The racing future of veteran Who Shot Thebarman will be determined by his performance in the Zipping Classic at Sandown. The 10-year-old, an 11-time winner from 56 starts, is chasing a second victory in Saturday’s Group Two weight-for-age race over 2400m. The winner of the 2014 Auckland Cup, Who Shot… Read More »
Trainer Peter Gelagotis is confident the step up in distance is going to suit sprinter Illustrious Lad when he runs in a stakes race at Sandown. The seven-year-old will be racing second-up in Saturday’s Group Three Kevin Heffernan Stakes, a weight-for-age contest over 1300m. Illustrious Lad’s spring campaign got off… Read More »
Former Hong Kong sprinter Strathmore has had to come a long way to make his Australian debut. The gelding, by Fastnet Rock out of Group One performer Our Egyptian Raine, was foaled in Australia and exported to Hong Kong to race. He won his debut and another four races from… Read More »
Punters should not take too much notice of Dal Harraild’s appearance before he contests the Zipping Classic at Sandown. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained imported stayer runs in Saturday’s 2400m weight-for-age race and is starting to look a bit shaggy in the coat as he adjusts to the southern… Read More »
Red Excitement is vying for favouritism at Rosehill but win or lose, he remains a stable favourite with trainer Gerald Ryan and his staff. The nine-year-old has overcome a tendon injury which threatened to end his career four years ago and runs in Saturday’s November Topaz (1900m) on his way… Read More »
Mike Moroney wants to find out for sure if imported stayer Vengeur Masque is a genuine stayer. At his only start at 3200m, Vengeur Masque finished 15th behind Cross Counter in the Melbourne Cup, a run that left Moroney and connections wondering. To put their minds at ease, Vengeur Masque… Read More »
Reigning Australian champion first season sire Zoustar is to shuttle to Tweenhills Stud in England where he will stand alongside newly crowned European Horse of the Year, Roaring Lion. Part-owned by Qatar Racing, Zoustar stands at Widden Stud in Australia for $60,500 and his European fee will be STG25,000 (abt… Read More »
Trap For Fools has figured in a switch of plans with the Mackinnon Stakes winner to return to Perth for the summer carnival. Trainer Jarrod McLean confirmed his stable star has been booked on a charter flight out of Melbourne on Sunday night and will contest the Group One Kingston… Read More »
The horse anointed as the next superstar of New Zealand racing has the legendary Winx in his sights. Te Akau Shark will be set for a Sydney autumn campaign that could include a start in Winx’s possible farewell race, the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. A sparingly raced… Read More »
Trainer Grahame Begg is treating the first Australian defeat of Our Libretto as a barrier trial ahead of the mare running in a stakes race at Sandown. Our Libretto tackles the weight-for-age Zipping Classic on Saturday at her first try at 2400m. The mare joined Begg earlier in the year… Read More »
A filly tantalisingly close to being part of the pageantry of Royal Ascot has made a winning debut in country Victoria. Luck Favours overcame inexperience and an age disadvantage to win at Seymour. Bred to northern hemisphere time, Luck Favours was set to accompany Group One sprinter Redkirk Warrior to… Read More »
For most horses the Sandown Cup distance will test the limit of their stamina reserves. In Gold Medals’ case, the 3200m will be a mere stepping towards a more exhaustive assignment that looms next month. Gold Medals won Australia’s longest race, the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at Warrnambool in May… Read More »
Tony Gollan will get a preview of the depth in his summer carnival stocks when he heads to Doomben on Saturday with a team led by seasoned campaigner Most Important. A multiple stakes winner, Most Important will resume in the Listed Keith Noud Quality (1200m) alongside stablemates I’m A Rippa… Read More »
Mel O’Gorman’s first reaction was to spell Suncraze after his Flemington failure on Melbourne Cup day. But the more she reflected on his disappointing performance, the less sense it made. “The form around him has been so good with Trekking and Belflyer,” O’Gorman said. “That’s why I decided I shouldn’t… Read More »
Trainer Ken Keys rates the Sandown Guineas as the perfect consolation for Syd’s Coin after a spring of disappointment. Keys had hopes of starting Syd’s Coin in the Caulfield Guineas but following a slow start to the campaign decided on a change of direction. Syd’s Coin won a restricted three-year-old… Read More »
Mark Newnham has enjoyed a breakout spring carnival, training his first Group One winner and a VRC Oaks placegetter. And while it will be business as usual when he takes two horses to a low-key Rosehill meeting on Saturday, he recognises the importance of continuing his momentum. “We’ve had five… Read More »
NRL star Paul Gallen’s first foray into racehorse ownership is turning into a gilt-edged investment as a shareholder in one of New Zealand’s most exciting prospects. Gallen, the Cronulla stalwart preparing for his 19th season in the NRL, owns a small part of the appropriately named Te Akau Shark. Te… Read More »
Godolphin trainer James Cummings has opted for a drop in distance for Tally who runs in a stakes race at Sandown. Having contested the 2500m of the Lexus Stakes at Flemington on the opening day of Melbourne Cup week, Tally will line up in the Group Three Eclipse Stakes (1800m)… Read More »
A wide barrier draw at Doomben has swayed trainer Greg McFarlane to keep Dissolute closer to home and run the recent Godolphin acquisition in Sydney. McFarlane accepted with the horse in the Listed Keith Noud Quality in Brisbane but scratched him after he drew the outside gate in the field… Read More »
Trainer Archie Alexander hopes to end a spring of frustration on a bright note when Lord Fandango starts in the Zipping Classic at Sandown. Alexander’s spring was dealt an early blow when a case of strangles quarantined his stable and he couldn’t start a horse for three weeks. He was… Read More »
