Moss Trip’s unplaced but encouraging showing in the Group One Surround Stakes has convinced Peter Snowden to give the filly a chance to race on in Queensland. The trainer originally thought the three-year-old filly would head for a spell after the Surround Stakes at Randwick on March 3, but instead… Read More »
Juvenile Archade gets the chance in city class at Doomben thanks to trainer Desleigh Forster’s ability to think outside the square. Archade will run in Saturday’s Two-Year-Old Handicap (1050m) which will be the launching pad for several winter carnival hopefuls. Trainers have been complaining about a lack of maiden two-year-old… Read More »
Veteran Toowoomba trainer Richie Stephenson will break his usual rule and back Emphasis up quickly at Doomben. Emphasis will tackle Saturday’s Listed Tails Stakes (1600m) as a stepping stone to Group races next month. The gelding was a first-up fourth at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday and Stephenson was thrilled… Read More »
Greg Hickman has an opportunity to emulate El Dorado Dreaming’s shock victory in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes with recent arrival Blazing Issue. El Dorado Dreaming produced an upset when she nabbed Golden Slipper runner-up Oohood in the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes last Saturday week. Blazing Issue, who was… Read More »
After one ride in a jump-out at Caulfield, Craig Williams believes there is a Group One win awaiting Nature Strip. The gelding makes his return from a short break in the VOBIS Gold Dash at Caulfield on Saturday ahead of a planned trip to Adelaide for next month’s Euclase Stakes… Read More »
Most jockeys don’t feel their careers have been fulfilled unless there is a Group One victory logged against their name. Damien Oliver has bagged 108, a tally he shares with Roy Higgins, in a 30-year career that is still going as strong as ever. Only George Moore, with 119, has… Read More »
A strong-finishing fourth in the Toowoomba Cup has trainer Tony Sears confident Don’t Tell Mama can run a strong 2200 metres at her first attempt at the distance at Doomben. Don’t Tell Mama will be having her second middle distance start in the Aussie Scone Open Handicap on Saturday. The… Read More »
With Winx having a well-deserved rest, Chris Waller’s attention turns to a new dimension to his stable when Japanese import Satono Rasen starts the Australian phase of his career. The six-year-old is one of two Japanese horses now with Sydney’s premier trainer and while Admire Winners will be held back… Read More »
Leading New Zealand trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have switched their attention from Sydney racing to the upcoming features at home. Their Sydney carnival runners have all returned home with Zacada’s Sydney Cup second the best result. In the Australian Derby Vin De Dance was fourth, Mongolian Marshal eighth,… Read More »
Stakes winning three-year-old Whypeeo has a strong trial win under his belt as he prepares to head a team from the Toby Edmonds stable at the Doomben meeting. Whypeeo will be having his first start for the winter carnival in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate (1050m) on Saturday. He hasn’t… Read More »
Trainer Mick Price will rely on Bassett as his sole representative in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield. Price also had early favourite Secret Agenda in Saturday’s 1100m-sprint but has elected to send the mare to Adelaide for the Group Three Irwin Stakes over the same distance at Morphettville…. Read More »
Few horses will carry a better first-up form line into a race than New Zealander Chocante at Doomben. The last time the five-year-old gelding resumed at 1600m he finished third to the super mare Winx in the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick. The Stephen Marsh Marsh-trained Chocante raced in… Read More »
New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski has bought a minority stake in a racehorse named Gronk, a three-year-old colt who will run in the Kentucky Derby. Gronk, a son of champion Australian racehorse and sire Lonhro, was bought by Phoenix Thoroughbreds for more than $400,000 in England last year. Trainer… Read More »
Chris Williams was well versed in punching above his weight long before he got the better of some of Sydney’s leading jockeys at the revamped Kensington course at Randwick. The 26-year-old from Bourke achieved a significant career milestone at the midweek meeting when he won on Ever So Natural in… Read More »
Trainer Wendy Kelly already had grander plans in the back of her mind for Vitani even before the filly’s maiden success at Sandown. Kelly has no doubts the three-year-old is of stakes grade quality and is already considering Adelaide or Brisbane carnival options. Sent off a $2.60 equal favourite under… Read More »
In his long career as steward, Racing Victoria chief Terry Bailey for the first time saw a new way for a horse to be declared a non-runner. Seattle Park, the fourth placegetter in Wednesday’s Polytrack Handicap, was denied a fair start to the 2100m race after stewards established the horse… Read More »
Hugh Bowman played a pivotal role in tormenting Hartnell when aboard champion mare Winx, and now the gelding finally gets to benefit from the world’s top rated jockey’s expertise. Bowman first gained a fresh perspective on Godolphin’s 40-race veteran in a barrier trial earlier this month and races him for… Read More »
Trainer Tony Sears continued his good run with the progeny of little-known sire Mail Train when first starter Mail Escort scored an upset win at Ipswich. First starter Mail Escort ($9.50) flashed home to beat Magic Lad ($6) by a short half-head with the heavily backed favourite Unlikely Story ($1.80)… Read More »
Gododdin has reinvigorated her racing career with a composed maiden victory on the new Kensington course at Randwick. The Exceed and Excel filly debuted in October in a maiden featuring future Golden Slipper runner Fiesta, but was then given time to develop by Godolphin. “She’s just taken a little while… Read More »
The young and the old combined to score an overdue city success at Sandown. Apprentice Jessica Eaton landed her first Melbourne city winner aboard the Gary Carson-trained Famelist in the Mypunter.com.au Handicap, giving the trainer his first city success in almost 16 years. Eaton broke her metropolitan duck in Perth… Read More »
