Victoria’s premier trainer Darren Weir believes a weight-for-age win on Cox Plate day is the perfect springboard for Cliff’s Edge into a Group One handicap during the Melbourne Cup carnival. Weir plans to run Cliff’s Edge on a seven-day back-up in the Kennedy Mile at Flemington after the four-year-old got… Read More »
Tasmanian trainer Adam Trinder will resist the temptation to chase a first Group One victory after landing a career highlight at Moonee Valley. The victory of Mystic Journey in the Group Two Aquis Farm Fillies Classic on Saturday was the former jumps jockey’s biggest since taking out a trainers’ licence…. Read More »
Horse races that were scrapped across Queensland over a stand-off between the Palaszczuk government and the galloping industry could have gone ahead if officials acted sooner, the state opposition says. Saturday’s TAB thoroughbred meets at Brisbane’s Doomben, Gold Coast, Townsville and Toowoomba were cancelled after trainers, owners, jockeys and breeders… Read More »
Trainer Chris Waller says it is unlikely Charge will be added to his stable’s Coolmore Stud Stakes team after the colt scored a fighting win in a Group Three sprint at Moonee Valley. Waller is expected to have strong representation in next Saturday’s $1 million Group One Coolmore (1200m) at… Read More »
Tony McEvoy has received a pleasant surprise with Beauty graduating to stakes grade with her victory at Moonee Valley. The filly’s victory in the Listed Crockett Stakes on Saturday was her third from as many starts. Ridden by Luke Currie, Beauty ($13) scored a half-length win over Rainbow Girl ($5.50)… Read More »
John Sadler says he felt like an intruder after a mare only recently transferred to his stable scored a valuable stakes race win at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day. Shoko was trained by Peter Morgan who recently sent his horses to his mate Sadler and took a step back… Read More »
A trip to Perth is on the cards for Ashlor following his first-up victory on Cox Plate day at Moonee Valley. Trainer Dan McCarthy said he had entered the sprinter for the Winterbottom Stakes in December and victory in Saturday’s Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Handicap took the gelding a step… Read More »
Two-year-old Espaaniyah has shown her professionalism and precocity on debut to give training partners Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott a second straight Inglis Banner win at Moonee Valley. Espaaniyah was a $750,000 yearling and Bott and jockey Tim Clark have predicted bigger things are in store for her after her… Read More »
Oisin Murphy will miss the ride on Red Verdon in the Melbourne Cup after being suspended for careless riding on Manikato Stakes runner-up Spirit Of Valor. The English-based Murphy, who rides Benbatl in Saturday’s Cox Plate, and comeback jockey Dylan Dunn were both outed for incidents in Friday night’s Group… Read More »
There won’t be any TAB thoroughbred racing in Queensland on Saturday but the spring carnival will go ahead after a funding boost was approved by the state government. Representatives of the Thoroughbred Alliance met with Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe in Brisbane on Friday in an attempt to prevent strike action… Read More »
Hugh Bowman has warmed up for his ride on champion Winx by claiming the other Group One race at the two-day Cox Plate carnival, the Manikato Stakes. The Darren Weir-trained Brave Smash took out Friday night’s 1200m-sprint in a thrilling finish from Irish raider Spirit Of Valour with Kementari in… Read More »
Written Choice has posted a time that could prove hard to topple in the Moonee Valley 55 second Challenge. The Logan McGill-trained sprinter posted a time of 54.77 secs in claiming the third heat of the challenge on Friday night. The time was 0.08 secs outside the course record held… Read More »
Sydney visitor Nettoyer has appreciated a drop in grade to claim an impressive victory over the Cox Plate distance at Moonee Valley. Settling back in the field, the Wendy Roche-trained mare came widest on the home turn to win the Westin Melbourne Handicap (2040m) under Regan Bayliss. Nettoyer had been… Read More »
The Queensland thoroughbred racing industry will receive an additional $26 million for prize money with the state government agreeing to a deal after protests by participants over the distribution of funds from the new Point Of Consumption tax. Friday’s resolution has come too late to save Saturday’s races at Doomben… Read More »
Victorian trainers Lee and Shannon Hope have lost their long-running cobalt case, with an appeal judge finding both guilty over the deliberate and secret race-day administration of the substance. Shannon Hope was well aware he was giving horses substances he should not be administering and his father knew and did… Read More »
First emergency Nakeeta has earned a Moonee Valley Gold Cup start as the overseas stayer tries to improve his Melbourne Cup rating. The Scottish-trained Nakeeta forced his way into Saturday’s race when Lord Fandango was scratched on Friday. Nakeeta will be trying to secure a 2018 Melbourne Cup start after… Read More »
Spring Champion Stakes runner-up Aramayo is the new favourite for the Group Two Vase at Moonee Valley following the scratching of last-start Caulfield winner Verry Elleegant. Verry Elleegant heads betting on the VRC Oaks after an impressive victory in last Saturday’s Ethereal Stakes. She appears likely to run in Saturday… Read More »
Queensland will go racing this spring after the state government and industry figures reached an agreement to boost prize money for thoroughbred meetings. A deal brokered by Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and representatives of the Thoroughbred Alliance on Friday means an extra $26 million will be… Read More »
John Allen is free to ride on Victoria Derby day at Flemington after having a careless riding ban varied on appeal. Allen was suspended for eight meetings at Geelong on Wednesday but was able to get one meeting shaved off at an appeal on Friday against the severity of the… Read More »
Matt Cumani has seen enough to be hopeful two-year-old True Serendipity can make a strong showing on debut at Moonee Valley, even though the trainer admits it’s difficult to assess just how the colt will measure up in the lucrative Inglis Banner. True Serendipity has his first start in Saturday’s… Read More »
