Toowoomba trainer Kevin Kemp has gone from the basement to the penthouse with his gambles for rising star Mr Marbellouz’s next start. Kemp entered Mr Marbellouz, who has won six of his seven starts, for the Listed Weetwood Handicap and a Class 6 Plate at Toowoomba two weeks ago. But… Read More »
Glyn Schofield has given the new Kensington Track at Randwick an early endorsement after saluting on Godolphin filly Gododdin. Schofield was already familiar with the revamped surface through a series of barrier trials and his positive outlook was reinforced after Gododdin won the All Too Hard Vinery Handicap (1300m).. “Kenso’s… Read More »
Seabrook was her own worst enemy in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes, and now the barrier draw has conspired against the filly’s prospects of finishing this campaign on a high. Caulfield-based trainer Mick Price tried to put on a brave face after the two-year-old was allocated a wide gate for… Read More »
Lindsay Park co-trainer Tom Dabernig is expecting a turnaround in fortunes with imported galloper Fastnet Tempest when he runs in a Listed race at Caulfield. A winner at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week for English trainer William Haggas, Fastnet Tempest has had two runs for Lindsay Park this autumn with… Read More »
All Aged Stakes favourite Trapeze Artist has drawn barrier eight as the Gerald Ryan-trained colt bids for successive Group One victories at Randwick. The three-year-old, who won the TJ Smith Stakes in his previous start, is one of 13 runners for the $600,000 feature over 1400m. A field of 13… Read More »
Trainer Anthony Freedman begins a winter carnival campaign with some well-known stakes horses but it will be an Australian debutant holding equal interest. Freedman has entered Mr Sneaky in the Listed Ascot Handicap, Exocet and Bedford in the Listed Tails Stakes as well as Japanese import A Shin Rook at… Read More »
Champion mare Winx could start her spring campaign with a new Group One renamed to recognise her greatness. The Australian Turf Club has announced the Warwick Stakes will now be known as the Winx Stakes (1400m). The world’s best horse on turf has won the past two editions of the… Read More »
Cue Card’s owner Jean Bishop has paid tribute to the popular steeplechaser after announcing his retirement. Bishop and trainer Colin Tizzard had planned to give the 12-year-old a final outing in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown on April 28, but after he failed to show his usual exuberance in his… Read More »
Mick Kinane recalled fond memories of a “wonderful horse” after the death was announced of Giant’s Causeway at the age of 21. Kinane, who rode Vintage Crop to Melbourne Cup success in 1993, knew the former Aidan O’Brien inmate better than anyone, having been at the helm for 12 of… Read More »
Racing Victoria stewards have adjourned an inquiry into the riding tactics adopted by Billy Egan in a race at Mornington. Egan rode the Patrick Payne-trained Zizzis in Monday’s 1000m race for two-year-old fillies. Zizzis, winner of the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic at Morphettville at her previous start, was sent off… Read More »
Racehorse trainers Lee and Shannon Hope want three urine samples to be re-examined with a high-tech new testing method as they fight lengthy bans for giving cobalt to horses. Lee Hope was disqualified for three years and his son Shannon for five in November 2015 when they were found guilty… Read More »
Jean Dubois has high expectations for Guerrier as the colt prepares to emulate stablemate Aylmerton by taking on Group One opposition. The Goulburn trainer has six juveniles in work, and now a second will attempt to make his mark in elite company. Guerrier makes the leap from a maiden win… Read More »
Trainer John Sadler says only a heavy track will keep highly promising three-year-old Nature Strip from his racetrack return at Caulfield. The winner of four of his five starts, Nature Strip contests the VOBIS Gold Dash (1100m) on Saturday. He will run for Sadler for the first time having started… Read More »
Fell Swoop is headed for uncharted territory as Matt Dale makes another attempt to coax the dual TJ Smith Stakes placegetter from a form slump. A permanent move to the Canberra trainer’s satellite stable at Moruya over autumn is yet to pay dividends for the six-year-old who has not won… Read More »
Trainer Henry Dwyer has gathered some new intelligence about Theanswermyfriend from the last time he ran at Caulfield. The gelding was having his second start for Dwyer after being transferred from Robert Smerdon when a fading 14th in the Group Three Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on March 31. Theanswermyfriend… Read More »
Trainer David Payne hopes the form out of a Newcastle maiden will hold Select Royal in good stead when the gelding has another attempt to win his first race, this time at Randwick. Select Royal was fourth on debut over 1200m last month in the race at Newcastle in which… Read More »
One rival trainer excited to see the debut win of Lindsay Park’s Ocean Knight is Shea Eden. The Cranbourne-based Eden bought the yearling brother to the two-year-old at the Karaka sale in New Zealand earlier this year. “We identified quite early the Ocean Parks were a breed to look at… Read More »
Ryan Maloney will front Racing Victoria stewards after a urine sample provided by the jockey was found to contain a banned substance. Stewards received a report from Racing Analytical Services Limited confirming the sample provided by Maloney at Caulfield on March 31 contained a banned substance in accordance with Australian… Read More »
One person not surprised by the second placing of Turnitaround in a stakes race at Caulfield is his trainer Matthew Williams. What did surprise Williams was the $51 about the gelding for his first-up second in the Group Three Victoria Handicap on March 31. Turnitaround returns to Caulfield on Saturday… Read More »
Trapeze Artist has gone from the hunter to the hunted with the three-year-old colt favourite in early markets to claim a third Group One win in the All Aged Stakes. He is at $2.50 with the TAB after his decisive win over Redzel in the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes… Read More »
