Adelaide mare Pretty Punk has likely earned herself a crack at the upcoming Tasmanian Cups with a victory at Flemington. Leon Macdonald, who trains in partnership with Andrew Gluyas, decided to test the waters with the last-start Morphettville winner in Saturday’s Piping Lane Handicap (2000m) and the four-year-old didn’t let… Read More »
Bloodied but unbowed, Pendeloque will be set for her black-type debut after staying unbeaten this preparation with a convincing win at Randwick. Despite being galloped on during Saturday’s ATC Membership Sprint (1200m), Pendeloque stuck to her task to claim back-to-back wins at Randwick and add next month’s Group Two Light… Read More »
Tough mare Zafina’s return to racing after failing to get in foal has continued to be a boon for Canberra trainer Matt Dale. Zafina ($11) gave Dale a winner his first Magic Millions day runner when she held on by a half neck to beat Suggan Buggan ($6.50) in Saturday’s… Read More »
Al Dorama has surprised his jockey Ryan Maloney with his progress with the colt claiming a Flemington win at his second start. The two-year-old ran second on debut at Sandown late last month before winning Saturday’s Meadow Mist Plate (1000m). He raced under the name of the Robert Smerdon stable… Read More »
Newtown Bluebag has nailed a Highway Handicap at his second attempt for Goulburn trainers Emma and Lucy Longmire. The five-year-old set down a marker for Saturday’s 1600m-race at Randwick with a game second to Itsa Fait Accompli in his first Highway Handicap at Warwick Farm on December 23. “He was… Read More »
Former Hong Kong race caller David Raphael’s decision to help Gerald Ryan get some owners for filly Problem Solver has reaped a big dividend at the Gold Coast. Problem Solver ($10) ran home strongly to beat She Sees Everything ($81) by a long neck with a half length to Zoology… Read More »
In-form jockey Jason Collett is confident he can continue his successful association with Egyptian Symbol when he reunites with the classy mare at the Gold Coast. Collett is upbeat about Egyptian Symbol’s prospects in Saturday’s $1 million Magic Millions Snippets (1200m), one of seven scheduled rides he has at the… Read More »
Trainer Jason Coyle is hoping Jess Taylor can forge another profitable partnership with one of his stable’s mares when she takes over the reins on Kawaikini. Taylor was in the saddle when Slightly Sweet enjoyed a run of success last July with victory in the Listed Winter Stakes either side… Read More »
Goodfella returns to the Gold Coast a more mature horse as he has a second attempt to win a $2 million race. The colt ran fourth in last year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic and will go into Saturday’s $2 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast as third… Read More »
Group One-winning trainers Robert Smerdon and Stuart Webb have agreed to stand down pending an inquiry into charges relating to race day treatments. The two train under the umbrella of the Aquanita management company and their horses will be dispersed among Robert Hickmott, Henry Dwyer, John Sadler and Nick Ryan… Read More »
After an initial disappointment, Sunlight has quickly shown everyone the talent her jockey Luke Currie knew she had. Now the flying filly gets her chance to deliver on a big stage. Sunlight was beaten as favourite on debut in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes in October in Melbourne but has since… Read More »
James Innes Jr plans to capitalise on the opportunity a Magic Millions carnival provides, two years after he rode a treble while Sydney’s senior jockeys were at the Gold Coast meeting. The 2016 Magic Millions race day was one of the highlights of the apprentice’s career when he saluted three… Read More »
Group One-winning trainers Robert Smerdon and Stuart Webb have agreed to stand down pending the hearing into serious charges against them relating to race day treatments. Smerdon employees Denise Nelligan and Daniel Garland will also stand down while trainers Tony Vasil and Liam Birchley along with Greg Nelligan have been… Read More »
Two Adelaide stablemates will be on trial for stakes race assignments in Tasmania when they make their first Melbourne appearances since the 2016 spring carnival. The Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas stable has last-start Morphettville winner Pretty Punk in Saturday’s Piping Lane Handicap (2000m) at Flemington while fellow four-year-old mare… Read More »
It wouldn’t be Magic Millions day without Chris Munce playing a hand and he will be represented at the Gold Coast by what he believes is the best 100-1 shot ever in a big race. The former champion jockey turned trainer holds the record for the number of wins in… Read More »
With Golden Slipper victories featuring among the achievements of both parents, Lightz was always going to command attention. By 2011 Slipper winner Sepoy out of Polar Success who won in 2003, much was expected of Lightz as a two-year-old and although he failed to win as a juvenile, co-trainer Greg… Read More »
No-one would blame owner Bill Andrews if he stocked up on four leaf clovers, horseshoes and rabbit’s feet before watching his horse Feltre run at the Gold Coast. Feltre will be having his third attempt to win the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) on Saturday after finishing second in… Read More »
A breathing condition has meant Chamois Road has never been given a traditional three-month spell or longer. On Saturday at Flemington the consistent Patrick Payne-trained five-year-old has his 32nd start in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m). “He was supposed to be sold to Hong Kong but he’s got a… Read More »
Outback Barbie has been somewhat forgotten in the lead-up to the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic at the Gold Coast. The filly is the Tony Gollan-trained stablemate of one of the Millions Classic favourites, Ef Troop, and has had to take a back seat to him in pre-race discussions. Like Ef… Read More »
Big race days always produce pressure for jockeys and trainers but several have even more reason to perform at the Gold Coast. Racing Queensland has put up a $50,000 bonus each for the leading jockey and trainer in the Queensland summer. It has been judged on Summer Crown races with… Read More »
