After a disappointing spring and subsequent gelding operation, three-year-old Ollivander faces an important test when he makes his return to racing in the $250,000 Inglis Dash at Flemington. Ollivander was an impressive winner on debut at Caulfield 13 months ago before running second to Long Leaf in the Listed Blue… Read More »
Failing to get a start as an emergency for two races on Magic Millions day could prove a blessing for Magic Fox who runs at Eagle Farm. Magic Fox was a reserve in both the Magic Millions Guineas and the QTIS Open but missed a run. The gelding will now… Read More »
While Zoustar continues to make a name for himself as a sire of sprinters, trainer Gerald Ryan has one of his progeny he hopes will be a Classic contender. Zourhea, who runs over 1300 metres at Rosehill on Saturday, is on a path to the Australian Oaks 2019. She has… Read More »
Trainer Jerome Hunter admits he is throwing Belwazi in the deep end in the Kensington Stakes at Flemington but he is happy to give the mare her chance as a late entry in the Listed race. Nominations were extended on Monday which prompted Hunter to add Saturday’s 1000m-race to Belwazi’s… Read More »
The vagaries of the thoroughbred sales ring will be highlighted when Honey Baby races at Eagle Farm. Honey Baby will be making her debut in Saturday’s QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1200m). She is a half-sister to smart stayer Honey Toast as both are out of the stakes winning mare Purde who… Read More »
Trainer Lee Curtis has enjoyed a fruitful association with the Cook family and he has high hopes juvenile filly Giselle Anne will be their latest success story. Frank and Christine Cook raced the now-retired Lasqueti Spirit, who Curtis trained to win the 2016 Group One VRC Oaks. Christine Cook is… Read More »
Leading Rockhampton trainer Tom Button is hoping the central Queensland form holds up when he brings unbeaten two-year-old Mad Irish Tycoon to Brisbane to race at Eagle Farm. Mad Irish Tycoon has won his only two starts at Townsville and Rockhampton which has earned him top weight of 58kg in… Read More »
Sir Plush could well have been running in Gosford’s feature sprint, the Takeover Target Stakes, but trainer Bjorn Baker’s bold decision to try him over ground has paid off with victory in the Gold Cup. The winner of seven races between 1100 and 1400 metres, Sir Plush stepped out in… Read More »
Trainer Lloyd Kennewell has pencilled in the Oakleigh Plate for stable star Viddora’s first autumn target, if she shows him she is ready. Viddora failed to fire in her defence of the Group One Winterbottom Stakes in Perth on December 1, beating only a few runners home in the $1… Read More »
Not many bush trainers would have the courage to disagree with Gerry Harvey. But then, few have probably known the entrepreneurial businessman for as long as Stephen Jones. Jones and Harvey go back more than three decades when Jones, a then-apprentice jockey, went to work at the first Australian stud… Read More »
The oldest horse in Lloyd Kennewell’s stable is set to embark on his latest campaign when he makes his return in the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington. And Kennewell is confident nine-year-old gelding Heart Of A Lion still has something to offer on the racetrack. “He’s going along really well,”… Read More »
Trainer Chris Munce has already passed his best season total for prize money and he hopes there is a lot more to come. Boomsara’s win in the Magic Millions Guineas last week pushed Munce’s stable runners’ earnings for the current season to $2,049,400 which easily eclipses his 2017/18 tally of… Read More »
Robbie Griffiths is happy to give talented filly Du Well her chance in the Inglis Dash at Flemington but the trainer is wary of a couple of stakes-performed horses in the $250,000 race. Lightly raced Du Well began her current campaign in strong fashion with back-to-back wins at Mornington and… Read More »
A week after Dubious finished runner-up in the Magic Millions Classic, trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will saddle up a two-year-old they think is just as good. Igniting will be given the chance to prove his autumn carnival credentials in the Countdown To Golden Slipper Sprint (1100m) at Rosehill… Read More »
Natasha Galpin, a member of Iain Jardine’s racing team stables in Dumfries, Scotland, has died following a fall while working a horse. The 22-year-old sustained fatal injuries when the horse she was riding suffered a ruptured artery during a work-out. An accomplished event rider, Galpin was a full-time member of… Read More »
Multiple Group One-winning jockey Brad Rawiller is hoping it is only a matter of weeks before he can get back on a horse after being cleared to remove the neck brace he has been wearing in recent months. Rawiller suffered injuries including neck fractures in a race fall at Cranbourne… Read More »
Chris Waller will unleash some of his better Queensland-based two-year-olds in the next month starting at Eagle Farm. Waller has Bigboyroy, Icelander and emergency Clairvue Missy set to make their debuts in Saturday’s QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1000m). All three have trialled impressively in recent weeks and Waller’s Queensland manager Paul… Read More »
A no-deal Brexit would be “catastrophic” for the movement of horses to and from Ireland, according to the country’s racing authority. As well as horses travelling to and from the island for racing and other activities, the buying and selling of horses is big business. Any threat to the horse… Read More »
Despite giving jockey Mark Zahra a difficult ride, three-year-old gelding Hawkshot has shown his raw ability with a fast-finishing win at Sandown. The Darren Weir-trained Hawkshot refused to relax back in the field in Wednesday’s Le Pine Funerals Handicap but still managed to sprint past his rivals at the business… Read More »
A week after Ljungberg was accidentally included in the final field for the Magic Millions Guineas, the promising three-year-old will line up in the race he was earmarked for all along. A mix-up with acceptances for last week’s $2 million race meant Ljungberg was listed as a runner at the… Read More »
