For the first time in four years, Happy Clapper won’t have to contend with Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. But trainer Pat Webster can’t decide if that makes Saturday’s renewal of Sydney’s middle-distance, weight-for-age championship easier or harder. While Winx was unbeatable during her four-year winning run, her presence… Read More »
Another bad barrier draw will keep three-year-old Stampe to a race against his own age at Doomben. Trainer Chris Munce accepted with Stampe in the TAB Class 6 Plate (1350m) and the Three-Year-Old Hcp (1350m). “Of course he drew barrier ten in both races. I was leaning to running in… Read More »
Trainer David Vandyke is taking the glass half-full approach to the future for Baccarat Baby who resumes at Doomben. Baccarat Baby will be having her first run since the Melbourne spring carnival in Saturday’s Racecourse Village Open Handicap (1200m). In normal times the mare would be on the way to… Read More »
Drawing the widest barrier in a stakes race is not what co-trainer Troy Corstens wanted as he prepares to step Runson up in distance. But Corstens, who trains Runson in partnership with his father Leon, said the draw would not stop the gelding running in the Group Three Elvis Thurgood… Read More »
Ipswich will host a nine-race card at its first meeting in five months following a major track upgrade. Under the new regional racing rules in Queensland amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ipswich is in the metro south zone. It means the club’s meetings are restricted to horses from Ipswich, Gold Coast… Read More »
Godolphin trainer James Cummings is convinced Group One-winning filly Flit can bounce back from two unplaced runs when she drops in distance in the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint at Randwick. A winner of the Group One Thousand Guineas last spring, Flit began her autumn campaign in impressive fashion with a dominant… Read More »
The first foal out of champion filly First Seal has topped the Australian Easter Yearling online sale at $1.8 million. Coolmore’s Tom Magnier was the successful bidder on the colt by three-time champion sire Snitzel colt after a late duel with one other party during Tuesday’s second session. First Seal… Read More »
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has handed lengthy cobalt bans to father-and-daughter training partners Terry and Karina O’Sullivan. The Stawell-based trainers appealed their original one-year sentence handed out by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board and on Wednesday had those disqualifications increased by VCAT, with Terry out for three… Read More »
Having grown up in an era when the Cups, Plates and Classic races were the pinnacle events on the calendar, Mark Newnham remains a racing purist at heart. He had his sights on last weekend’s ATC Australian Derby with Shadow Hero but the horse’s chances were thwarted by a heavy… Read More »
Archie Alexander is hopeful Gallic Chieftain can deliver his first Group One win in the Sydney Cup, even if the Ballarat-based trainer will not be able to be at Randwick to cheer him on. Gallic Chieftain went within a long head of winning the Group One Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick… Read More »
Tony McEvoy has attempted to keep speed in the legs of stayer Secret Blaze in a bid to claim the Group Three Easter Cup at Caulfield. McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his son Calvin, said Secret Blaze was ticking over nicely ahead of his attempt at overturning consecutive second… Read More »
Jamie Richards cannot split stablemates Te Akau Shark and Melody Belle as the star duo prepare to clash in the $2 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes. While stable jockey Opie Bosson has been forced to choose between two of his favourite horses, opting to ride Te Akau Shark, Richards is sitting… Read More »
An altered program because of the coronavirus pandemic that has shut down some state borders has resulted in Seabrook remaining in Melbourne chasing a long overdue win. Mick Price, who trains Seabrook in partnership with Mick Kent Jr, was planning to race Seabrook in Sydney on the way to a… Read More »
The Sunshine Coast meeting was postponed after two races following persistent rain through the morning on Wednesday. The track was rated a heavy eight after 27mm of rain overnight and then further downgraded with another 26mm falling in the morning. Chairman of stewards James Williamson said jockeys had raised concerns… Read More »
Positive Peace has exceeded her trainer’s expectations during her summer and autumn winning spree which has earned the in-form mare a crack at the Group One Coolmore Legacy Stakes. The Bjorn Baker-trained four-year-old will be chasing her sixth straight win when she steps up to the elite level for the… Read More »
Rising star Tambo’s Mate is one of many Queensland horses caught in a holding pattern while the future race programs in the state are finalised. Tambo’s Mate would have been one of the better chances in the feature winter sprint races after he showed above-average form in the summer. However,… Read More »
An increase in distance is expected to help promising two-year-old Doctor Jack give veteran trainer Harold Norman a sentimental win at the Gold Coast. Queensland has been split into regions in an effort to combat the coronavirus with metropolitan-standard racing divided between the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Gold Coast city… Read More »
Days after raising hopes of a return by the start of May amid the coronavirus outbreak, British horse racing organisers announced the postponement of two of their biggest Flat-racing festivals and said the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting might only be staged behind closed doors. The Guineas Festival at Newmarket on… Read More »
A brother to Group One winner Sunlight is one of three yearlings to fetch $1 million or more at the revamped Easter Yearling sale. The annual sale is being conducted online because of social distancing protocols during the coronavirus crisis. There would usually be hundreds of people at the Inglis… Read More »
Te Akau Shark has been cleared to take on international stars Danon Premium and Addeybb in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes after an injury scare. The Chipping Norton Stakes winner is the third favourite with Danon Premium assuming $3.90 favouritism from Addeybb ($4.40) on Tuesday after the pair had been level-pegging…. Read More »
