James McDonald says he was left “speechless” after powering home on 8/1 shot Expert Eye to take out the group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. Former Godolphin jockey McDonald, who returned from a 18-month betting ban last month, powered through the field in the 1400m contest to win by… Read More »
Victorian apprentice Georgina Cartwright is hoping a trip to Sydney will lead to more opportunities in her home state during winter. The Geelong-based apprentice takes an important city ride when she renews her association with much-loved Jungle Edge in Saturday’s Winter Dash (1200m) at Randwick. Cartwright has partnered the sprinter… Read More »
Jim Byrne has kept himself in the race for his ninth Ipswich jockeys’ premiership after he and arch rival Jeff Lloyd both rode a winner at the midweek meeting. Ipswich is considered one of the three most important jockey premierships in Queensland because it is the major midweek track and… Read More »
An unfashionable gelding with no stakes grade experience has given Chris Waller one of the most satisfying wins of his training career. Mutarakem racked up a record 170th Sydney metropolitan win for the state’s premier trainer and, fittingly, Hugh Bowman was in the saddle to share the achievement. In just… Read More »
Trainer Tony McEvoy has called on apprentice Lachlan King in a bid to give Scottish Rogue some weight relief at Flemington. Scottish Rogue won consecutive starts at Pakenham and Sandown during May before finishing third at his most recent start at Flemington where he carried 59kg in an 1100m-race on… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott might have a blossoming Australian Derby contender on their hands after Thinkin’ Big made a successful start to his career at Canterbury. Co-trainer Bott has no hesitation in nominating the Derby next autumn as a potential target for the two-year-old colt after an authoritative debut… Read More »
Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller admits to being as surprised as anyone to learn Single Gaze would be joining his stable. Connections of the 2016 Group One Vinery Stud Stakes winner decided to sell the mare earlier this year with the expectation this year’s autumn carnival was her swan song… Read More »
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker has summed up what many trainers are thinking going into the Tattersall’s Tiara. Baker has race favourite Champagne Cuddles in the final Group One race of the season at Doomben on Saturday. Champagne Cuddles has been minor placed in her four attempts at Group One… Read More »
Trainer Gary Portelli has no qualms about sending Dio D’Oro out on a heavy track again after his last-start maiden win at Randwick. The Warwick Farm trainer will bring the promising colt back to Randwick on Saturday when a similar surface to the ground Dio D’Oro encountered earlier this month… Read More »
Leading country jockey Dan Ballard makes a return to Brisbane after more than a decade to ride Fab’s Cowboy in the $100,000 Battle of the Bush final at Doomben. Ballard won two apprentices’ titles on the Gold Coast where he was indentured to Alan Bailey from 2002. He was leading… Read More »
Sydney filly Champagne Cuddles has shortened to outright favourite after drawing barrier four in the Group One Tatt’s’Tiara at Doomben. Champagne Cuddles had been $6 equal favourite in most markets but was shortened to $5.50 after Tuesday’s barrier draw for the final Group One event of the season. There has… Read More »
Adelaide trainer Ryan Balfour says he couldn’t think of a better track to run Balf’s Choice at in search of winning form. Balf’s Choice, also an acceptor at Morphettville on Saturday, is set to run in the Brian Beattie Handicap (1400m) at Flemington where he will be ridden by Damien… Read More »
Favourite Champagne Cuddles has drawn barrier four in the Tatt’s Tiara at Doomben, the final Group One event of the season. A capacity field of 16 plus five emergencies has been declared for Saturday’s 1350m-race. Last year’s runner-up Prompt Response will start from gate three. The Bjorn Baker-trained Champagne Cuddles… Read More »
Frankie Dettori has teamed with trainer John Gosden to secure a treble on the opening day at Royal Ascot, highlighted by the victory of Without Parole in the St James’s Palace Stakes. Injury prevented Dettori riding at the meeting 12 months ago, but those memories were quickly banished with the… Read More »
Victorian trainers and vets have been advised to stop using products containing altrenogest. Racing Victoria’s Integrity Services Department says it has been made aware products containing altrenogest may contain levels of trenbolone and or trendione, which are banned substances with extended detection times. RV said it was liaising with the… Read More »
The Listed Winter Championship Final is the target for Galaxy Raider who will have his final lead-up in one of two races at Flemington. Trainer Grahame Begg has Galaxy Raider nominated for Saturday’s VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Heat 8 over 1400m and also a benchmark-78 over the same distance. Galaxy… Read More »
Consistent gelding Special Missile can add a new string to his bow when he steps up to 1600 metres for the first time at Randwick. Trainer John Thompson has set the four-year-old a fresh task after a sequence of near misses for the on-speed runner. Special Missile has raced up… Read More »
Racing Victoria stewards are continuing investigations into a horse trained by Mike Moroney returning a positive test to a banned substance. The Moroney-trained Equestria was tested following his win in a benchmark 64 class race at Bendigo on March 6. Racing Analytical Services Limited reported a post-race urine sample contained… Read More »
Trainer Matthew Smith has Plan B in place for Faraway Town if the mare is unable to make the field for the Group One Tatt’s Tiara at Doomben. Staying closer to home for the Winter Dash (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday has firmed as an option with the four-year-old likely… Read More »
Group One Commonwealth Cup favourite Equilateral looms as James McDonald’s most important ride at Royal Ascot but the Sydney-based jockey is also excited to don The Queen’s famous colours in another race during the meeting. McDonald is expected to have rides on all five days of the Royal meeting which… Read More »
