Queensland trainer Liam Birchley has exacted revenge for being beaten in a tight finish to the Villiers Stakes almost a decade ago with Crack Me Up giving him the Group Two feature at Randwick. But there were some anxious moments as Josh Parr set off to make every post a… Read More »
Tough gelding Pinch River responded to new tactics of no trackwork to score a first up win in the Listed Bribie Handicap at Doomben. on Saturday. Pinch River ($9) went straight to the lead and held on to beat All Over Bosanova ($3.40) by a long long neck with a… Read More »
Jockey Jason Collett has been suspended for six meetings after being found guilty of careless riding during the Inglis Nursery at Randwick. Racing NSW stewards charged Collett after his mount Miss Invincible shifted out and caused interference to Rachel King and Let Me Sleep On It at the top of… Read More »
Rachel King felt she was riding two different horses as Sedanzer continued her build-up to a black-type debut with a convincing victory at Randwick. Although the Right2Drive Handicap (1600m) did not unfold as planned for the in-form mare when she had to travel three wide to track front runner Dreamforce,… Read More »
It might have been a been a summer handicap but the victory of Shoreham at Caulfield means more to trainer Saab Hasan than a Group One victory. After an absence of four years from the winners circle, Shoreham registered his fourth career win in Saturday’s Clanbrooke Racing Handicap. Ridden by… Read More »
The return to a dry track gave Toowoomba galloper Emphasis a second win in the Cascade Quality and another crack at the Magic Millions Stayers Cup on Saturday. Emphasis won last year’s Cascade Quality and then went on to run third in the Shoot Out Quality just failing to make… Read More »
The scratching of early favourite Sugar Bella minutes before the start has made Randwick a whole lot sweeter for Anatola. The $5.50 second favourite had a convincing win by 1-1/4 lengths over O’Rachael ($15), with Machinegun Jubs ($6) a further 2-1/4 lengths behind. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy was taken to hospital… Read More »
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy has been taken to hospital for X-rays on a suspected broken hand suffered on the way to the barriers before a race at Randwick. Update: Kerrin McEvoy set to be sidelined for some time Sugar Bella, favourite for the Catanach’s Benchmark 84, appeared to take a sudden step… Read More »
Trainer Tony Gollan felt like a proud father when filly Outback Barbie gave him and sire Spirit of Boom the feature two-year-old double at Doomben on Saturday. Outback Barbie ($8) held on to win by a long neck to Granny Red Shoes ($21) with a neck to Witherspoon ($3.20) in… Read More »
Apprentice Chris Caserta is making the most of his recent good form by landing his first double at Caulfield aboard two Adelaide-trained horses. Victory aboard Phillip Stokes-trained Trogir in the Moorookyle Park Handicap and Lloyd Kennewell’s Angelucci in the Sheamus Mills Bloodstock Handicap provided the Caulfield-based apprentice with his first… Read More »
John O’Shea has produced a two-year-old who has stamped his claims to get the former Godolphin trainer back to the top with his debut victory in the Inglis Nursery at Randwick. O’Shea has ambitions to get the China Horse Club-owned Irish Bet to the 2018 Golden Slipper but first the… Read More »
Weight relief has eased the burden for durable stayer Vassal, who also showed the benefits of a Queensland campaign before winning the Listed Christmas Cup at Randwick. In the aftermath of the six-year-old gelding’s victory, Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller pinpointed two contributing factors to Vassal’s turnaround from a struggle… Read More »
Gold Coast galloper Aqua Vite has defied death to win his first metropolitan race on Saturday. Given the run of the race by visiting Adelaide jockey Jamie Kah, Aqua Vite ($4.60) beat Slydini ($7.50) by a nose in the Canadian Club Handicap (1615m) at Doomben. Trainer Scott Morrisey took pleasure… Read More »
Trainer Jenny Graham has never come to Sydney with two favourites before and for a nervous few moments it looked as if she would have a long trip home to Port Macquarie. After Awesome Pluck ran third in Saturday’s opening event at $2.10, Victorem lined up at the same price… Read More »
Co-trainer Mathew Ellerton predicts a bright future for Ollivander after the colt scored a strong debut win at Caulfield. Stepping out in Saturday’s Evergreen Turf Plate (1100m), Ollivander overcame a slow start before producing a strong finish in the straight. Under Chris Symons, Ollivander ($9) scored by a length from… Read More »
Premier trainer Tony Gollan was under more pressure than usual from his owners before I’m A Rippa won at Doomben on Saturday. Golan needed not to worried as I’m A Rippa ($4.80) bounced straight to the lead and scored by two lengths to Eminent ($4.80) in the Makers Mark Plate… Read More »
Savatiano has thrived on a firm track with the sun on her back at Randwick. The three-year-old filly was spooked by a thunderstorm at Warwick Farm on December 6 before finishing second in a 1300m race, but had no fears under clear skies. One of Godolphin’s emerging talents produced a… Read More »
A Veteran Queensland trainer has been disqualified for 18 months after being found guilty of having two of his horses under the care of another person. Stewards opened the inquiry after allegations General Cos and Glorious Triumph were at a property on the Darling Down under the care of a… Read More »
Bjorn Baker isn’t entirely comfortable with Miss Invincible’s favouritism for the Inglis Nursery for emerging two-year-olds at Randwick. The filly made an encouraging start to her career when runner-up to Perfect Pitch in an 1100m Plate at Rosehill earlier this month. Based on that performance, she was the TAB’s $3.70… Read More »
Dreamforce hardly underperformed as a colt, but trainer John Thompson has already noticed a marked improvement since he has been gelded. The five-year-old won three and was placed at four of his first 10 starts but since resuming last month he appears a more complete performer. “He was consistent earlier… Read More »
