The leaking of text messages is disappointing but does not affect the Aquanita racing case, a judge says. Most of the eight people charged in the bi-carb case have pleaded not guilty although multiple Group One-winning trainer Robert Smerdon has yet to enter a plea. Stable employees Greg and Denise… Read More »
Jockey John Allen would have preferred a better barrier draw for Australian Guineas favourite Cliff’s Edge but has confidence he is on the right horse to overcome it. Allen is the only jockey to have won on Cliff’s Edge who has notched five wins from his 12 career starts. Allen… Read More »
Promising two-year-old Spirit of Cherokee has passed a barrier trial test with flying colours and is ready for his return to racing. Spirit of Cherokee was heavily backed to start favourite at his first start when third in a Doomben two-year-old handicap four weeks ago. He jumped well but put… Read More »
Golden Slipper hopeful Outback Barbie has trialled impressively at the Gold Coast but had to survive a scare when she dislodged her jockey past the post. Trainer Tony Gollan took Outback Barbie and Ef Troop to the Gold Coast on Thursday as a final hit-out before the two-year-olds head to… Read More »
Most of those involved in the Aquanita racing case have pleaded not guilty with trainer Tony Vasil wanting the charge against him dismissed. Group One-winning trainer Robert Smerdon has reserved his position in terms of a plea but most of the other seven people charged in the bi-carb case have… Read More »
Much-travelled Jean Van Overmeire is no stranger to Brisbane in a former role as a travelling foreman for trainer Bjorn Baker but he returns to Doomben as a rising star in the apprentice ranks. South African born Van Overmeire had stints in the United Kingdom and Dubai before settling in… Read More »
Winx has continued her trouble-free build-up to her belated return to the track in the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes. The champion’s trainer and jockey say missing the Apollo Stakes on February 17 is no concern ahead of Saturday’s 1600m-race at Randwick. Hugh Bowman rode Winx in a routine gallop… Read More »
The Magic Millions Two- Year-Old Classic runner-up has been sold to Hong Kong interests and will not run in the autumn carnival. Fullazaboot had been nominated for the Skyline Stakes at Randwick on Saturday but was not among the acceptors when the offer was confirmed. Queensland trainer Stuart Kendrick said… Read More »
Edward O’Rourke can dare to dream about training a Golden Slipper runner after Ringerdingding supplied a milestone victory at Rosehill. The Irishman, who took out his training licence last April, felt the pressure lift when the Sebring colt upstaged Godolphin favourite Wagner to start his career in style. Ringerdingding ($7.50)… Read More »
Trainer Levi Kavanagh had planned having Kentucky Breeze in the Group One Australian Guineas but instead the lightly raced Listed winner will tackle a lesser race as a stepping stone to a potential Derby tilt. Kavanagh had pencilled in the Manfred Stakes, C S Hayes Stakes and Saturday’s Australian Guineas… Read More »
Chautauqua’s refusal to trial was off limits, but Michael Hawkes was happy to talk up Renewal’s potential after the gelding recorded his third career win at Rosehill. A day after three-time TJ Smith Stakes winner Chautauqua twice refused to leave the barriers at Randwick, Renewal provided a lift for Hawkes… Read More »
The purchase of a treadmill and enquiries on how best to use it eventually led to Canberra trainer Matthew Dale setting up a satellite base on the NSW south-coast. It’s from that base Dale’s stable star Fell Swoop has been prepared for his racing return in the Listed Bob Hoysted… Read More »
David Pfieffer has bowed to the wishes of connections by pitting Jemadar against the Winx when he races in Group company for the first time. Although the Warwick Farm-based trainer did not recommend entering the gelding in the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, Pfieffer acknowledged… Read More »
Impressive Ipswich winner The Real Boss is headed to bigger things after giving apprentice Emma Ljung a winning start to a short but action-packed day. Ljung had only two rides at Ipswich on The Real Boss and Aileach and they won the first two races. The Real Boss ($1.75) got… Read More »
Trainer Edward O’Rourke hopes Frolic’s eye-catching finish in her racing comeback isn’t counterproductive when she takes on a quality Surround Stakes field. Last year’s Golden Slipper runner-up recovered from a sluggish start in the Group Two Light Fingers Stakes to place fourth, 1-3/4 lengths behind winner Alizee. O’Rourke, who took… Read More »
Bjorn Baker will oversee Crack Me Up’s Doncaster Mile campaign following Racing NSW’s decision to bar Brisbane trainer Liam Birchley from racing in the state. Crack Me Up arrives at Baker’s Warwick Farm stable on Thursday ahead of the Group Three Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday. Birchley… Read More »
Trainer Tony McEvoy is looking for history to repeat in the Australian Guineas when his contender Bring Me Roses lines up in the Group One race from the inside barrier. Group Two-winning filly Bring Me Roses will be trying to give McEvoy back-to-back Guineas wins after gelding Hey Doc was… Read More »
Danny O’Brien has confirmed he and fellow trainer Mark Kavanagh will seek damages from the clinic that employed the vet involved in the long-running cobalt saga. O’Brien and Kavanagh were on Tuesday fined $8000 and $4000 respectively for presenting horses to race with elevated cobalt levels in their systems after… Read More »
Nettoyer has bounced back from her latest mishap to resume her quest for black-type success. The injury-plagued mare is set to take her place in Saturday’s Group Two Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) after plans to run at Rosehill last weekend were stymied by an accident. Nettoyer was a late scratching… Read More »
Multiple Group One-winning jockey Sean Cormack is set to step up his comeback with Doomben rides on Saturday. South African-born Cormack has been riding at the southeast Queensland provincial and midweek meetings in the past three weeks. He last rode in Queensland in 2008 when he was stable jockey for… Read More »
