Trainer Kevin Corstens will know more about the spring bona fides of Twilight Run when the lightly raced galloper runs out of his class at The Valley. A two-time winner from seven starts, Corstens will test Twilight Run against open company in the Dynamic Print Group Handicap. An explosive last-start… Read More »
Victorian trainer Matthew Brown’s first foray to Sydney didn’t yield the desired result but he is quietly confident his second visit will prove more fruitful. Brown will saddle up Exasperate in Saturday’s Industry Recognition Race Day Handicap (1800m) and he isn’t bringing the five-year-old north to make up the numbers…. Read More »
Absolute Flirt has to give her rivals weight in a season return at The Valley but trainer Danny O’Brien is still expecting a bold showing from the stakes-winning filly. Saturday’s Hygain Tracktorque Handicap (1000m) on the opening weekend of the 2018-19 season features a field of eight with Absolute Flirt,… Read More »
Apprentice jockey Chris Caserta has a fractured back following a four-horse fall at Sale. Along with fellow jockeys Thomas Stockdale, Joe Bowditch and Michael Walker, Caserta fell around the 600m mark of Wednesday’s fifth race that led to the abandonment of the meeting. Caserta was airlifted to hospital in Melbourne… Read More »
He doesn’t know where and he doesn’t know when but Bjorn Baker is adamant the enigmatic Drachenfels is on the verge of an overdue win. The talented six-year-old has been a nemesis for punters, luring them in with eye-catching performances but struggling to land a knockout blow, his strike rate… Read More »
Stewards don’t expect to conclude an inquiry into the late scratching of mare Sailor Gerri at the Sunshine Coast until later this month. Sailor Gerri was scratched from the last race after stewards were given information of possible race day treatment. Stewards opened an inquiry and took evidence from trainer… Read More »
Gold Coast gelding Impregnable is an example of how taking a punt on a new sire can pay big dividends. Impregnable will be one of the first city runners for the new Toby and Trent Edmonds partnership in the Tim Bell Memorial Handicap (1200m) on Saturday at Doomben. The gelding… Read More »
Trainer Kacy Fogden can add another first in her escalating career when Happy Two Thousand runs at Doomben. Happy Two Thousand gave Fogden her first winner as a trainer when he won a midweek race at the Sunshine Coast on July 17. Fogden followed up with her first double as… Read More »
Few horses have raced with as much expectation as Downloading who gets a chance enhance his own reputation at Doomben. Downloading will be attempting to make it three wins in a row and his first in Saturday metropolitan class. The gelding has found a new lease of life at distances… Read More »
Too Darn Hot sealed his resurgence with victory in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. Frankie Dettori continued his brilliant season with a confident ride on the John Gosden-trained three-year-old, who was sent off the even-money favourite for the mile prize. Main market rival Circus Maximus kicked for home inside the… Read More »
As he looks to continue a successful winter campaign with Dylan’s Romance, Sydney trainer Marc Conners has turned his attention interstate. Dylan’s Romance, who turns seven on Thursday, is set to run in Melbourne on Saturday for the first time at his 52nd start, chasing a fourth victory from his… Read More »
James Cummings has fallen agonisingly short of an important milestone but he still managed to finish a season-ending city meeting at Warwick Farm with yet another spring prospect for Godolphin. Cummings needed a treble to train a century of Sydney metropolitan winners in 2018-19. He had to settle for a… Read More »
Star jockey Damian Lane is scheduled to make his return to Victorian racing with one ride on the Pakenham synthetic track ahead of the first city meeting of the new season. Melbourne-based Lane has not ridden in an Australian race since April 20 at Randwick having then spent two months… Read More »
Multiple Group One-winning galloper Hartnell is set to take another step towards a spring return with a jump-out at Flemington. The Godolphin galloper is listed to contest an 800m jump-out on Friday in a heat also featuring Lindsay Park-trained stablemates Vega Magic and Fundamentalist, the Tony McEvoy-trained Oohood as well… Read More »
Racing Queensland has amended its awards criteria which gives it the right to exclude anyone deemed to be unsuitable from winning a season award such as premierships. The new rules, which are effective immediately, follow similar rules being introduced in Victoria after the disqualification of leading trainer Darren Weir. The… Read More »
Well-bred gelding Heritage Sash proved an apt final winner for trainer Toby Edmonds in his own name when he won at the Sunshine Coast. Starting favourite, Heritage Sash ($2.20) gave Edmonds his 110th overall winner and his 48th in the metropolitan premiership for the season which finished on Wednesday. It… Read More »
The consolidation of wagering service providers has resulted in Racing Victoria announcing enhancements to the methodology used to calculate the official starting price for a horse. Commencing on Thursday, the Victorian Official Price (VOP) will be represented by the fourth price of a seven-price sample of corporate bookmakers. To date… Read More »
The final Saturday city meeting of the season was significant for provincial trainer Grant Allard, who will be out to kick off the new term in a similar vein when he takes Dissolute to Randwick. Allard produced his first metropolitan winner since recently moving from on-course facilities at Gosford to… Read More »
Tom Dabernig admits Taraayef and Andrassy Avenue have struck a strong race to begin the season but the co-trainer is looking for the talented fillies to both make encouraging starts to their three-year-old year at The Valley. Andrassy Avenue was an impressive winner at The Valley at her second start… Read More »
A knock to the head that left apprentice jockey Tahlia Hope with undiagnosed swelling and a bleed to the brain may have contributed to her contracting viral meningitis. Hope spent 12 days in hospital and remains on a drip at her parents home after falling ill three weeks ago. She… Read More »
