Now that Happy Clapper has raced himself out of handicaps, trainer Pat Webster is keen to target a different sort of race, preferably a $13 million one. The popular gelding won Saturday’s Doncaster Mile after running second for the previous two years, this time carrying 57kg to record his third… Read More »
Wangaratta trainer Dan McCarthy has his sights on Adelaide’s feature sprint, the Group One Goodwood, with the promising Ashlor. Ashlor made it seven wins from 13 starts with a comfortable front-running victory in an 1100m handicap at Bendigo on Saturday when he carried 51kg after the claim of apprentice Tahlia… Read More »
Chris Johnson saluting on Just Tommy after winning the Canterbury Cup at Rosehill in 1992 still rates highly among Michael Pitman’s favourite memories as a trainer. Johnson also guided the gelding to the winners’ stall in his previous start at Rosehill when Just Tommy claimed the Listed Frank Underwood Cup… Read More »
An inquiry into activities at top trainer Ben Currie’s stable on race morning at Toowoomba will resume after material gathered is examined. Currie said he had done nothing wrong and was confident he had nothing to worry about. The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission issued a media release on Saturday about… Read More »
Damian Lane has been suspended for seven days for breaching the whip rules for his winning ride on El Dorado Dreaming in the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick. Before the 100m, Lane used the whip nine times on the two-year-old, who caused a major upset at $81 to… Read More »
Winx might be the best horse in the country but there is no doubt she is being challenged in the popularity stakes by Happy Clapper, who has won the Doncaster Mile after running second twice. Saturday’s win is Happy Clapper’s third at Group One level this season but one that… Read More »
Luvaluva’s revised Group One Australian Oaks campaign has gained traction at Randwick with a dogged victory in the Adrian Knox Stakes. After the filly missed the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes, her preferred lead-up to next Saturday’s 2400m staying test, trainer John Sargent had to revert to a strategy he… Read More »
Pint-sized filly So Far Sokool has made a good first impression on jockey Nikita Beriman by winning the Listed Bendigo Guineas in dominant fashion. Beriman rode So Far Sokool for the first time in Saturday’s $150,000 race for three-year-olds and the filly burst clear in the straight to win by… Read More »
Jockey Bob El Issa has made a triumphant return to Queensland, riding Amanaat to give trainer Ben Currie back-to-back wins in the Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba. It was also great training performance from Currie, who had a stewards inquiry from earlier in the day hanging over his head. El… Read More »
After downing Everest conqueror Redzel in the $2 million TJ Smith Stakes, there might only be one more mountain to climb for Trapeze Artist. The world’s richest race on turf in October was mentioned after the Gerald Ryan-trained colt upstaged Australia’s leading sprinter at Randwick, but life as a stallion… Read More »
Overseas-bound jockey Daniel Moor has claimed a feature race in Victoria for the second straight week, winning in an upset on Dodging Bullets in the Golden Mile at Bendigo. Moor was recently granted a six-month licence to ride in Singapore and says he is scheduled to leave in about four… Read More »
Comeback trainer Darryl McCabe has had the biggest win of his career when Morendi won the $100,000 Toowoomba Cup. Morendi ($9) beat Honey Toast ($5) and First Crush ($31) in a three-way photo finish in the 2000m race on Saturday. It was the exact reverse of a race at Doomben… Read More »
Levendi has won a dramatic Australian Derby, claiming the race by a nose from Ace High and having it reinforced by stewards after a protest. Tye Angland fired in the objection against Mark Zahra, alleging the favourite Ace High ($5) had suffered when Levendi ($6) laid in during the final… Read More »
Owner-breeder Yvette Pearce ticked off a bucket-list item when buying a Zabeel mare and against expectations she has produced a Group One-winning two-year-old. A stunned Pearce was not in the minority at Randwick as El Dorado Dreaming unleashed a giant-killing burst down the outside to nail Golden Slipper runner-up Oohood… Read More »
Trainer Ben Currie’s day has taken a turn for the better when his Queensland Derby-bound gelding Hang won the Toowoomba Guineas. Hang ($2.40) made it four wins from his past five starts on Saturday when he sat three deep for the 1600m race to beat Naked ($13) and Zafonic Dancer… Read More »
Randwick has sizzled through a warm day on the first day of The Championships as a stylish velvet combination won the fashions on the field. Crystal Kimber said she loved the material, as she paired it with a sleek white top draped over one shoulder and a black beret. “It’s… Read More »
New Zealand’s greatest jockey Lance O’Sullivan has made a triumphant return to Randwick with his first runner at the track as a trainer, winning the Group Two Chairman’s Quality (2600m). Sir Charles Road ($7) showed he was on target for the Sydney Cup on Saturday when he prevailed in a… Read More »
Talented filly Thrillster has held off a late lunge from stablemate Really Swish in a one-two finish for co-trainers Leon and Troy Corstens in the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush. The VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m) for two-year-olds was richest race on Saturday’s Bendigo program and was pinpointed by the Corstens stable… Read More »
An agonising wait has been worth every minute for Jenny Graham as the Port Macquarie trainer’s long-term plan for the Country Championships final reached fruition. Held in reserve since advancing to the $500,000 showpiece for country trainers at Randwick, Victorem shrugged off any rust in style to provide the highlight… Read More »
Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller’s first Toowoomba victory would not rate highly on his list of achievements but his winner Another Dollar could be headed to bigger things. The three-year-old ($3.80) made it two wins from four starts when she beat a field of older horses in the fillies and… Read More »
