Despite recent criticism from several industry participants, Racing Victoria insists racing in the state is in good shape. RV has released figures for the 2017-18 season that show its KPIs were strong in many areas. Wagering turnover grew to $6.42 billion, an increase of 2.7 per cent despite a decline… Read More »
Sovereign Nation is one of three horses returning for a second crack at the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and his co-trainer David Hayes is hoping the sprinter-miler will fire fresh. Hayes’ Lindsay Park team has at least three runners in Saturday’s 1400m handicap at Caulfield including Sovereign Nation… Read More »
Carzoff is the latest confirmed high-profile withdrawal from the Group One Metropolitan. The Newcastle Gold Cup winner was removed from nominations for the Group One staying test on Thursday. Trainer Chris Waller told Racing NSW stewards Carzoff would be spelled instead of contesting the Metropolitan for which he was second… Read More »
Trainer Ron Quinton doesn’t have the horse numbers to compete with Sydney’s biggest stables. But in Daysee Doom and Dixie Blossoms he has the perfect advertisement for his talents as a horseman. “They’ve been the backbone of the joint for the last three seasons,” Quinton said. “Daysee has won over… Read More »
FACTS AND FIGURES ON THE GOLDEN ROSE Group One, 1400m, $1 million, three-year-olds, set weights HISTORY * Was the Peter Pan Stakes until 2002. The following year In Top Swing won the first running of the Golden Rose worth $1 million. * Elevated to Group One status in 2009 *… Read More »
Last year’s Everest runner-up Vega Magic has continued to tune up for his second shot at the world’s richest race on turf with a pleasing jumpout at Albury. Co-trainer David Hayes wanted to take Vega Magic from his Lindsay Park Euroa base in country Victoria across the border to the… Read More »
NATURALISM STAKES ENTRANTS IN LATEST CAULFIELD CUP BALLOT Saturday’s MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) carries a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption to the winner. Folkswood – 20th in Caulfield Cup ballot Red Cardinal – Not passed first elimination clause Ventura Storm – equal 37th Mighty Boss – equal 21st Our Venice… Read More »
Rising Red missed the 2017 spring carnival because of injury but his connections are hoping the New Zealand Derby runner-up can be a contender in feature staying races this time year. The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained gelding clashes with a host of other stayers trying to secure a prized… Read More »
Stoutly bred gelding Monaco Snob has gone from stable fool to a possible staying star in the space of one campaign. Monaco Snob will be chasing his third straight win in the Hotspot Titanium Handicap (2200m) at the Sunshine Coast. Trainer Robert Heathcote won the staying race at Doomben last… Read More »
Graff’s tilt at the $1 million Golden Rose could prove a career-defining race for trainer Kris Lees. Lees has enjoyed success at the highest level for more than a decade but to date his best horses have been fillies and mares like Samantha Miss and Lucia Valentina, or geldings such… Read More »
Trainer Phillip Stokes says the Jim Moloney Stakes at Caulfield will determine the spring path of Assertive Play. Options after Saturday are the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield next month or a freshen for shorter course races. After winning her first two starts at Morphettville over 1050m and 1100m in June,… Read More »
The influx of southern states sprinters into Queensland will see stakes-placed gelding Hi I’m Back drop in class this campaign. Hi I’m Back was far from disgraced in stakes class last campaign, running second in the Weetwood Handicap and Ascot Handicap before finishing unplaced at his last start in the… Read More »
Jockey Michael Hellyer has been able to parlay his first ride in a Group One race into a busy schedule at the Sunshine Coast. Hellyer will partner Baccarat Baby in Saturday week’s Group One Flight Stakes at Randwick. But first he will have eight rides at the Sunshine Coast on… Read More »
Premier Victorian trainer Darren Weir has been fined $5000 over the incorrect identification of seven horses which contested jump-outs at Ballarat. Racing Victoria stewards on Wednesday charged Weir under an Australian racing rule dealing with any person who makes a false or misleading statement or declaration in respect of any… Read More »
The ballot order is his enemy but former English hurdler High Bridge is attracting a groundswell of support to make an unlikely run towards Australia’s best spring staying races. High Bridge posted his second win from as many Australian starts, thanks to a level-headed Kerrin McEvoy ride, at Warwick Farm… Read More »
The training partnership of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are looking to follow a proven spring path with one of their latest three-year-old Classic hopefuls Tavirun. It means the last-start Moonee Valley winner will head to Sydney to run in Saturday’s Group Three Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill. The Gloaming… Read More »
Five-time champion trainer Tony Gollan began the climb back up the premiership ladder with a double headlined by exciting Hollaback Girl at Doomben. By his standard, Gollan has had a slow start to the season and was in fifth place on six winners coming into Wednesday’s meeting. But he bounced… Read More »
New Zealand mare Carnival is set to make her Australian debut for new trainers at Caulfield. A four-time winner from 13 starts, including one at stakes level, Carnival runs for Flemington father-and-son training partners Russell and Scott Cameron in Saturday’s Group Three Ladbrokes Odds Boost Handicap. It will be her… Read More »
Fresh from a breakout season, Brenton Avdulla will be out to make an immediate spring carnival impact when he rides at a Sydney Saturday meeting for the first time since July. Avdulla enjoyed a stellar 2017-18 season winning his first Golden Slipper on Estijaab and his maiden Sydney jockeys’ title… Read More »
Godolphin’s international visitor Jungle Cat will add interest and class to the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. But it is two of the global operation’s Australian-trained sprinters who are holding sway at the top of early betting. Jungle Cat, the Charlie Appleby-trained last-start Dubai Group One winner,… Read More »
