Magic Wand has given trainer Aidan O’Brien a sixth win in the Cheshire Oaks at Chester, a recognised trial for the main event at Epsom. One of three contenders for O’Brien, Magic came into the race a maiden after to starts but benefited from a pace-setting ride in the hands… Read More »
A better Doomben 10,000 barrier draw for In Her Time has trainer Ben Smith thinking her luck in Brisbane has finally changed. But he won’t be leaving anything to chance as the mare chases her second Group One win on Saturday. In Her Time has drawn barrier eight in a… Read More »
Trainer Mel Eggleston’s belief Oneness is more than a Gold Coast specialist is set to reap a stakes win at Doomben. Oneness was a strong second to Marsupial over 1350m at Doomben two weeks ago, prompting Eggleston to accept with Oneness in Saturday’s Listed Queensland Day Handicap over the same… Read More »
Counsel for Racing Victoria stewards has called for life bans for three of the offenders in the Aquanita case. In handing down his submission on penalty to the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Thursday, Jeff Gleeson asked that trainer Robert Smerdon be disqualified for life and also fined $100,000… Read More »
Leading Sydney jockey Kerrin McEvoy has been suspended for failing to ride out favourite Galina in a maiden race for fillies at Warwick Farm. McEvoy pleaded guilty before Racing NSW stewards and offered an explanation after the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Galina finished fourth in the Tab.com.au Plate (1200m). The… Read More »
It’s been a long time between drinks at the winners’ bar on a city track for Mornington trainer Kelvin Southey. The win of Laughing Heir in Wednesday’s Mypunter.com.au Handicap at Sandown was his first city success in 14 years. It was almost to the week since Southey saddled Chloe With… Read More »
Jockey Rikki Palmer had to survive a protest before continuing her run of scoring upset wins at the Gold Coast. Palmer rode Invinciboy ($6) who beat the well backed Its Choux Time ($3.60) and Angela’s Beauty ($3.70) in a three-way photo-finish to the Gerard Lighting Handicap (2200m). However, she then… Read More »
Royal Celebration could be in line for a dramatic jump in class to the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes in Brisbane after breaking his maiden at Warwick Farm. Trainer Ron Quinton lodged a nomination last week for the two-year-old feature at Doomben on June 9, and attempting that ambitious goal… Read More »
The legacy left by champion sire Flying Spur promises to be a long-lasting one, judging by the win of Toryjoy at Warwick Farm. Flying Spur, the broodmare sire of Toryjoy, died on Tuesday night at Arrowfield Stud, the famous thoroughbred nursery near Scone where he was raised before reaching the… Read More »
Mornington trainer John McArdle is developing a love-hate relationship with punters. At Morphettville last Saturday the McArdle-trained I’ll Have A Bit scored a knockout blow taking out the Group Two Euclase Stakes, returning a starting price of $151. Another McArdle roughie landed on Wednesday at Sandown with $21 chance Egyptian… Read More »
A four-hour round trip to ride Group One-bound filly Willo Titto in a barrier trial has paid off for jockey Jeff Lloyd at the Gold Coast. Lloyd drove from the Gold Coast to Caloundra two weeks ago to ride Willo Titto and several other horses in trials before being quick… Read More »
The placement of horses is the key to success as Cranbourne trainer John Price can attest. A former West Australian, Price has been training in Melbourne for around five years and from his past 40 starters has produced nine winners. He heads to Caulfield on Saturday to run Wise Hero… Read More »
As four first-time owners celebrated In Good Time’s win on debut at Dubbo, trainer Tracey Bartley attempted to add a touch of reality to the aftermath. “I told them it’s all downhill from here on in,” Bartley said. Thankfully, it hasn’t worked out that way with as the bargain buy… Read More »
Tony Pike is typical of New Zealand-based trainers who have cut back their winter carnival teams due to the closure of the Eagle Farm track. Cambridge based Pike has had plenty of success in Brisbane with horses such as Group One winners Sacred Elixir (JJ Atkins) and Provocative (Queensland Oaks)…. Read More »
Premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan has been quick to use local knowledge to have top Queensland hope Most Important primed for the Group One Doomben 10,000 on Saturday. Rain in Brisbane on Tuesday saw work on the Doomben course proper cancelled and several stables deferred until Wednesday morning. But Gollan… Read More »
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission says a decision on whether Liam Birchley can continue training in Queensland will be made this week. Birchley was one of eight people found guilty of an offence at the Aquanita inquiry in Melbourne and submissions about sentence will be made on Thursday. Commissioner Ross… Read More »
Doomben 10,000 favourites Redzel and In Her Time have drawn middle barriers for the Group One sprint. Redzel will launch his bid for successive 10,000 wins from gate six while In Her Time will jump from gate eight. Fourteen horses have accepted for the $700,000 Doomben 10,000, the first Group… Read More »
At least one of the Aquanita eight plans to keep fighting as the five trainers and three stablehands face potentially career-ending penalties over the cheating conspiracy. Multiple Group One-winning trainer Robert Smerdon and float driver Greg Nelligan potentially face life bans for being key players in the biggest scandal in… Read More »
The stop-start career of apprentice Tahlia Hope has been temporarily halted again following a fall at Wangaratta. Hope fell from Hold My Beer in the final stages of the Refridgetech Handicap on Monday. The Victorian Jockeys’ Association said scans had revealed Hope had a fractured collarbone. She claimed her first… Read More »
Angela Davies is keen for Machinegun Jubs to experience black-type racing for the first time, but the Gosford trainer is wary of launching the mare’s quest at Scone. The five-year-old has been nominated for the Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) but Davies fears the competition may prove too intimidating once the… Read More »
