Country trainer Mark Schmetzer hopes a win by Majestic Pedrille in the Highway Handicap at Randwick will pave the way for the Kosciuszko next year. The Muswellbrook trainer was disappointed not to make Saturday’s $1.3 million Kosciuszko with either Love None or Majestic Pedrille. “We’re hoping for the best. It… Read More »
Everest racegoers may be wishing for clear skies come Saturday but blue and white will also be on the mind of the race day’s fashion judges. Celebrity Milliner Viktoria Novak will have the day’s theme, blue and white, in mind when it comes to judging the Harrolds Fashion Chute competition…. Read More »
CAULFIELD STAKES 2000m, $1 million, weight-for-age HISTORY * First run in 1886 when won by Isonomy * Group One since 1979 Run over 1800m 1886-1967 except for 2000m in 1887 & 1888, returned to 2000m in 1968 NOTABLE WINNERS * Wakeful (1901, 02), Amounis (1930), Tranquil Star (1942), Bernborough (1946),… Read More »
Kris Lees holds a strong hand in the Group One Thousand Guineas with two of the favourites and the Newcastle trainer is not discounting his chances in the $2 million Caulfield Guineas with Gem Song. Lees has Smart Melody and El Dorado Dreaming in Saturday’s Thousand Guineas for fillies at… Read More »
The final group of international contenders scheduled to contest spring carnival features are bound for Melbourne. A group of eight horses, all nominated for the 2018 Melbourne Cup, departed London on Friday morning (AEDT) and are scheduled to arrive in Victoria on Saturday to begin two weeks of post-arrival quarantine… Read More »
The certainty of a wet track at Randwick has boosted Chris Waller’s confidence import One Foot In Heaven can break his Australian duck. The former French galloper will be one of three Waller-trained runners in Saturday’s $500,000 St Leger Stakes (2600m) joining Metropolitan Handicap winner Patrick Erin and Libran. But… Read More »
Trainer Phillip Stokes is forgiving of Music Bay’s unplaced run in her Thousand Guineas lead-up and is confident the filly is poised to do better than her odds suggest in the Group One race at Caulfield. Music Bay loomed to challenge Smart Melody at Flemington in the Cap D’Antibes Stakes… Read More »
Threats of strike action by the Queensland racing industry on Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate Days have eased, but the industry is warning it still wants a resolution to its dispute with the state government over the new betting tax. An alliance of various racing bodies including jockeys, trainers and… Read More »
Rain in Brisbane has given trainer Lauren Herne a chance not only to train her first metropolitan winner at Doomben but also her first double. Herne will saddle handy wet trackers Kievann (Shangri La Gardens Open Handicap ) and Allknight Saint (Benchmark 85) on Saturday. A former jockey, Herne took… Read More »
Threats of strike action by the Queensland racing industry on Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate Days have eased, but the industry is warning it still wants a resolution to its dispute with the state government over the new betting tax. An alliance of various racing bodies including jockeys, trainers and… Read More »
In-form trainer Robert Heathcote has decided to give promising Zofonic Dancer a second chance to prove he is a stayer at Doomben. Heathcote accepted with Zofonic Dancer in open handicaps over 1600m and 2000m on Saturday but has elected to go with the longer race. Heathcote has been in great… Read More »
Chris Waller is keeping his options open for the remainder of Unforgotten’s spring campaign after she runs in the Group One Caulfield Stakes. The Waller-trained D’Argento and Unforgotten filled the minor placings in the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick behind Godolphin’s Hartnell on September 29 and the stablemates… Read More »
Godolphin’s Emotionless will undergo a bone scan on the eve of the acceptance deadline for the Caulfield Cup before a decision is made whether he is paid up for the $5 million handicap. The English horse Emotionless pulled up lame after a track gallop at the Werribee quarantine centre last… Read More »
Doomben has handled two days of rain without any problems and racing is set to go ahead on a heavy track. The track received about 12mm of rain on Thursday taking the total to 43mm for the week. Track manager Jim Roberts walked the track on Friday morning and reported… Read More »
On the day he is officially crowned champion jockey for a third time, Silvestre de Sousa will begin a lengthy suspension, one that crucially ends in time for him to be available to ride Withhold in the Melbourne Cup. De Sousa will miss Champions Day at Ascot after receiving an… Read More »
The alliance protesting state government treatment of Queensland’s racing industry has decided to suspend proposed strike action. The group made up of trainers, jockeys, owners and breeders had been planning to strike on Cox Plate day (October 27) and Melbourne Cup day (November 6). The group is upset at a… Read More »
CAULFIELD GUINEAS 1600m, $2 million, three-year-olds, set-weights HISTORY * First run in 1881 when won by Wheatear * Group One from 1979 * Run at Flemington 1940-43 NOTABLE WINNERS * Sweet Nell (1903), Heroic (1924), Ajax (1937), Tulloch (1957), Vain (1969), Sobar (1972), Luskin Star (1977), Manikato (1978), Soverign Red… Read More »
Native Soldier has been a dominant winner the past two times he has been to Caulfield and apprentice Ben Allen is hoping a similar scenario can play out in the $2 million Group One Caulfield Guineas. The Darren Weir-trained Native Soldier has a formidable opponent in star colt The Autumn… Read More »
Victory in the Herbert Power Stakes will make life easier for three European horses being aimed at starts in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. A Prince Of Arran, Prize Money and Yucatan run in Saturday’s 2400m handicap at Caulfield looking to work their way up the order of entry. The… Read More »
Kosciuszko contender After All That isn’t the best horse Rod Northam has trained but he is the gamest. And the Hunter-based horseman is hoping that counts for plenty when After All That takes on 11 rivals in Saturday’s $1.3 million The Kosciuszko, a race restricted to country-trained horses. Northam had… Read More »
