James Cummings is relying on instinct to run Hartnell in the Toorak Handicap, despite the Godolphin star needing to set a metric-era weight-carrying record to win the Group One race. The last-start Epsom Handicap winner has 59kg, with no horse carrying more weight to win the Toorak since Tobin Bronze… Read More »
Kris Lees is in an enviable position in more ways than one heading into the $13 million Everest. Lees has three runners, the most of any Everest trainer. And the Newcastle trainer is also one of the least worried if the world’s richest race on turf is run on a… Read More »
Cranbourne trainer Matthew Brown says it’s exciting to be taking on some of the biggest names in Australian racing in the Caulfield Guineas 2018. Mr Exclusive will be Brown’s first runner at Group One level on Saturday and what makes the occasion more exciting is the three-year-old is family-bred and… Read More »
Dwayne Dunn has an enviable list of big-race wins at Caulfield to his name and the jockey is striving to add to it on one of Victorian racing’s feature spring days. Dunn’s 12 Group One wins at the venue include a Caulfield Cup, four Blue Diamonds and two Caulfield Guineas…. Read More »
Everest jockey Corey Brown says it won’t be long before the $13 million The Everest attracts interest from the United States. As the world’s richest race on turf welcomes its first overseas runner in the Irish-trained US Navy Flag, Brown can envisage the sprint expanding its global horizon. “Obviously European… Read More »
Trainer Matt Dunn was shattered when forced to withdraw The Kosciuszko favourite Care To Think but he is a chance of some consolation with his younger brigade at Doomben. Dunn scratched Care To Think from the $1.3 million Randwick race on Wednesday morning when the gelding was found to have… Read More »
A rain-affected track is shaping as the pivotal factor for Luvaluva in her bid to return to the winners’ circle in the Group Three Craven Plate at Randwick. Trainer John Sargent said the mare struggled to stretch out on the firm ground when fifth to Ace High in the Hill… Read More »
Trainer Bruce Hill has put his faith in Taillevent as an open company performer as the gelding aims to end a sequence of unlucky city runs on Saturday. Hill believes Taillevent is one of the most talented yet unlucky horses he has had in his stables in recent years. “I… Read More »
Epsom Handicap winner Hartnell headlines a field of 18 plus one emergency for the Group One Toorak Handicap. Hartnell will be reunited with jockey James McDonald for the first time since their 2016 Melbourne Cup minor placing. The James Cummings-trained Hartnell has top weight of 59kg and barrier seven for… Read More »
Three internationals figure among the 12 acceptors in a star-studded Group One Caulfield Stakes. Cox Plate invitee Benbatl, trained by Saeed Bin Suroor for Godolphin, will make his Australian debut in Saturday’s 2000m race from barrier one. He will be joined by the Charlie Appleby-trained Godolphin runner Blair House (barrier… Read More »
Trainers have asked for the Ipswich meeting be rescheduled as soon as possible after racing was abandoned for the second time in two weeks. Stewards inspected the track at 6am on Wednesday and found while it was rated a heavy eight in most parts, a section of track past the… Read More »
Pat Cosgrave and James Doyle will fly from Europe to Melbourne to ride leading Godolphin contenders in Group One races at Caulfield. Cosgrave will be aboard the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Benbatl in Saturday’s Caulfield Stakes (2000m) while Doyle will ride Blair House in the race for trainer Charlie Appleby. Doyle… Read More »
Last year’s winner Redzel is one of four $7 equal favourites for The Everest after drawing barrier one in the $13 million race. The others at $7 with the TAB are Shoals who starts from barrier two, Vega Magic gate seven and Trapeze Artist six. Irish visitor U S Navy… Read More »
Redzel will jump from the inside gate in his defence of the $13 million Everest while Viddora has drawn the outside barrier in the field of 12. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Redzel is one of four $7 equal favourites with the TAB for Saturday’s 1200m-race at Randwick. The others… Read More »
The Queensland government is considering demands from the racing industry over the state’s new gambling tax. Stirling Hinchliffe and Treasurer Jackie Trad both met with thoroughbred racing officials on Tuesday, amid threats to strike on Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup day unless money from the new tax is directed back… Read More »
James Cummings will set Melbourne Cup favourite Avilius on the same path as Saintly by running the stayer in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Unbeaten in four starts since arriving in Australia, Avilius leapt to the top of Melbourne Cup betting with his victory in The Bart Cummings at… Read More »
Smart Melody remains the horse to beat in the Thousand Guineas after the barrier draw for the Group One race but trainer Troy Corstens is hoping Thrillster can turn the tables on the favourite. Thrillster was beaten a length when runner-up in the Thousand Guineas Prelude, splitting the Kris Lees-trained… Read More »
The drama surrounding the $13 million Everest continues with Godolphin’s Home Of The Brave ruled out of the race with a temperature. His withdrawal meant slot holder, the Australian Turf Club, needed to choose another runner and it has selected Home Of The Brave’s stablemate Osborne Bulls. Racing NSW chief… Read More »
The racing alliance which is threatening strike action at two major meetings believes it has had a fair hearing at a meeting with the Queensland state government. But the alliance made up of trainers, jockeys, owners and breeders say the fate of the proposed strike remains in the hands of… Read More »
Star jockey James McDonald has the job on Smart Melody in the Thousand Guineas but the man who has been riding the unbeaten filly in important gallops believes the favourite is in terrific shape for her biggest test yet. Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ assistant Mal Ollerton put Smart Melody through… Read More »
