Consistent gelding Few Too Many marked himself as a chance in the Summer Provincial Series Final with his win at a Beaudesert metropolitan midweek meeting. The provincial series is run over six heats with a $105,000 final at Doomben on December 29. To be eligible a horse has to have… Read More »
A minor placing on the provincial circuit has been a turning point for up-and-coming stayer Heartlet, who will face her most significant test in the Christmas Cup at Randwick. The lightly raced mare finished third at Kembla Grange in October, an effort trainer Kerry Parker saw as a key learning… Read More »
Bjorn Baker says a wide barrier draw is advantageous for Villiers Stakes contender Goodfella, especially if the race is run on a rain-affected track. The on-pace runner has gate 13 of 15 in Saturday’s Group Two Villiers Stakes Randwick feature, a hindrance for some horses but not the four-year-old who Baker… Read More »
The stablehand at the centre of the “Aquanita eight” doping scandal claimed to have given “top-ups” to two Melbourne Cup runners in 2015. Float driver Greg Nelligan has been subpoenaed to give evidence as trainers Robert Smerdon, Stuart Webb, Tony Vasil and Liam Birchley fight their disqualifications. Eight people were… Read More »
An influx of youth of the equine and human variety has rejuvenated trainer Jamie Edwards. Based at Freshwater Creek outside of Geelong, Edwards now works closely with his son James who was instrumental in selecting Fill The Flute, a mare who shoots for a fifth straight win in Saturday’s Wingate… Read More »
Racing Queensland will increase prize money non-TAB country race meetings by $550,000 annually from Saturday. RQ chairman Steve Wilson said the increases were finalised after consultation with the Country Racing Advisory Panel. Wilson said minimum prize money for all non-TAB thoroughbred races would rise to $7450 with the payment for… Read More »
Trainer Tony McEvoy is taking a relaxed approach to comparisons between star filly Sunlight and two-year-old Sun City. The similarities between the stablemates are well documented with both by star sire Zoustar and both being placed in the Maribyrnong Plate Trial before coming to Queensland to undertake a Magic Millions… Read More »
The stablehand at the centre of the “Aquanita eight” doping scandal will give evidence during the appeals of four disqualified trainers. Greg Nelligan has been subpoenaed to appear at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal as Robert Smerdon, Stuart Webb, Tony Vasil and Queensland trainer Liam Birchley fight their bans…. Read More »
Jockeys agents in NSW will have to get written permission to bet under a new local rule. The Racing NSW board has introduced the rule to come into effect on March 1 next year. The matter has been under consideration for some time and surfaced again after an inquiry into… Read More »
Brisbane trainer Steve O’Dea is bringing Doubt Defying back to Randwick hoping for the same result as the last time he visited. The gelding won a 1400m-race at the track in early October which set him up for a trip to Victoria and a Listed win in the Sale Cup… Read More »
A return to his favourite track and the addition of blinkers are seen as key ingredients to Rocket Tommy returning to winning form at Flemington. Rocket Tommy runs in Saturday’s 1100m handicap in which he will be ridden by Jarrod Fry who has been aboard the seven-year-old in his eight… Read More »
Mornington trainer Shane Bottomley has been suspended and fined over the disposal of a dead horse. Bottomley faced the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Tuesday to answer two Racing Victoria stewards’ charges, one of giving false or misleading evidence and one of misconduct, improper conduct or unseemly behaviour. Three-year-old… Read More »
The “Aquanita eight” doping scandal will again play out in court as four trainers including Robert Smerdon fight their disqualifications. Smerdon, Stuart Webb, Tony Vasil and Queensland trainer Liam Birchley’s appeals begin in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Wednesday. The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board declared the long-running… Read More »
Trainer Patrick Keane hopes Shaquiana can help erase his bad memories of Sandown when she lines up in a three-year-old fillies race at the city track. A winner at Cranbourne last month when she downed a $1.28 hot-pot, Shaquiana runs in Wednesday’s The Big Screen Company Handicap (1000m). A former… Read More »
Connections of flying sprinter Tarzan want only one thing and that is a good barrier for the gelding at Doomben. Tarzan is set to take on star mare Houtzen in Saturday’s Listed Bribie Handicap (1050m). The gelding’s best form is at the Sunshine Coast where his seven wins on the… Read More »
Nominations have opened for Victoria’s new $5 million All Star Mile at Flemington. Connections have five weeks to enter their horses with 10 of the 14-horse field to then be decided by public vote. The nominations close on January 15 with the raced run on March 16. After the popular… Read More »
Senior jockeys have given an endorsement for the new Eagle Farm track surface after a series of trials and jump-outs. Racing Queensland and the Brisbane Racing Club are expected to announce on Wednesday morning if the track is in good enough condition to hold a full race meeting on Saturday… Read More »
The heir apparent to champion Winx is close to returning to trainer Chris Waller to begin his autumn campaign which is likely to be his last. Triple Group One winner The Autumn Sun has, according to part-owner John Messara, strengthened during his break and is expected to return to Waller’s… Read More »
Trainer Jerome Hunter will study final declarations before committing Our Luca to a start at Flemington as the sprinter chases a fourth straight win. Hunter has entered four horses in Saturday’s open 1100m handicap and said Our Luca would be his only runner if he elected to start him. Our… Read More »
Anthony Cummings has no regrets about selling Montaigne, the horse now known as Beauty Generation and an international star. Cummings and his owners sold the 2016 Rosehill Guineas runner-up after his next start when he finished fourth in the BMW. “He showed Group One potential when he was here and… Read More »
