Trainer Tony Sears has predicted Basara could quickly move up to stakes company after she resumed with a runaway win at Doomben. The Ben Currie-trained Bella Occhi ($1.50 fav) went into the race unbeaen but Basara ($4.20) responded to Matt McGillivray’s riding to win Wednesday’s 1050m-benchmark 65. In the end… Read More »
Mike Tindall has made a tidy profit at the Magic Millions yearling sale with a filly he bought as a weanling for $80,000 selling for $170,000. The former England rugby international and his wife, Magic Millions ambassador Zara Phillips, were on hand when the filly by Bel Esprit out of… Read More »
Robbie Dolan’s first city ride has been a deflating experience for the Irish apprentice, who was unable to make the Canterbury midweek meeting due to car trouble. Dolan was booked by Pat Webster to pilot Sovereign Eminence in the #the races Handicap (1200m) but had to be replaced by Blaike… Read More »
Kool Vinnie has made a welcome return to form at the scene of a rare failure and continued Jason Collett’s purple patch at Canterbury. Buoyed by riding a personal best four winners at Randwick on Saturday, Collett saluted again when the Kris Lees-trained four-year-old atoned for finishing last on December… Read More »
Dollar For Dollar will not have his usual rider aboard when he tries to build on his current winning streak but jockey Jye McNeil is excited to be given the chance to ride him in the Chester Manifold Stakes. Jamie Kah rode Dollar For Dollar to his four-straight wins during… Read More »
Boom colt Pierata will have to defy history if he is to claim Queensland racing’s biggest ever pay day at the Gold Coast. Pierata will earn $1.7 million in prize money and bonus payments if he can win Saturday’s Magic Millions Guineas. The previous highest pay days in Queensland were… Read More »
Victory on Gretzsky at Sandown has snapped a lengthy absence from the winner’s circle in Melbourne for high-profile jockey Dwayne Dunn. Dunn’s victory in Wednesday’s Dream Thoroughbreds Plate (1600m) on the Hawkes Racing-trained gelding was his first win on a Melbourne metropolitan track since Booker’s Group Two Thousand Guineas Prelude… Read More »
Trainer Matt Cumani’s hopes of a Magic Millions Classic runner rest with Anthemoessa being able to get on a flight to the Gold Coast. The Cumani-trained two-year-old has drawn barrier four in Saturday’s $2 million Magic Millions Classic but the filly has yet to get a place on a flight… Read More »
A change of game plan has paid dividends for Coys with the gelding showing a liking for running on the speed. The five-year-old, named in honour of the Come On You Spurs chant associated with English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, has reached a new level of consistency in a… Read More »
A long-time association with Quackerjack’s owner Frank Mittiga will reap a big dividend for trainer Mark Newnham if the colt can win the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast. A former jockey, Newnham is well known through his work as foreman with the Gai Waterhouse stable for… Read More »
Prize money for metropolitan races in Queensland will rise by $10,000 to $70,000 in most Saturday-class races under a new scheme announced by the state government. It is part of a $12 million a year injection of prize money across the three codes with thoroughbred racing to get $8.6 million,… Read More »
New Zealand Group One winning-colt Embellish will stand at Cambridge Stud when he finishes his racing career. Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis said the new owners of the famous stud, Brendan and Jo Lindsay, had bought a 50 per cent share in the 2000 Guineas winner. “Brendan and Jo… Read More »
There are positive signs for Injured apprentice Nyssa Burrells who is no longer in an induced coma and has started to sit up and recognise family members. Burrells suffered a bleed on her brain in a fall at the Warwick Farm jump-outs last Friday week. Racing NSW said she although… Read More »
Victorian racing authorities are considering whether prominent trainer Robert Smerdon and seven other people charged with misconduct in relation to breaches of race day treatment rules should be stood down. The eight were charged on Tuesday after an investigation sparked by the scratching of the Smerdon-trained Lovani from a race… Read More »
Victorian racing authorities are seeking legal advice whether to stand down any or all the eight licensed people, including leading trainer Robert Smerdon, pending the hearing of serious charges in relation to race day treatments of horses spanning seven years. Smerdon and seven others were charged by Racing Victoria stewards… Read More »
Former Perth galloper Lite’n In My Veins looms as one of the main contenders for the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington as the gelding chases his first Melbourne win. Formerly trained by Fred Kersley, Lite’n In My Veins has had three Melbourne starts for Aaron Purcell including a last-start… Read More »
Whypeeo is not a certain starter in the Magic Millions Guineas with trainer Toby Edmonds to also accept with the gelding in the Magic Millions Snippets. The fields for the 2YO Classic (1200m) and the Guineas (1400m) were finalised on Tuesday with all other acceptances for Saturday’s Gold Coast showpiece… Read More »
Waratah Thoroughbreds hope to emulate Sir John Hawkwood’s Metropolitan Handicap-winning exploits with a former Japanese stayer who is set for his first Sydney start at Randwick. The Southern Highlands-based breeding enterprise sent The Bandit to trainer John Thompson two months ago with the aim to capitalise on their farm at… Read More »
Group One-winning trainer Robert Smerdon and one of his employees are facing serious conduct charges relating to race day treatments of more than 100 horses over seven years. Racing Victoria on Tuesday charged eight people, including other Group One-winning trainers Stuart Webb and Tony Vasil and trainers Liam Birchley and… Read More »
Pat Webster has no qualms about Sovereign Eminence’s first metropolitan start coinciding with a landmark ride for Irish apprentice Robbie Dolan at Canterbury. Rather than book an experienced rider to guide the Gerry Harvey-owned mare at Wednesday’s meeting, the Randwick trainer and Racing NSW jockeys’ mentor has ensured the Benchmark… Read More »
