HIGH-PROFILE AQUANITA RACING INQUIRY GETS UNDERWAY WHAT IS THE CASE? It has been called Australia’s largest racing inquiry, given the number of charges and people involved. Racing Victoria stewards say most of the charges relate to the widespread and long-standing practice of alleged covert administration of bicarbonate to horses on… Read More »
Impressed by Pecans’ second Group Three win, trainer Joe Pride will now set the bar to the highest level with the mare to be aimed at the Stradbroke Handicap. Bought by syndication company Tricolours Racing from Godolphin, Pecans won the Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1200m) at Gosford in December… Read More »
There won’t be a $55,000 bonus cheque for country trainer Andrew Murray if Sunday Escape happens to win at Flemington. Not that the Sale horseman will mind. Sunday Escape runs over 1000m at Flemington on Saturday after winning the final race of the 55-second challenge at Moonee Valley at his… Read More »
Destiny’s Kiss has never shirked his workload and will continue his preparation towards the Queensland winter carnival on a quick turnaround when he runs at Rosehill. Trainer Joe Pride has no qualms backing the Nick Moraitis-owned nine-year-old up in Saturday’s Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m), seven days after the Hawkesbury… Read More »
Trainer Symon Wilde is confident the stars have aligned for Gold Medals ahead of the Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool. Two good flat runs, some impressive jumps trials and fine weather has the local horseman expecting a good performance in Tuesday’s feature on the opening day of the three-day carnival. Punters… Read More »
Brisbane Racing Club chairman Neville Bell has emphasised the club has applied only to lift heritage listing on a small section of Eagle Farm racecourse. The BRC has applied to delist sections of the racecourse land from the Queensland Heritage Register to make it possible for the future works on… Read More »
Capacity fields have been declared for three of the four feature races on days two and three of the Warrnambool carnival. Acceptances were taken on Monday for the Galleywood Hurdle and Wangoom Handicap to be run on Wednesday and the Grand Annual Steeplechase and Warrnambool Cup on Thursday. There are… Read More »
Barrier trials at Randwick will go ahead a day later than scheduled after heavy rain forced their postponement. Tuesday’s heats will remain the same with one trial scheduled to feature Group One winners Redzel and English. Redzel, second to Trapeze Artist in his latest outing in the TJ Smith Stakes,… Read More »
Multiple Group One-winning trainer Robert Smerdon was in the habit of cheating amid a widespread practice of giving horses covert race day treatments, an inquiry has heard. Racing Victoria stewards allege horses were given “top-ups” of bicarbonate over seven years, charging five trainers and three stablehands connected to management company… Read More »
Champion sire Pins has died at New Zealand’s Waikato Stud from complications caused by colic. The winner of the 2000 Australian Guineas when trained by Clarry Conners, the 21-year-old stallion, a son of Snippets, died suddenly on Sunday. “I was on course the day he won and knew then that… Read More »
Cracksman has made a brilliant return to win the Group One Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp. Having his first start since taking out the Champion Stakes in October, Cracksman blew the opposition away in the final furlong (200m) with a devastating turn of foot. Frankie Dettori had the John Gosden-trained Frankel… Read More »
The enigmatic Pakistan Star has been seen at his best in the Group One QEII Cup at Sha Tin, defying his critics with a brilliant victory. Pakistan Star has at times been banned for pulling himself up in races but showed no signs of his previous behaviour to win Sunday’s… Read More »
The high-profile inquiry into alleged race day treatments of horses in Victoria is set to get underway without its biggest names. The hearing, which begins on Monday in the County Court in Melbourne, is expected to take two weeks but already multiple Group One-winning trainer Robert Smerdon has said he… Read More »
Victorian trainer Anthony Freedman has unveiled a couple of Brisbane winter carnival contenders at the low-key Sunshine Coast meeting. Cabierro stamped herself as a Group 1 Queensland Oaks contender with her win in Sunday’s 1600m-Class One while Japanese import A Shin Rook made an impressive Australian debut to win a… Read More »
Co-trainer Graham Richardson is happy with New Zealand Group One winner Volpe Veloce’s preparation ahead of her trip to Queensland. The winner of the Railway in January tuned up for her upcoming Brisbane assignments with a gritty run for second under 60kg at Te Rapa on Saturday. It was her… Read More »
Port Macquarie trainer Jenny Graham has amended her plans for stable star Victorem after the gelding’s five-race winning streak ended in the Group Three Hawkesbury Guineas. Graham had planned to take the three-year-old to Scone for the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) on May 12. But a tough run over… Read More »
Queensland’s chances of ending a 35-year drought in the Group One Doomben Cup seem remote as two of the state’s best distance horses, Rudy and Honey Toast, missing from the nominations. Entries close for the Brisbane winter carnival Group One races on Tuesday morning while nominations for Saturday’s Group Two… Read More »
Leading trainer Darren Weir has three strong chances as he bids for a second Australasian Oaks in Adelaide. Sopressa and Pleasuring, who both had their last starts in Adelaide, will be joined by Flemington winner Think Bleue in the 2000m Group One race for three-year-old fillies at Morphettville on Saturday…. Read More »
Top Queensland three-year-old filly Houtzen has been confirmed as a Doomben 10,000 runner, setting up a fascinating three-state tussle in the Group One sprint. The 2017 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner, Houtzen has raced well in her three-year-old season winning the Group Three P J Bell Stakes at Randwick and… Read More »
Nina Carberry has announced her retirement from the saddle a day after weighing-room rival and sister-in-law Katie Walsh revealed she too was bowing out. Like Walsh, Carberry chose to make her decision public after riding a winner at the Punchestown Festival aboard Josies Order for trainer Enda Bolger. Carberry has… Read More »
