Brisbane three-year-old Doss has been scratched from the Magic Millions Guineas after being found to be lame. Doss was originally second emergency but was elevated to next in line for Saturday’s $2 million Magic Millions Guineas after the earlier scratching of Sydney gelding Ljungberg. Stewards inspected all horses who were… Read More »
Magic Millions day always produces a story of a battlers beating the odds and this year it could well be the jockey/trainer combination of Luke Tarrant and Kevin Kemp. Tarrant made his name on Magic Millions day and can now boost his career on the anniversary with two rides for… Read More »
After snapping a run of outs to win the Listed Lord Stakes, the enigmatic So Si Bon now has the task to repeat it. Despite competing in top company for much of his career, which has included two Group One placings when trained by Robbie Laing, the often maligned So… Read More »
Jay Ford regards Sikhing Glory as one of his best rides at Randwick despite a distance query over the Joe Pride-trained sprinter. The five-year-old hasn’t won beyond 1000 metres and steps out to 1200 on Saturday. Having ridden the horse in eight of his 12 starts, including a last-start third… Read More »
The horse that almost delivered Michael Freedman a Golden Slipper will bid to kick-start the trainer’s recent return to Sydney when she resumes at Randwick. Frolic was instrumental in helping Freedman re-establish himself in Australia after eight years training in Singapore when she won the 2017 Reisling Stakes and was… Read More »
After two encouraging runs this summer, talented gelding Manolo Blahniq is poised for his latest crack at a first Australian stakes win in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington. The Tony Noonan-trained five-year-old hit the line strongly for third in a 1000m-benchmark race at Pakenham first-up last month before… Read More »
Toowoomba trainer Michael Nolan is well aware that when his phone rings constantly on the morning of race acceptances it is rarely good news. But on Monday it was one of those days when Nolan got some news he had given up hope he would hear. Nolan trains Unconditional who… Read More »
Trainer Robert Heathcote admits he read the acceptance sheet four times before it sank in Femme Fireball had drawn barrier one in the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies and Mares race. Femme Fireball is regarded as one of the most promising mares in Queensland but has been dogged by bad… Read More »
It is no coincidence Queensland trainer Mick Lakey is sending a horse to Sydney this weekend. With the majority of leading trainers heading to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions sale and race day, Lakey is bucking the trend and heading south with Final Zero. The mare will contest… Read More »
Star jockey Blake Shinn has returned to trackwork for the first time in almost five months after recovering from neck fractures suffered in a fall in a barrier trial. Shinn received the go-ahead earlier this week to return to trackwork and rode five horses at Randwick on Thursday. “This morning… Read More »
The powerful Godolphin operation is growing in confidence it can announce its arrival as a major player on Magic Millions day with three realistic chances. Godolphin has usually concentrated on home-bred stock and has had only one other runner at the famous Gold Coast meeting. This year Godolphin will saddle… Read More »
Four yearlings have fetched $1 million or more on the first day of the Magic Millions sale at the Gold Coast headed by a Redoute’s Choice-Purely Spectacular colt. Offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds, the colt was bought by Aquis Farm and Phoenix Thoroughbreds for $1.6 million. “We loved the horse,” Aquis… Read More »
Lightly raced Mahis Angel has notched his second city win in five career starts with a gritty performance on his home track at Caulfield. The Lloyd Kennewell-trained Mahis Angel ($4.40) was forced to fight off a challenge from the Damien Oliver-ridden Super ($9.50) in Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Multiverse Handicap (1600m) for… Read More »
The powerful Lindsay Park stable has 43 of the 263 two-year-olds remaining in the entries for this year’s Group One Blue Diamond Stakes. Second acceptances closed this week for Victoria’s premier race for two-year-olds to be run at Caulfield on February 23. While Lindsay Park clearly has the highest number… Read More »
Former jockey turned trainer Nick Ryan looks to have unveiled an exciting prospect for his stable with three-year-old Columbus Circle overcoming some anxious moments to win on debut at Caulfield. Columbus Circle was well-supported in early markets for Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Plate (1100m) and after being held up in behind the… Read More »
Trainer Tony McEvoy believes Singapore-based South African Barend Vorster will be an asset for his stable in South Australia once the trainer and jockey join forces in the near future. McEvoy has announced Vorster will be his No.1 rider in South Australia after premier jockey Jamie Kah decided to concentrate… Read More »
Improving gelding Stampe has put a dent in Neptune’s Spear’s Karaka Million hopes with a comprehensive win at Doomben. Neptune’s Spear ($1.50) was having his final hit-out before crossing the Tasman for the Karaka Million at Ellerslie in Auckland on January 26. He bounded straight to the lead but was… Read More »
Up-and-coming three-year-old The Fire Trap has come through a bruising last start to be ready for the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast. Leading big-race jockey Hugh Bowman has taken the ride on The Fire Trap after the pair combined to win a race at Rosehill last… Read More »
In a week when many trainers are yearling shopping at the Gold Coast, Paul Cave is busy in Sydney preparing home-bred Monsieur Sisu for a shot at back-to-back city wins. There was a time when Cave was active at the major yearling sales but these days the bulk of his… Read More »
Cool Chap has performed well fresh in the past and co-trainer Tom Dabernig will not be surprised to see the gelding make his presence felt in the Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington. In his first start back from a spell in March last year, Cool Chap was narrowly beaten when… Read More »
