There was only one downside to trainer Rob Heathcote’s day when he trained three winners from three runners at Doomben on Wednesday. Heathcote had to share the limelight with fellow trainer Ben Currie who trained his 100th overall winner for the season, becoming the seventh in Australia to do so… Read More »
Gary Portelli has to run leading Golden Slipper contender Secret Lady in the final fillies lead-in at Rosehill after she lost ground in the order of entry. Portelli figured Secret Lady, his leading juvenile hope to emulate stablemate She Will Reign’s Golden Slipper win last year, would already be in… Read More »
Leading Queensland apprentice Jag Guthmann-Chester has made the trip to Melbourne for race in an apprentice series and collected the cash. The opening race of the series was held in Tasmania last month and will move to Doomben next Wednesday with the final at Gawler on April 11. Guthmann-Chester was… Read More »
Smart filly First Class Miss turned in a freakish debut run to give former South African jockey Sean Cormack his first Doomben winner in nine years on Wednesday. Sent out favourite, First Class Miss ($2.50) jumped in the air at the start and gave the rest three lengths start before… Read More »
Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign is likely to miss the $2.5 million Group One TJ Smith Stakes to avoid a clash with benchmark sprinter Redzel. “I think she’s not quite there myself, not mature enough to take on the big guns at the moment,” Portelli said after watching She… Read More »
A small field will do battle in the Blamey Stakes headed by dual Group One-winning stablemates Tosen Stardom and Humidor. Saturday’s Group Two race at Flemington has attracted only six acceptors after 15 initial nominations were taken. Field 🏇: View the Blamey Stakes Field Victoria’s premier trainer Darren Weir trained… Read More »
Francaletta achieved her Australian goal first-up in the Guy Walter Stakes, easing the pressure on retirement-bound mare’s co-trainers. By finishing third at Group Two level at Randwick earlier this month, the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained five-year-old met the expectations of connections by adding Australian black-type to her record. “That’s… Read More »
Popular horse Rudy will have two Queensland starts before heading off on his seventh interstate campaign. Rudy is set to have his first start in three months when he resumes in the Listed Goldmarket Stakes (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Trainer Helen Page plans to back-up Rudy in… Read More »
Classy filly Italia Bella will miss the Gold Coast meeting on Saturday after a slight setback but is still on course for the Sydney autumn. Caloundra trainer Stuart Kendrick had been keen to run Italia Bella over 1800m on Saturday on her way to the Vinery Stud Stakes and the… Read More »
Godolphin has confirmed Kementari will target the Doncaster Mile and he may take on super mare Winx in the lead-up to the $3 million race. Kementari claimed his first Group One last Saturday with his Randwick Guineas win. Godolphin head trainer James Cummings announced the three-year-old’s plans for autumn on… Read More »
A field of 19 has been confirmed for the Group One Coolmore Classic at Rosehill, including last year’s winner Heavens Above. The Tim Martin-trained six-year-old mare drew barrier nine for the 1500m race that carries a $600,000 purse. Ron Quinton’s stand out mares Dixie Blossoms and Daysee Doom were allocated… Read More »
Hugh Bowman has failed a concussion test, ruling the leading jockey out of the Coolmore Classic meeting at Rosehill on Saturday. Bowman visited a neurosurgeon on Wednesday morning and was told he would not be able to return to riding until next week. The regular rider of champion racemare Winx,… Read More »
Willie Mullins has trained three winners on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival with two ridden by Ruby Walsh. Footpad (5-6 favourite) extended his unbeaten record over fences to four with a brilliant display in the Arkle Trophy under a jubilant Walsh. The champion jockey returned to action last… Read More »
Leading Golden Slipper contender Performer will get to his chance to pass a barrier test sooner than anticipated. With Tuesday’s Randwick barrier trials moved to Thursday because of wet weather, Performer has been added to the ninth heat over 740m. Premier Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman suffered concussion when he came… Read More »
Group One-winning colt Merchant Navy will join Aidan O’Brien’s string in Ireland to be prepared for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Merchant Navy won the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes for three-year-olds last spring and finished third in Saturday’s Group One Newmarket Handicap over the same 1200m straight… Read More »
Blue Diamond Stakes winner Written By will be a surprise runner in the Pago Pago Stakes with trainer Grahame Begg not prepared to run him in a barrier trial on the steeple grass at Randwick. The colt had been scheduled to have his final Golden Slipper 2018 tune-up on Tuesday… Read More »
New Zealand Horse of the Year, Bonneval, is making an encouraging recovery from a career-threatening leg injury. Co-trainer Andrew Forsman has given a positive update as the multiple Group One winner deals with a suspensory ligament issue. The winner of the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) last year, Bonneval was… Read More »
Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Cory Parish will have to front the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board after being charged over a recent ride at Bendigo. Racing Victoria stewards on Tuesday charged Parish with not taking all reasonable and permissible measures throughout a race on February 28 to ensure the horse he… Read More »
Trainer Mike Moroney is keeping his options open but is leaning towards sending Radipole to Sydney for the Group Two Ajax Stakes at Rosehill. The French import is also nominated for Saturday’s Group Two Blamey Stakes (1600m) on his home track at Flemington, with acceptances for both races to be… Read More »
Hong Kong-based jockey Tommy Berry will return home to Sydney to ride on Golden Slipper day at Rosehill. Berry will ride the Kris Lees-trained Clearly Innocent against Winx in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m), one of five Group One races on the March 24 program. He will also ride Perizada… Read More »
