Charlie Appleby is excited by the prospect of preparing the resurgent Emotionless for a tilt at the Caulfield Cup in October. The Shamardal colt was a brilliant winner of the Champagne Stakes as a juvenile three years ago, but disappointed on his next start in the Dewhurst and raced just… Read More »
The racing future of former champion sprinter Chautauqua is in jeopardy after he again refused to jump in a barrier trial at Rosehill. Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel says he will talk to connections later on Tuesday to discuss their intentions. Van Gestel says stewards now have to… Read More »
Having had seven winners across the past two spring carnivals in Victoria, Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby is set to start his stable’s assault on this year’s features in Melbourne earlier than usual. Racing Victoria says Appleby has confirmed plans to send three horses to Melbourne from his English base early… Read More »
Redzel has begun his quest for his defence of The Everest, running second in an 800m barrier trial at Gosford. Running without his race day blinkers on, Redzel settled behind the leader in Monday’s heat before taking over in the straight. Show Me The Honey passed him late to win… Read More »
Guineas-winning stablemates Grunt and Mighty Boss are set to clash in the P B Lawrence Stakes before going on separate spring paths. Grunt and Mighty Boss continued their preparations towards Saturday week’s Group Two P B Lawrence (1400m) in a barrier trial at Cranbourne on Monday, finishing second and third… Read More »
Group One winner I Am A Star is ready to make her first race appearance this year in the Aurie’s Star Handicap after impressing her trainer and jockey in a barrier trial at Cranbourne. I Am A Star has not raced since last spring, with a combination of issues forcing… Read More »
Exceltic will need to reproduce his two-year-old form in the Listed Rosebud at Rosehill to convince trainer Gary Portelli he can progress to the highest level. The colt is one of 12 entries for the season’s first three-year-old stakes race in Sydney on Saturday, a precursor to next month’s Group… Read More »
Multiple Group One-winning stablemates Shoals and Santa Ana Lane have taken another step in their build-ups towards The Everest, pleasing connections in a barrier trial at Cranbourne. The Anthony Freedman-trained Shoals and Santa Ana Lane both won three Group One races last season and have already secured slots in October’s… Read More »
Top Queensland three-year-old Ef Troop has come through a trial win in fine fettle and will begin his campaign at Doomben with Brad Stewart as his new jockey. Ef Troop is one of 13 entries for Saturday’s Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1110 metres while stablemate Outback Barbie, who also won a… Read More »
Bart Cummings’ former home, Princes Farm, will remain intact after being bought by Racing NSW. The governing body confirmed on Monday, the property near Hawkesbury Racecourse would be used for various purposes; a quarantine station, education facility for the industry workforce and to house retired racehorses in addition to the… Read More »
Triple Group One winner Le Romain has shown he is primed for his return to racing with a stylish win in a barrier trial at Gosford. Ridden by James McDonald in Monday’s 1000m-heat, the Kris Lees-trained gelding overhauled Northwest Passage to win by half a length. Le Romain is scheduled… Read More »
Godolphin’s Cross Counter could be bound for the Melbourne Cup after putting up a ruthless display of controlled front-running in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. Stepping up in class in the Group Three contest, the Charlie Appleby-trained runner was sent off a 7-4 chance in the hands of William Buick…. Read More »
John Allen has been quizzed about his tactics in the Grand National Hurdle at Sandown with stewards adjourning the inquiry to examine betting on the race. Allen rode the Darren Weir-trained Bit Of A Lad ($4.60) into third place behind Cougar Express in the 4200m-race on Sunday with the horse… Read More »
Although he has been associated with many of the major victories of Darren Weir, trainer Jarrod McLean has stepped onto the big stage in his own right preparing Cougar Express to win the Grand National Hurdle at Sandown. McLean prepares a team of 60 horses at Warrnambool for Weir and… Read More »
Voting has begun in the most open Queensland Horse Of The Year Award in the nearly 50-year history of the event. The winner has usually been clear-cut and dominated by champion Queensland horses dating back to Charlton Boy and Dalrello in the 1970s to Strawberry Road in the 1980s through… Read More »
Spring targets remain open for Le Romain with the multiple Group One winner on track to make his season return in the Show County Quality in Sydney. The Kris Lees-trained Le Romain ran second in a recent barrier trial at Newcastle and is set to trial again over 1000m at… Read More »
Lindsay Park import Poetic Dream is set to begin his spring campaign in a straight race at Flemington. The Irish-bred former German horse will run first-up in the Group Three Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) on Saturday wearing blinkers. Poetic Dream arrived at Lindsay Park having won twice in Germany from… Read More »
Former Victorian jockey Ryan Maloney hopes to make his Saturday metropolitan debut in Brisbane at the next Doomben meeting. Maloney rode a double for trainer Toby Edmonds aboard Tziporah and Dream Lover, at the Gold Coast on Saturday. It followed his win on the Edmonds-trained Ancient Aztec at Ipswich on… Read More »
Excellent Rhythm has given a dashing display of jumping to give trainer Rachael Cunningham the biggest win of her career. A $2000 purchase, Excellent Rhythm led from the outset to take out Sunday’s $125,000 Crisp Steeplechase (3900m) at Sandown. Holding a lead of approximately 25 lengths with 1200m to run,… Read More »
Queensland country trainer Victor Newman has been disqualified for a second time on a cobalt-related charge. Stewards opened an inquiry into a pre-race urine sample taken from the Newman-trained Sheezalair when she ran third at Warwick on April 14. At a resumed inquiry Newman was found guilty of a charge… Read More »
