Trainer Chris Munce will again have a strong hand at Doomben on Saturday hoping to continue his success in early season two-year-old races in Brisbane. A 43-time Group One-winning jockey, Munce has been training since January 2015 and has already clocked up about 160 winners. He has had a steady… Read More »
After another Caulfield failure in the Underwood Stakes, Grunt is in line for a return to his favoured Flemington track in the Turnbull Stakes and a daunting clash with champion Winx. Grunt has shown his liking for Flemington with three wins from four starts at the course including Group One… Read More »
Stablemates Invincible Star and English will have to pass veterinary inspections to take their places in the $13 million Everest. At the request of stewards, Racing NSW chief veterinary officer Dr Toby Koenig inspected the two Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained sprinters on Monday. Invincible Star beat just one runner… Read More »
Unbeaten colt Brutal has had a setback and will miss the rest of the spring carnival. Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes told Racing.com on Monday the exciting three-year-old had suffered a hock injury and was heading to the spelling paddock. Brutal loomed as one of the leading contenders for the Group One… Read More »
Thirteen horses have been nominated to take on champion Winx in the Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Saturday’s $500,000 Turnbull (2000m) is scheduled to be Winx’s final lead-in to her attempt at an unprecedented fourth Cox Plate win at Moonee Valley later in the month. Winx won last year’s… Read More »
Kris Lees will discuss the options with Smart Melody’s owners but says it’s likely the unbeaten filly will progress to the Group One Thousand Guineas for which she is favourite. If she runs in the race in Melbourne on October 13 she will need a new jockey with Brenton Avdulla… Read More »
St Leger winner Kew Gardens has been given the go-ahead to take on Enable in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp. The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt has had a good season with his Classic triumph at Doncaster adding to his victory in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and… Read More »
Damian Lane has been suspended following an adjourned inquiry from the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley. Lane rode the favourite Nature Strip in the Group One sprint on Friday night and Racing Victoria stewards suspended him on a careless riding charge for seven meetings when the hearing was held at… Read More »
Chris Waller says champion Winx is in perfect shape ahead of her racing return in Melbourne in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. It will be her first start in Victoria since defeating Humidor to claim a third straight Cox Plate at Moonee Valley last year. Saturday’s 2000m-Group One Turnbull Stakes… Read More »
Lloyd and Nick Williams’ Macedon Lodge stable is starting to strike top form as the spring carnival gets into full swing. The Taj Mahal won his way into 2018 Caulfield Cup calculations with victory at Moonee Valley on Friday night and is set to be joined by Homesman after his… Read More »
Smart Melody has maintained her unbeaten record with a strong on-pace victory in the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield. Jumping from 1100m to 1400m on Sunday, Smart Melody was sent off the $2.10 favourite and scoring a length victory over Thrillster ($15) in the Group Three-race. Smart Melody’s stablemate, El… Read More »
A return to Caulfield has brought out the best in Native Solider who outgunned his rivals to win the Caulfield Guineas Prelude. A winner over 1200m at Caulfield earlier in the month, Native Soldier left trainer Darren Weir slightly disappointed with his fifth placing at Flemington on September 15. That… Read More »
A furious Robert Heathcote has called on the racing industry to unite in protest at the Queensland government’s failure to allow for prize money increases in its new Point of Consumption tax distribution. The leading Brisbane trainer says the Queensland racing industry is being left behind. “We are falling further… Read More »
The Lloyd and Nick Williams-owned Irish import Homesman has won the Group One Underwood Stakes and a ticket to the Caulfield Cup. Homesman held off a determined challenge from Japanese import Tosen Basil whose Darren Weir-trained stablemate Humidor was third in Sunday’s 1800m-race at Caulfield. Nick Williams says Homesman will… Read More »
The plane carrying 19 European spring carnival contenders has finally arrived in Melbourne following a lengthy stopover in Sharjah. A cracked windscreen on the first leg of the journey between London and Sharjah delayed the flight which eventually landed in Melbourne, via Singapore, at 8am on Sunday, almost 20 hours… Read More »
Godolphin sprinter Trekking has continued his rise through the ranks to claim a stakes race at Caulfield. Trekking took out Sunday’s Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) after racing in Sydney at the start of his preparation. After notching two wins and a second from three starts, trainer James Cummings elected… Read More »
Veteran New Zealand trainer and breeder Brian Anderton has celebrated the Group One Metropolitan Handicap win of Patrick Erin with pride. Patrick Erin was bred by Patrick Smith who sent his mare Mega Babe to Gallant Guru at Anderton’s famous White Robe Lodge at Wingatui near Dunedin. Anderton nurtured and… Read More »
Jockey Beau Mertens has answered a call from Singapore and will ride at two upcoming meetings on a short-term licence. With a number of local riders out through suspension, Mertens was approached to ride in Singapore at meetings on Friday night and Sunday. “Matt Hyland approached me as I walked… Read More »
Queensland mare Houtzen will have a short freshen-up and be set for the Group One Manikato Stakes. Houtzen was fifth in the Group One Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night, an effort that pleased trainer Toby Edmonds as he reflected on her run. “If you look at the… Read More »
Stewards will ask jockeys and trainers to inspect the Ipswich track with them before the rescheduled race meeting at the track. Jockeys were upset they got the blame for last Wednesday’s Ipswich meeting being abandoned. A broken sprinkler soaked a part of the track past the winning post on Monday… Read More »
