The all-jumps program to open an abbreviated Warrnambool carnival has attracted strong nominations in six races. The May three-day carnival has been shortened this year because of COVID-19 restrictions and opens on Tuesday featuring Australia’s longest race, the Grand Annual Steeplechase. Gold Medals and Zed Em, who have shared the… Read More »
Four-year-old Irish Songs has fulfilled an ambition for Goulburn trainer Kurt Goldman with victory in the Wagga Town Plate. Goldman was confident Irish Songs would win Thursday’s $160,000 Town Plate (1200m), the feature race on the opening day of the annual two-day racing carnival at Wagga Wagga in the NSW… Read More »
He might have underestimated the challenges of relocating to a new state but former South Australian trainer Mark Minervini has no regrets about his move to Newcastle. Having forged a successful 30-year career in Adelaide training horses like Group Two winners Go The Knuckle and Vormista, Minervini had, like many,… Read More »
Off the scene since finishing second to the talented Rubisaki at Flemington last season, three-year-old The Astrologist is poised to make his return to competition at Sandown. The Astrologist did most of his build-up from Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s South Australian base before being sent to their Flemington stable to… Read More »
The next phase of John O’Shea’s stable rebuild is being rolled out in the coming weeks as he targets some of the better off-season races with a progressive group of horses. O’Shea has adopted a slow and steady approach since he relaunched his career as an independent trainer after a… Read More »
Queensland will join a national free-to-air coverage of racing on Network Seven during its winter racing. But negotiations for Sky Channel’s premier station to show Brisbane full-time on free-to-air television have stalled. It means there will be two coverages of the four winter meetings – Sky and Network Seven which… Read More »
Caloundra trainer Stuart Kendrick could reach 900 career winners this weekend with promising filly Uncomplicated leading the way at Doomben. Kendrick recorded his 64th winner for the season and his 897th overall when All To Do won at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday. He has eight runners at the Sunshine… Read More »
Phillip Stokes will be watching from interstate when Selica strives to give the trainer his third win in the Group One Australasian Oaks at Morphettville. Stokes has long operated an Adelaide stable and won four-straight South Australian state trainers’ premierships. In the past 18 months he has opened a stable… Read More »
The Golden Slipper came too soon for Wild Ruler but the youngster is set to get his chance in Group One company sooner rather than later. Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Wild Ruler will resume in Saturday’s Cellarbrations Handicap (1000m) on the Kensington track ahead of a tilt at… Read More »
Trainer Colin Little has always felt Vegas Knight had the potential to win a Derby in Australia. But the chances of Vegas Knight contesting a Derby hinge on his performance at Sandown on Saturday. The South Australian Classic on Saturday week is the final Group One Derby in Australia this… Read More »
Australia’s top sprinter Nature Strip has secured his spot in The Everest and will run for the TAB which has posted him $4 favourite. The four-time Group One winner is trained by Chris Waller and won the TJ Smith at his most recent start. “It’s really exciting to partner with… Read More »
Apprentice Stephanie Thornton has a strong book of rides at Doomben as she chases another career milestone. She is set to join an elite group of apprentice jockeys who have outridden their metropolitan claim. Her win on Just Orm at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday was her 79th at a… Read More »
Dual Group One winner Castelvecchio will not race as a four-year-old with Arrowfield announcing he will join the stallion roster later this year. Arrowfield boss John Messara says the decision to retire Castelvecchio has been made because of the impact of coronavirus on the stud’s plans for the upcoming season…. Read More »
A change of tactics brought about by the disappointment of defeat has led to Street Icon lining up for a Group One assignment in Adelaide. Trainer Kevin Corstens was left scratching his head after the mare finished a weakening seventh in a Group Three race in Hobart in February. Corstens… Read More »
Trainer Kelly Schweida hopes a big weight advantage can help The Odyssey overcome a tricky barrier as the gelding moves closer to becoming a millionaire. The gelding has earned $920,000 from his seven wins and four placings from 16 starts and in a typical three-year-old handicap would carry about 62kg…. Read More »
Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds believes there is plenty of improvement in two-year-old Wisdom Of Water, winner of a recent barrier trial win by a huge margin. Wisdom Of Water will be having his first start since finishing fourth in the Magic Millions Classic when he runs in the TAB… Read More »
Star colt Yes Yes Yes will stand his first season at Coolmore Australia for $38,500 with Fastnet Rock heading the stallion roster at $165,000. The Chris Waller-trained Yes Yes Yes by Rubick won the $15 million The Everest in his final start in October. The other two new additions to… Read More »
Churchill Downs will open stables at the track and training centre in phases before races are run during its spring meeting without spectators. The historic track has postponed the Kentucky Derby from May 2 to Sept. 5 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will mark the first time since 1945… Read More »
Two-year-old filly Marboosha has continued a promising start to her racing career with a city win at Warwick Farm to remain unbeaten from two starts. Bringing up the first of two winners on Wednesday’s program for co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden, Marboosha sat three-wide on the pace in the All… Read More »
Russian Camelot will have a jump-out at Flemington after missing an important lead-up race to the South Australian Derby. The Danny O’Brien-trained three-year-old is down to trial over 800m at Flemington on Friday morning. An inflamed throat forced Russian Camelot to miss last Saturday’s Peter Armytage Handicap (1700m) at Flemington,… Read More »
