Mr Sneaky steps to a more suitable distance for the second start of his spring campaign and will bid to stamp his Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes credentials at Moonee Valley. Mr Sneaky charged home for third in an on-pace dominated Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley first-up last month and… Read More »
Jockey Ryan Maloney is counting on the bombproof racing manners of Houtzen to bring about the downfall of Nature Strip at Moonee Valley. Nature Strip, shooting for a slot in next month’s $13 million Everest, is the $1.50 favourite to claim the Group Two McEwen Stakes with Houtzen an $8… Read More »
Australian Turf Club board members will elect a new chairman after Lauri Macri’s confirmation he will step down from the role. Macri has convened a special ATC board meeting for Tuesday to elect a new chair and vice-chair. He sent a letter to ATC members on Thursday of his intention… Read More »
A check of the betting markets on races at Moonee Valley and Rosehill has swayed Lindsay Park to tackle a Melbourne option with Muswellbrook. The three-year-old is a $6.50 chance in Saturday’s 1Print Handicap (1500m) at Moonee Valley while a $26 hope for the Group Two Stan Fox Stakes over… Read More »
Assertive Play’s introduction to Melbourne racing will give trainer Phillip Stokes a clearer picture on whether the unbeaten Adelaide filly is a Thousand Guineas contender. “It’s a really tough year this year. I think there’s a lot of good three-year-olds,” Stokes said. “We will head her that way, but if… Read More »
Golden Rose hopeful Sandbar has never been a flash worker on the training track. “He’s no superstar. Early days, the trackwork riders would say to me, ‘I can’t believe he’s competing in these sort of races’,” trainer Brad Widdup said. Widdup, who learned his trade under Peter Snowden and John… Read More »
Country trainer Paul Preusker hasn’t had many shots at the big time and will break new ground when Magic Consol runs in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley. Based at Horsham in western Victoria, Preusker has been training for more than 25 years and has had more… Read More »
Brisbane’s unsettled weather will decide if in-form gelding Glitra backs up at Doomben a week after his third at the Sunshine Coast. Glitra is set to have the first middle-distance start of his campaign in Saturday’s Madison Cleaning Services Handicap (2000m) Doomben was rated in the soft range on Thursday… Read More »
Ron Quinton is cautious about the chances of Daysee Doom starting her spring with a win but he assures she won’t be far away. The reliable mare has collected a prize money cheque at 20 of her 22 starts and he expects her to again be competitive in Saturday’s Group… Read More »
Warwick Farm trainer Clare Cunningham is hoping her knowledge of much-travelled gelding Rock Forthe Ladies will produce a win at Doomben. Rock Forthe Ladies will give Cunningham a rare Brisbane runner outside winter carnival time in the Ascot Plumbing Handicap (1350m). Cunningham is well known in Queensland through her work… Read More »
Underrated jockey Rikki Palmer has a golden opportunity to ride her first metropolitan double at Doomben on Saturday. Palmer has kept the mount on undefeated Beau Arrow in the St Margaret’s Handicap (1050m) and last-start winner Mystic Mist in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Fillies Handicap (1200m). She recently brought up her… Read More »
A horse carrying the colours made famous around the world by Winx has scored an emotional win on debut at Randwick. Winx’s co-owner Peter Tighe has a share in the Chris Waller-trained three-year-old Tough Larry and the gelding races his blue and white silks. His other owners include members of… Read More »
Exciting prospect Night’s Watch is the early favourite to secure a ballot exemption into several spring features when he steps up to Group company for the first time in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes. Night’s Watch is scheduled to back-up in Saturday’s 1600m weight-for-age race at Moonee Valley after… Read More »
A clash with boom sprinter Nature Strip looms for triple Group One winner Shoals in the McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley as the mare begins her path towards the $13 million The Everest. Shoals has a slot in next month’s Everest (1200m) at Randwick and Saturday’s weight-for-age McEwen (1000m) is… Read More »
Trainer Thomas Carberry won’t forget his hometown meeting at Ballarat where he prepared his first winner before making it a double. Carberry prepared $41 outsider Diplomatic Jack to win a maiden on Wednesday and three races later sent out Rakti Roulette to win a benchmark 64 race over 2200m. Diplomatic… Read More »
The Australian Trainers’ Association wants Racing Australia to step in to resolve an on-going saga of positive swabs in Victoria to equine products containing altrenogest ATA chief executive Andrew Nicholl said commercially sourced products containing altrenogest were widely used in racing stables across the country. They were an essential medication… Read More »
Leading jockey Jeff Lloyd needed all of his cool demeanour to continue his profitable association with trainer David Vandyke when The Mechanic won at Ipswich. Lloyd was shunted back to last in a six-horse field before driving The Mechanic, the $1.70 favourite, through a gap to score by a short… Read More »
As Bjorn Baker prepares to farewell stable mainstay Egyptian Symbol, barnmate Champagne Cuddles is emerging as the multiple stakeswinner’s heir apparent. Egyptian Symbol has been among the trainer’s most consistent performers but is nearing her racetrack swan song as broodmare duties beckon. At the other end of the career spectrum,… Read More »
New Zealand police have made three further arrests as part of their investigation into alleged race-fixing. Three men, aged 30, 42 and 49, were due to appear in Christchurch District Court on Wednesday afternoon on multiple drug-related charges. The 30-year-old man is also facing a charge of unlawful possession of… Read More »
Outright favouritism for the Group One Golden Rose will be up for grabs at Rosehill on Saturday when top fancies Graff and The Autumn Sun contest separate lead-up races. Chris Waller’s unbeaten colt The Autumn Sun will make his seasonal return in the Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) while Newcastle three-year-old… Read More »
