Debutante Symi has lived up to her breeding to win at Canterbury and put jockey Tommy Berry on the board after his return home from a season in Hong Kong. A sister to 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy, is raced by prominent owner-breeder Alan Bell and trained by Hawkes… Read More »
Untapped Aramayo is on the way towards improving his standing among Godolphin’s equine hierarchy after winning at Canterbury. A half-brother to the 2014 ATC Australian Derby runner-up Tupac Amaru, Aramayo stamped himself as a distance horse of the future with a clear-cut win over 1550m on Wednesday. As it stands,… Read More »
A turf meeting has been added to the upcoming scheduled in country Victoria after a meeting at Bendigo had to be abandoned because of wet weather. Wednesday’s Bendigo meeting was called off on race morning after 21mm of overnight rain left surface water on parts of the track. Racing Victoria… Read More »
A benchmark 70 race at a metropolitan city meeting is not your usual stepping stone to later spring features. But that’s what trainer Tony McEvoy is hoping when Illumicon runs in the VRC Member James Hibberd Handicap over the straight 1200m course at Flemington on Saturday. McEvoy holds Illumicon in… Read More »
Promising filly Baccarat Baby gained some valuable education as she took the first step towards a possible Melbourne campaign at Caloundra on Wednesday. A prohibitive favourite, Baccarat Baby ($1.28) had only three rivals who were quickly reduced to two when Hot Sock missed the start by 10 lengths. Jim Byrne… Read More »
The spring carnival prospects of Brave Song will be put to the test in the Group Three Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington. Brave Song faces a field on Saturday which includes a Newmarket Handicap runner-up Voodoo Lad, Group One winner I Am A Star, imports Home Of The Brave and… Read More »
Brad Widdup is keeping an open mind on a seasonal return for Sandbar despite the disappointment of a wide barrier in the Rosebud at Rosehill. Sandbar has drawn the deepest of nine runners to accept in a Listed race that is a stepping stone to next month’s $1 million Golden… Read More »
Star sprinter Redzel has come through the first public appearance of his latest preparation in fine order as he continues his build-up towards his defence of The Everest. Redzel stepped out in a barrier trial at Gosford on Monday and finished second in his 800m heat, doing all co-trainer Peter… Read More »
Strong efforts at their last starts has trainer Kelly Schweida hopeful stable stalwarts Outraged and Stella Ombra can reach prize money milestones on Saturday. Outraged will pass $600,000 in earnings if he wins Brisbane BMW Handicap while Stella Ombra will bring up $400,000 by taking out the MODA Events Portside… Read More »
Unbeaten colt The Autumn Sun has been installed favourite for the $2 million Caulfield Guineas after the release of nominations for the Group One race for three-year-olds. The TAB has posted Group One winner The Autumn Sun at $14 for the 1600m race on October 13 after 267 nominations were… Read More »
The Seymour racetrack has been given extra time to regenerate, resulting in the transfer of four meetings. The track came in for criticism when last raced on in April, its first meeting since December 2017, when large clods of turf were dislodged. Following testing and analysis, Racing Victoria and the… Read More »
Queensland stewards have again warned trainers about ensuring their horses do not have access to wood shavings or wooden posts which have been treated with arsenic. There have been at least eight cases in the past 18 months in Queensland where trainers have been charged after their horses returned positive… Read More »
The Cox Plate is 80 days away and Winx’s part-owner Peter Tighe is trying not to think about it. Tighe, who part-owns the mare with Debbie Kepitis and Richard Treweeke, said he was leaving all the preparation worry to trainer Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman. Winx is preparing for her… Read More »
The racing future of outstanding sprinter Chautauqua is in jeopardy after he again refused to jump in a barrier trial at Rosehill. Chautauqua stayed in the barrier on Tuesday for the sixth time in seven attempts since February. Tommy Berry eventually pushed him out of the gate and he went… Read More »
International entries are up for Winx’s bid at a fourth Cox Plate but Australian trainers are wary of tackling the champion in the $5 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. There have been 135 horses nominated for this year’s race, down from 141 last year while international representation is up… Read More »
While most of the attention at the Rosehill barrier trials centred on Winx and Chautauqua, Everest favourite Trapeze Artist has pleased his trainer Gerald Ryan with his first appearance ahead of his spring campaign. Winx trialled exceptionally well over 1000m and Chatauqua eventually came out of the gates 200m after… Read More »
Winx is happy, trainer Chris Waller is happy and her jockey couldn’t be any happier. Hugh Bowman has given the champion a testing hit-out in a Rosehill barrier trial and declared it her best pre-race performance. The mare finished an eye-catching third behind Group One winners Alizee and Ace High… Read More »
Champion racemare Winx could face some stiff international competition as she attempts a fourth consecutive Cox Plate victory. Winx is one of 135 horses nominated for the $5 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 27. Twenty-six international gallopers have been entered and the contingent includes Europe’s highest-rated horse,… Read More »
Melbourne’s weather will determine if talented sprinter Ability takes his place in the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington. Trainer Henry Dwyer said Ability was a 50-50 chance to run in Saturday’s Group Three race over the straight 1200m course. “It depends if we get any rain or not,” Dwyer said…. Read More »
Tom Melbourne has returned from a spell with a strong Gold Coast barrier trial effort as he prepares for spring carnivals in NSW and Victoria. A winner of five races but a runner-up 10 times in a 31-start career, Tom Melbourne was having his first hit-out since a winter spell… Read More »
