Queenslander Doubt Defying has won the Listed Sale Cup a few days before his half-brother Sesar’s bid for Group One glory in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. Trained by Steve O’Dea for Aquis Farm, Doubt Defying lived up to his $3.60 favouritism in Sunday’s Sale Cup (1600m) to beat Fastnet Tempest… Read More »
Trainer Colin Little has set his sights on winning a three-year-old race at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival with Vassilator. It’s not the main three-year-old prize, the Group One Victoria Derby, but a shorter race run on the same day. The Group Three Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on Saturday… Read More »
Less than a day after Winx’s historic fourth Cox Plate win, the question of when she will be retired is inevitable. The answer from those closest to her is still the same. “She will tell us when she’s ready,” trainer Chris Waller said. Waller and two of the champion’s owners,… Read More »
Trainer Jarrod Mclean has been charged with making false or misleading statements over where Trap For Fools was stabled ahead of a scheduled start in a race at Caulfield. In addition to training his own team at Yangery, McLean is also the licensed foreman in charge of Darren Weir’s nearby… Read More »
An English stayer is in doubt for the Melbourne Cup after pulling up lame after a gallop at Werribee. Racing Victoria stewards said Duretto would undergo a bone scan at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre on Tuesday to determine why he was lame in his left fore leg after… Read More »
Some Caulfield trainers facing eviction have questioned why Sandown cannot be developed into a racing and training centre of quality. The trainers were told last week training would cease at Caulfield in five years and they would need to relocate. They have been told preferred relocation venues are the Pakenham… Read More »
Connections of the appropriately named Thinkin’ Big are doing just that with the talented colt who is favoured to win the Victoria Derby. And if successful in Saturday’s $2 million Victoria Derby at Flemington, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt could step out in the $7.3 million Melbourne Cup… Read More »
Senior Lindsay Park trainer David Hayes expects Redkirk Warrior to prove his readiness for his racing return in a second jump-out at Flemington. In preparation for a first-up tilt at the Group One VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington on November 10, the straight-track specialist will have a jump-out on Friday…. Read More »
One-time Melbourne Cup favourite Kings Will Dream is being closely monitored after suffering a pelvic fracture and ruptured blood vessel in the Cox Plate. John Allen pulled the Darren Weir-trained Kings Will Dream out of Saturday’s race won by Winx and the gelding was taken to the Ballarat Veterinary Clinic…. Read More »
Hugh Bowman has ridden his way into history after steering champion mare Winx to a fourth consecutive Cox Plate victory. Find out what Bowman and all the other jockeys made of their horses’ runs in the Group 1 $5m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley. Hugh Bowman (Winx) 1st: “I’m… Read More »
The Moonee Valley Racing Club chief executive has summed it up after Winx delivered in the Cox Plate. “It’s the fitting finale to a grand build-up, to see her deliver like that,” MVRC chief Michael Browell said. “To think one horse could win four Cox Plates, she’s gone from being… Read More »
Tucked away from the packed crowd, Chris Waller has watched the best horse he will ever train do what no other has done before. Waller watched Saturday’s Cox Plate from the same spot he has for Winx’s three previous wins in Australasia’s weight-for-age championship, in the weighing area on a… Read More »
Trainer Darren Weir had no excuses for Cox Plate placegetter Humidor as his immediate thoughts turned to the welfare of his second-sting runner. After pushing Winx to a long neck when runner-up in last year’s race, Humidor finished almost five lengths behind the champion mare in third place on Saturday…. Read More »
Avilius has thrilled trainer James Cummings with his performance behind Winx in the Cox Plate. On target for the 2018 Melbourne Cup, the Godolphin-owned Avilius finished fourth behind Winx in Saturday’s weight-for-age championship. Avilius shares the third line of betting at $13 with other Godolphin-owned UK stayers Best Solution and… Read More »
Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor came to Moonee Valley hoping he had the horse to upset champion Winx’s bid for a fourth Cox Plate. But in the end international visitor Benbatl was no match for Winx. Winx defeated Benbatl by two lengths in the $5 million race, with last year’s… Read More »
The enormity of Winx’s record fourth Cox Plate hit trainer Chris Waller as he filmed the crowd on his phone. Waller again watched his champion mare’s two minutes of brilliance on a screen in the relative quiet of the jockeys’ weighing room at Moonee Valley, after kicking out a sneaky… Read More »
English broadcaster Matt Chapman has described being at Moonee Valley to witness Winx’s record-breaking fourth Cox Plate as one of his best moments on a racecourse. Chapman caused a stir at the barrier draw for the Cox Plate when he questioned whether Winx was entitled to be rated the world’s… Read More »
Winx has reigned supreme to win an unprecedented fourth Cox Plate after a build-up her jockey and trainer admit has been harder than the first three. Hugh Bowman rode Saturday’s race to perfection, tracking the speed to make sure Godolphin’s European visitor Benbatl was not too far in front. He… Read More »
Imported Lindsay Park-trained galloper Ventura Storm has finally broken through for his maiden Australian win in taking out the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. Now a Melbourne Cup start awaits with Ventura Storm eligible for a penalty following his win in Saturday’s Group Two staying test. “A half-kilo would be nice,”… Read More »
It may have only been a restricted benchmark race, but as wins go, Royal Celebration’s victory at Randwick is particularly satisfying for his trainer Ron Quinton. The three-year-old colt was sent out the $2.50 favourite in Saturday’s Membership Handicap (1400m) after three frustrating seconds at his past three starts. Royal… Read More »
