Scott Murray and Brian Ireland had the cheapest contender in the Golden Slipper a decade ago, and now a daughter of Vecchia Roma is ready to take the first step towards the $3.5 million race. Vainity will make her debut at Randwick on Tuesday for the Gold Coast owner/breeders, and… Read More »
Stakes performer Weinholt will tackle the Buffering Quality at Doomben after his trainer Desleigh Forster correctly predicted the track conditions would be against him at the Gold Coast. Weinholt has been twice placed in black-type races in Brisbane and looked well placed in Saturday’s Benchmark 90 race at the Gold… Read More »
With the recent retirement of Extra Zero, Jacquinot Bay is now the grey beard of the Lindsay Park operation. But the 10-year-old certainly hasn’t lost his zest for racing and at Caulfield on Tuesday will attempt to claim a second victory in the Listed Lord Stakes. Not long after joining… Read More »
A winning treble at Newcastle has boosted visiting Irish jockey Declan McDonogh’s profile ahead of his first ride at Randwick. McDonogh has been booked to ride Coonawarra for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in a 2400m-handicap at Randwick on Tuesday, three days after his three winners at Newcastle. The… Read More »
Red Excitement has had a somewhat different path to the Summer Cup than he did a year ago but trainer Gerald Ryan is hoping for the same result. The eight-year-old is defending his title in Tuesday’s 2000m-Listed Summer Cup at Randwick after a solid midfield finish in the Group Two… Read More »
No wonder trainer Matt Dunn will be keen to book Jim Byrne to ride Perfect Dare in a second crack at the Magic Millions Cup. Byrne and Perfect Dare continued their great partnership when the gelding gave him the third leg of treble at the Gold Coast on Saturday after… Read More »
Warrnambool horseman Jarrod McLean will have a foot in two camps when the Christmas Stakes is run at Caulfield. In charge of Darren Weir’s Warrnambool base, McLean has overseen the preparation of Thermal Current and Stellar Collision ahead of Tuesday’s race while he has also had an acquaintance with Rock… Read More »
Sharpe Hussler will make the road trip from Mudgee to Sydney with trainer Cameron Crockett keen to see what he can do when he steps up in distance. The six-year-old gelding has never won beyond 1300m, but he will be asked to do just that at Randwick on Tuesday when… Read More »
Trainer Matthew Williams is hoping Caulfield will suit the racing pattern of Our Bottino when the gelding contests the Lord Stakes. A last-start fourth over 1600m at Pakenham on December 9, Our Bottino meets a similar bunch in Tuesday’s Listed race over 1700m. Our Bottino led under Ben Melham at… Read More »
Eagle Farm trainer Brian Smith believes he is on a winning double with his new apprentice Boris Thornton and veteran galloper Feltre. Thornton is trying his luck in Queensland and has already ridden a winner for Smith on Canongate two weeks ago. He comes from a racing family with his… Read More »
Santa Claus has raised the ire of stewards with an unauthorised visit to a race meeting in England. Riding a horse and accompanied by two elves on ponies, Santa paraded before racing got underway at Lingfield on Saturday. The British Horse Racing Authority took a dim view. “The stewards held… Read More »
Apprentices Jean van Overmeire and Lee Magorrian have been suspended at Warwick Farm. The duo pleaded guilty to careless riding in relation to separate incidents in the Highway Handicap. Van Overmeire was outed for six meetings after allowing his mount, the third placegetter Volpe, to shift out and impede Mate… Read More »
Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller has brought up a century of nationwide metropolitan winners. The continuation of four-year-old mare Noire’s excellent form in the Australian Turf Club Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm enabled Waller to reach a milestone boosted by victories in Melbourne and Brisbane. Noire, who now has five… Read More »
He might have paraded on the burly side but Condemned has underlined his potential with a win on debut at Warwick Farm. The Goldolphin colt followed the example another Godolphin runner by Dawn Approach in Gongs by making the perfect start to his racing career with a well-timed win in… Read More »
Bel Sonic has booked a ticket to the Gold Coast after recording a last-to-first victory at Moonee Valley. The Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on January 13 is on the agenda for the gelding following his win in Saturday’s VOBIS Gold Carat. Ridden by Ben Melham, Belsonic was backed from… Read More »
Smart filly Femme Fireball’s Gold Coast win showed she is a genuine Magic Millions Guineas chance, but she will need to run again to confirm a start in the race for three-year-olds. Femme Fireball ($5.50) came from near last to beat Francisca ($4.20) by a length with 1-1/4 lengths to… Read More »
Stablemates Wild ‘N’ Famous and Nancy have snapped losing streaks at Warwick Farm to surprise their trainer Peter Snowden. Wild ‘N’ Famous started the against-the-odds double when he flashed home out wide late to gate crash a three-way battle for the lead in the Hyland Boxing Day Sprint (1200m). The… Read More »
Co-trainer Terry O’Sullivan is eyeing a stakes race at Flemington after Dandy Gent returned to winning form at Moonee Valley. The Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day is in O’Sullivan’s sights after Dandy Gent won Saturday’s Bertocchi Christmas Masterpiece Handicap (2500m). O’Sullivan last won the Bagot… Read More »
Brilliant filly Sunlight is likely to have another start before the Magic Millions 2YO Classic despite a runaway win to qualify for the race at the Gold Coast. Sent out a prohibitive favourite, Sunlight ($1.50) needed to win the Early Bird GA Magic Millions Handicap (900m) to qualify for the… Read More »
Gundagai trainer David Blundell has picked another opportune moment to bring Itsa Fait Accompli to Sydney for a Highway Handicap. The four-year-old gelding supplied both of Blundell’s Highway victories last season and he was on target again at Warwick Farm to claim the 100th running of the race for country… Read More »
