Divine Quality is likely to be giving many of her rivals a start but trainer Robbie Griffiths is hoping to see the mare unleash the finishing sprint he knows she can in the Group One TAB Classic at Morphettville. Griffiths has a runner in both Group One races on Saturday’s… Read More »
Lawyers for controversial trainer Ben Currie have made an official complaint that stewards have refused to allow owners to move their horses from his Toowoomba stables. Currie still faces a further 42 allegations and has also indicated he could ask for a judicial review of a Racing Queensland decision to… Read More »
Three-year-old Boomsara has an outstanding record at the track to bolster his credentials as he takes on a strong field in the Group Three Gold Coast Guineas. Boomsara, Ef Troop and Zoustyle are the three best male three-year-olds in Queensland and will face off in Saturday’s 1200m-Group Three race. The… Read More »
Trainer Liam Birchley hopes there is genuine pace in the Group Two Hollindale Stakes so he can get an accurate assessment where Fit For Purpose is headed this winter. Fit For Purpose is the Queensland hope in the race and after a last-start third in the Listed Tails Stakes (1615m)… Read More »
Bob Baffert is feeling the pressure now. The five-time Kentucky Derby winning-trainer finds himself with new favourite Game Winner after Omaha Beach was scratched with a breathing problem. “Oh, boy, here we go,” Baffert said. “I think everybody is trying to jinx me. It’s still a very wide-open race.” The… Read More »
Jockey Ben Allen’s poor record of whip breaches has cost him a hefty suspension after a winning ride at Warrnambool. Allen was suspended for 22 meetings by Racing Victoria stewards on Thursday, the ninth time since last year’s Warrnambool carnival he has breached the whip rule. Jockeys are allowed to… Read More »
Trainer Archie Alexander is hoping the decision to focus on the Australasian Oaks in Adelaide with Mirette will be rewarded at Morphettville, rating the filly his best chance yet to claim a first Group One win. Mirette was beaten just over two lengths when sixth in the Group One Thousand… Read More »
A year after showing his potential, Furrion has returned to Warrnambool to claim a first stakes race victory. Furrion won on the final day of last year’s three-day carnival for now-disqualified trainer Darren Weir while on Thursday he took out the Listed Warrnambool Cup for Lindsay Park. Co-trainer Ben Hayes… Read More »
Top Striker’s record could be a lot better if not for wide barriers and the Greg Hickman-trained sprinter has again been handed a task for his next start at Randwick. He has barrier 11 of 14 in Saturday’s TAB.com.au Handicap (1250m) on the Kensington track and will start from eight… Read More »
Zed Em has given trainer Patrick Payne a fourth victory in Australia’s toughest race, the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool. The win turned around his narrow defeat 12 months earlier when Zed Em was beaten by Gold Medals who fought bravely on Thursday to finish second, three lengths astern of… Read More »
Flying mare Darktown Strutter puts her outstanding Gold Coast record on the line when she tackles an elite short course field. Darktown Strutter is back to her pet 900m-circuit in Saturday’s $105,000 Bat Out Of Hell. The mare is unbeaten in five starts at the Gold Coast and is four… Read More »
The new Anderson-Heathcote training partnership will have its first black-type runner at the Gold Coast. Consistent mare Femme Fireball will resume in the Listed Silk Stocking (1200m) and has been primed for Saturday’s race. The partnership between five-time Brisbane premier trainer Robert Heathcote and rising star Chris Anderson began on… Read More »
Talented sprinting prospect Halvorsen will race on a seven-day back-up at Flemington ahead of a possible interstate trip for a Group One sprint. Halvorsen convincingly won the VOBIS Gold Dash (1100m) at Caulfield last Saturday and trainer Robbie Griffiths is planning to back the three-year-old up in Saturday’s Who Shot… Read More »
Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have continued their domination of the jumps races at the Warrnambool carnival, taking out the Champion Novice Hurdle with Chequered Flag. The win in Thursday’s race was Maher and Eustace’s fourth jumps win following a double with Euroman and Bit Of A Lad on… Read More »
Trainer Grahame Begg hopes a proven form line holds up when he has his first Queensland runner in six years at the Gold Coast. The Begg-trained Miss Siska, the younger half-sister of top sprinter Hay List, is set to tackle Saturday’s Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast…. Read More »
Injured jockey Michael Hackett is showing positive signs after being in an induced coma following a race fall. Hackett was one of three riders to fall at the Tomingley Cup picnic race meeting in central western NSW on Saturday. He was transported to Sydney’s Liverpool Hospital where he was in… Read More »
Leading Brisbane jockey Jim Byrne has taken the first step towards a timely return to the saddle. Byrne rode three horses in work at Eagle Farm on Thursday morning and was happy with the results. “If it was off-season I would be pushing it. But I am still a couple… Read More »
Controversial Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie’s legal team is considering its options after he was denied the chance to have any runners at the Queensland long weekend race meetings. Currie has been the centre of a year-long saga during which he has at various times been asked to defend 42 allegations… Read More »
Jumps jockey Rob David has been suspended for four months for failing to provide a urine sample at the Warrnambool carnival. David was down to ride Mannertone in Wednesday’s novice steeplechase but was replaced by Racing Victoria stewards after failing to provide a medical clearance following a fall at Oakbank… Read More »
Trainer Matt Dunn is so fed up with Rocknavar drawing outside barriers he seriously considered altering her path to the Queensland Oaks. Rocknavar is back from Sydney where she was unplaced but far from disgraced in the Adrian Knox Stakes and Australian Oaks. Dunn believes Rocknavar is yet to be… Read More »
