Racing Queensland has rejected a plea to shut Ipswich racecourse for repairs and will instead step up remedial work. Trainers say they are sick of officials playing Russian Roulette with race meetings at Ipswich. For the fourth time since September, Friday’s Ipswich meeting was abandoned after little or no rain…. Read More »
Princess Posh has given local trainer Kris Lees his first win in the Group Three Newmarket at Newcastle, a day before he saddles three horses in the Group One race with the same name at Flemington. Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, the mare prevailed in a tight finish by a half… Read More »
Group One races in separate states will launch the preparations of Anthony Freedman-trained star stablemates Shoals and Santa Ana Lane, who could both campaign overseas later in the year. Three-time Group One winner Shoals resumes in Saturday’s weight-for-age Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick, 20 minutes after four-time Group One winner… Read More »
An inquiry into 28 charges against Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie is set to resume in a different format. The hearing on Monday will hear allegations arising from a raid at Currie’s stables in April last year with other charges to also be heard later. The way for the hearing was… Read More »
The most valuable and talked-about colt in Australia will be on show in the Randwick Guineas with his trainer Chris Waller confident The Autumn Sun can live up to the hype. Although he won the Hobartville Stakes on his return and is the odds-on favourite for Saturday’s 1600m-race, some pundits… Read More »
Country-based jockey Christine Puls has been awarded the Victorian Wakeful Club Lady of Racing Award for her contribution to racing. Along with a distinguished career in the saddle, Puls has been instrumental in helping a number of younger female jockeys around Victoria develop their careers. From an early age Puls… Read More »
Queensland trainers say they are sick of officials playing Russian Roulette with race meetings at Ipswich. For the fourth time since September, Friday’s Ipswich meeting was abandoned after little or no rain. Ipswich had 14mm on Thursday night but an early morning inspection found sections of the track were not… Read More »
While David Eustace hopes Night’s Watch or Yogi can spring an Australian Cup upset at Flemington, the trainer admits it is hard to see any chinks in the armour of short-priced favourite Avilius. Eustace trains in partnership with Ciaron Maher and saddles up Night’s Watch and Yogi in Saturday’s $1.5… Read More »
The central figure in the “Aquanita eight” doping conspiracy rarely went through with giving horses “top-ups”, four trainers have argued in trying to beat their bans. Racing Victoria argued stablehand Greg Nelligan, motivated mainly by punting, did administer the illegal race day top-ups referred to in hundreds of text messages… Read More »
Trainer Mike Moroney expects a rise in distance to suit Hawker Hurricane when he runs in the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Flemington. The trainer could not believe his eyes as the two-year-old was beaten for speed in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 23. Moroney expected the addition… Read More »
Melbourne’s two biggest handicaps, the Melbourne Cup and Newmarket, have so far eluded champion jockey Craig Williams. He gets the chance to rectify one part of the equation on Saturday when he partners Zousain in the Newmarket Handicap over the straight 1200m-course. A seven-time premier rider in Melbourne, Williams finished… Read More »
Magic Millions runner-up Dubious puts his Golden Slipper credentials on show in the Todman Stakes but his trainers are keeping an ace up their sleeves for the colt’s grand final. Dubious won the Breeders’ Plate on debut at Randwick last spring and won again in Brisbane in December before being… Read More »
Victorian mare Extreme Bliss has had her past two starts at Randwick and will be back at the Sydney track for a crack at a Group Three win in the Aspiration Quality. Trainer David Brideoake also nominated Extreme Bliss for a Group Three 1600m-race for fillies and mares at Flemington… Read More »
South Australian trainer Ryan Balfour will record his biggest victory if talented filly Kenyan Wonder is successful at Flemington., With wins at Listed level by stable stalwart and All-Star Mile candidate, Balf’s Choice, his biggest so far, Balfour has had his eyes set on Saturday’s Group Two Kewney Stakes for… Read More »
Hard-working in-form jockey Les Tilley can continue his good form at Eagle Farm where his rides include short-priced favourite for the two-year-old race, Sizzling Babe. Tilley has always shown promise but 18 months ago he only dreamed of riding horses such as Sizzling Babe and talented sprinter Spurcraft in the… Read More »
Four trainers argue their bans should be overturned because the stablehand at the centre of the “Aquanita eight” doping conspiracy rarely went through with administering the “top-ups”. Racing Victoria contends the four are still guilty of corrupt conduct by being party to a plan to cheat, but maintains the illegal… Read More »
Lanciato will have to overcome a wide barrier and significant weight rise if he is to become the first horse in 35 years to go back-to-back in the Newcastle Newmarket. The Mark Newnham-trained backmarker has drawn the outside in the field of 13 and has 58kg, four kilos more than… Read More »
Australian horses could be back competing at major meetings in Hong Kong with the two governments coming to an interim agreement on quarantine restrictions. Horses have been banned from travelling directly between Hong Kong and Australia since October, 2017. They have had to spend six months in a third country… Read More »
Lightly raced Princess Jenni is set for a belated start to her autumn campaign and will be out to make up for lost time in the Group Two Kewney Stakes at Flemington. The David Brideoake-trained three-year-old won a 1400m fillies’ maiden at Geelong by six lengths at her second start… Read More »
In what could be a case of out of sight, out of mind, Godolphin colt Aramayo is emerging as the forgotten horse ahead of the Group One Randwick Guineas. The race has been billed as a match-up between benchmark colt The Autumn Sun and star filly Nakeeta Jane with both… Read More »
