Sydney-based jockey Brenton Avdulla is heading west to ride at Ascot for the first time with one of the favourites in the final Australian Group One race of the year among his mounts. Avdulla will ride the $5.50 second favourite It’s Somewhat in the Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on Saturday…. Read More »
Tony Gollan has some bad news for rival trainers as he can’t split his three runners as winning chances in the Listed Just Now Quality at Doomben on Saturday. Gollan will have Notonyourlife, Of The Day and Sheiswhatsheis in the $100,000 race which usually produces a top-class winner. The trio… Read More »
Jason Warren has a rich summer target for lightly raced Bel Sonic if the three-year-old can live up to the trainer’s expectations. Warren has a high opinion of Bel Sonic who races for the first time in 13 weeks in Saturday’s O’Connor Beef Handicap (1000m) at Pakenham. Bel Sonic is… Read More »
Trainer Kelly Doughty is hoping history repeats itself when international jockey Michael Rodd rides promising two-year-old Blue Book on Saturday. Blue Book will be aiming to make it three wins from three starts in the Sky Racing Handicap (1200m) at Doomben. Jeff Lloyd rode Blue Book at his first two… Read More »
Britain’s most successful female jockey Hayley Turner has expressed her regret over opening an internet betting account while still licensed. Turner officially retired from the saddle at the end of the 2015 and after initially establishing a media career with At The Races and ITV Racing, she recently opted to… Read More »
Ex-pat Australian Zac Purton has won the International Jockeys Championship in Hong Kong, winning two of the four designated races at Happy Valley. Representing Hong Kong where he has lived for the past decade and was champion jockey in 2013/14, Purton was an outsider in the competition on Wednesday night…. Read More »
Group One performer Toast Of New York has made a triumphant return to racing at Lingfield after three years away from the track. The six-year-old entire, beaten a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2014, was retired because of a tendon injury and had a spell at stud in… Read More »
Scream Park took a step closer to a return to New Zealand for an inaugural $NZ1 million race by winning at Warwick Farm. While January’s lucrative Magic Millions meeting on the Gold Coast is a priority for trainers, Chris Waller and connections are hoping to take Scream Park home next… Read More »
Gold Coast trainer Marcus Wilson has carried out another successful hit-and-run mission at Warwick Farm. Wilson brought Meteorologist to Warwick Farm for a one-off run and victory over 2200m in August, and the trip south for a midweek meeting has paid off again. Wudang Blade ($10) surged clear to win… Read More »
Expectations were high when French stayer Darabad entered Robbie Laing stables. Purchased as a potential Melbourne Cup contender and stallion prospect, Darabad is yet to live up to those lofty expectations. An improved showing when fourth in the 3200m Sandown Cup on November 18 has Laing feeling the gelding is… Read More »
Former New Zealand filly Lisdoonvarna has continued a promising start to her Australian career with a Warwick Farm win. Sent out a $6 chance, Lisdoonvarna made the running on a rain-affected track in the TAB Handicap before clearing out to win by 2-3/4 lengths. Left in her wake to fight… Read More »
Racegoers at the low-key Ipswich midweek meeting got a chance to see the future of Brisbane riding ranks in action. There were 10 races on the card but the fields were small due to the rail placement because of recent heavy rain. It took nothing off the gloss of wins… Read More »
Our Bottino has a winning record on the Pakenham synthetic track and gets his first chance to add a victory at the venue’s turf course in the David Bourke Memorial Handicap. The Warrnambool-trained gelding has been to Pakenham four times to race on the synthetic track, including three-straight wins in… Read More »
The success of Jungle Edge is providing Cranbourne trainer Mick Bell a little joy ahead of a looming tough period. With Christmas approaching Bell enters the festive season with a tinge of sadness. Earlier this year Bell’s wife Bev lost her battle with breast cancer just before Jungle Edge claimed… Read More »
Maryore is finally poised to make her first start for emerging trainer Joe Ible after the reigning Provincial Championship winner’s comeback was delayed by a case of strangles in the stable. Ible had hoped to run the six-year-old mare during spring after part-owner Joe Palombi showed faith in the 28-year-old… Read More »
Queensland has had the luck of the draw in allocation of mounts for the Origin jockeys’ series heats on Friday. Riders from seven different teams will take part in Origin series on Friday and Saturday at Doomben and Caloundra on Sunday. Queensland’s Matt McGillivray has picked up the prime ride… Read More »
In-form Matt McGillivray will retain the ride on Crack Me Up in the Listed Brisbane Handicap but Jason Collett is likely to be aboard when the gelding goes to Sydney. McGillivray has been doing a lot of riding for trainer Liam Birchley with the pair combining for nine winners this… Read More »
Godolphin trainer James Cummings says the team in Perth overseeing the preparation of It’s Somewhat couldn’t be happier with the gelding ahead of the Kingston Town Stakes. Drawing barrier 11 in Saturday’s final Group One race of the year, It’s Somewhat has been specifically targeted at the Ascot race by… Read More »
Wodonga trainer Craig Widdison has stable star Willi Willi ready to begin his latest campaign and is excited to see what the gelding can produce this summer. Willi Willi has won three of his six starts and is scheduled to resume in Saturday’s $120,000 VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham… Read More »
Jockey Daniel Northey has been taken to hospital with suspected pelvic injuries after a trackwork fall at Scone. Northey was hurt when a horse he was jumping out of the barrier reared up and came down on top of him. Racing NSW chief steward said Northey had been airlifted to… Read More »
