemington. Sansom was beaten in his first two starts as a juvenile last summer but since returning from a spell has kept stepping up to put together… Read More »
Group One winner Scales Of Justice and exciting prospect Begood Toya Mother have made appearances at a midweek Warrnambool meeting for track gallops as they prepare for feature race targets in Melbourne. Scales Of Justice made a successful return to racing with victory in the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes last… Read More »
Mark Newnham describes Black Magnum as a pleasure to have around, but he hopes the horse’s Rosehill rivals will not be feeling quite the same way. A no-fuss horse in the stable, Black Magnum has also been a consummate professional on race day, scoring comprehensive victories at his two starts… Read More »
The omens are positive for Ruling Dynasty when the gelding reunites with jockey Jim Byrne for the first time in a year at Doomben. Byrne is riding in great style since returning in June after spending four months on the sidelines with a shoulder injury. He has snapped up the… Read More »
The narrow defeat of Tarquin in the Mornington Cup may have cost trainer Simon Ryan the opportunity of a lifetime. Victory in the Mornington Cup would have given Tarquin a start in the Caulfield Cup and for Ryan, who runs a small operation at Warrnambool, a chance to showcase his… Read More »
A lack of options in Sydney and the forecast of rain in Melbourne has prompted Warwick Farm trainer Jason Coyle to test You Make Me Smile in the Group Three Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington. The winner of six of his 17 starts, You Make Me Smile will be tried… Read More »
Sydney trainer Gerald Ryan has stuck with a proven formula to get Group One performer Harper’s Choice back in the winner’s circle at Doomben. Harper’s Choice will be chasing his first win in almost a year in the TAB Open Handicap (2200m) on Saturday. The gelding ran second to New… Read More »
