Fifteen years after being forced to bypass the Australian Derby with Grand Zulu, Kembla Grange trainer Gwenda Markwell has tasted victory with Angel Of Truth. Grand Zulu had beaten Mummify and Makybe Diva to win the BMW but his owner would not let Markwell back him up in the Derby… Read More »
Despite claiming a first mainland victory, trainer Scott Brunton says Tasmanian filly Lady Pluck wasn’ta t her best at Caulfield. Now a winner of four of her six starts, Lady Pluck was sent out the $3.30 favourite before winning the Walk For Phil Handicap, holding off fast finishing Rapidora. Lady… Read More »
A rails-hugging ride by Brenton Avdulla has helped Aliferous to an upset win in the Adrian Knox Stakes at Randwick and all but secured trainer Kris Lees another Australian Oaks runner. Specked at $61 to start $41, Aliferous was ridden quietly by Avdulla who then took the shortest route home,… Read More »
Gallic Chieftain’s Group Two victory in the Chairman’s Handicap has convinced Victorian trainer Archie Alexander the horse deserves his place in the Sydney Cup. Saturday’s 2600m-race is a precursor to next Saturday’s Sydney Cup (3200m) with Gallic Chieftain tightened from $26 to $15 for the Group One race with Godolphin… Read More »
Mr Quickie’s winning sequence has come to an end but his trainer Phillip Stokes believes the gelding is still on track for next month’s Group One South Australian Derby. Three-year-old Mr Quickie was chasing his seventh win in a row, and third this preparation, when sent out the $1.65 favourite… Read More »
Consistent mare Splitter gave trainer Tony Gollan got a welcome home present and might go on to continue a history of smart mares winning the AG Rigging Handicap (1300m). Gollan, who is well on the way to winning six straight Brisbane premierships, trained in Toowoomba for 10 years before shifting… Read More »
Apprentice Teo Nugent’s first race ride on his home track has been successful aboard the well-backed favourite Think Bleue at Caulfield. Prepared by training partners Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Think Bleue took out Saturday’s Polytrack Handicap after being backed from $3.60 to $3. “It’s lovely to get one at… Read More »
Winx has ticked another box in preparation for her final race start in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with a faultless exhibition gallop at Randwick. Hugh Bowman worked the mare over 1000-metres and she went to the line under her own steam, clocking 34.67 seconds for her final 600 metres. Trainer… Read More »
Trainer Rex Lipp continued his long-running good form on Weetwood Handicap-Toowoomba Cup day when tough filly Gem Of Scotland won on Saturday. After being headed by runner up Howwonderfullifeis ($4.20) at the 200m Gem of Scotland ($3.30) fought back to win the Spirit Of Boom Handicap (1100m). Lipp has had… Read More »
Talented colt Ringerdingding has finally lived up to his ability at his fifth start for trainer Chris Waller, winning the Group Three Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick after missing a start in the Doncaster as an emergency. Formerly trained by Ed O’Rourke and then Darren Weir, the colt has found… Read More »
A step up to stakes grade looms for two-year-old Meuse after the talented filly made it two wins from as many starts with a city success at Caulfield. The Anthony Freedman-trained Meuse won comfortably on debut in a Bendigo maiden on March 19 and stepped out again in Saturday’s Thomas… Read More »
Bivouac has led home a Cummings-family trifecta in the Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick with James getting the verdict over father Anthony in the opening race on day one of The Championships. The Godolphin colt was given a beautiful run by Blake Shinn and surged to the front halfway up the… Read More »
Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn has his eye on feature races in two states with Sovereign Nation to run in the Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba and two stablemates to compete at Randwick. Dunn has a big opinion of Rocknavar who jumps in class in the Group Three Adrian Knox Stakes on… Read More »
Seymour trainer Michael Quadara has been suspended for six months for directing a horse he was riding into the path of another horse and rider. Quadara pleaded not guilty to a Racing Victoria stewards charge of misconduct, or improper conduct, after directing the horse he was riding on the fibre-sand… Read More »
The Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes has been a happy hunting ground for Peter and Paul Snowden and they hope their luck continues when they start up to three runners in the $1 million race. The Snowdens, who have won four of the past eight editions of the two-year-old feature,… Read More »
Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller already has the short-priced ATC Australian Oaks favourite, Verry Elleegant, but could strengthen his representation in the fillies Classic depending on the performances of three runners in the Adrian Knox Stakes. Waller has Zalatte, Romani Girl and Welsh Legend in Saturday’s Group Three Adrian Knox… Read More »
TJ SMITH STAKES 1200m, $2.5 million, Group One weight-for-age at Randwick HISTORY * Named in honour of Randwick’s most famous trainer whose daughter Gai Waterhouse has won the race with Phoenix Park in 2002, Shamekha in 2005 and Bentley Biscuit in 2007 * First run in 1997 and won by… Read More »
Popular New Zealand trainer Trevor McKee has died aged 81 with tributes pouring in for the man most famous for the deeds of champion Sunline. McKee suffered a stroke late last year and had been in ill-health since and died on the eve of the Doncaster Mile in Sydney, a… Read More »
Last-start Hareeba Stakes placegetter Snitzkraft has been withdrawn from the Listed Anniversary Vase but trainer Phillip Stokes still has a strong hand at the Caulfield meeting with Mr Quickie and Flying Krupt. Snitzkraft has been scratched from Saturday’s Anniversary Vase (1400m) because of a wide draw but Stokes has South… Read More »
Victorian trainer Brent Stanley’s punt to send Violate to Sydney in the hope of getting a start in the Doncaster Mile has paid off. Violate was first emergency when acceptances were taken on Tuesday and gained a start in Saturday’s $3 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick after the scratching of… Read More »
