Trainer Chris Gangemi is convinced Perth sprinter Rock Magic has improved from his spring return in the Moir Stakes and will be suited in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield. Rock Magic finished fourth in the Group One Moir (1000m), won by She Will Reign, two weeks ago at Moonee Valley… Read More »
Stablemates Kementari and Sanctioned have taken different paths to the Caulfield Guineas and trainer James Cummings is convinced both deserve respect in the $2 million classic. Kementari comes through the traditional Guineas Prelude at Caulfield while Sanctioned will race on a seven-day back-up after his fourth in the Group One… Read More »
Damion Flower is more than happy with his choice of Clearly Innocent as his representative in the $10 Million Everest. Flower, who heads a group that also includes Neil Werrett who raced Black Caviar, left it until last week’s Premiere Stakes to make a selection. As In Her Time made… Read More »
Whenever jockey Glyn Schofield makes a trip to Melbourne he has a purpose. Saturday’s purpose is trying to add to his Group One tally when he teams with Godolphin and James Cummings at Caulfield following a recent run of success north of the border. Schofield and Cummings teamed in Melbourne… Read More »
Pat Duff will continue one of Queensland’s longest running and most successful associations between a trainer and owner when two-year-old Soaring Heart makes his debut at Doomben. Soaring Heart, who won a recent Doomben trial, is set to tackle the Two-Year-Old (1050m) and will be ridden by Justin Stanley. The… Read More »
Jockey Mark Zahra believes an important gear change might be the edge Shoals needs to win the $500,000 Thousand Guineas. Shoals lost her unbeaten record when second to Booker in the Thousand Guineas Prelude over 1400m at her fifth career start last Sunday week, but Zahra took positives out of… Read More »
If Golden Slipper She Will Reign winner doesn’t add the inaugural $10 million Everest to her already impressive record, the joy Garry Bachell has experienced as her breeder will not diminish. Bachell retained a share in She Will Reign who Darby Racing secured for $20,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale… Read More »
The journey of the aptly named Turnitaround has been remarkable. He’s gone from an honest handicapper, to a Group Three winner, to suffering a rare injury, to retirement, to lining up for his first Group One start in the Toorak Handicap 2017. And all this has happened in less than… Read More »
Sydney’s premier jockey Hugh Bowman is accustomed to saluting on champion mare Winx, and he believes Australian racing has another sure- fire winner on its hands with the $10 million Everest. The inaugural running of the race over 1200m at Randwick on Saturday has created worldwide interest and attracted media… Read More »
Co-trainer Daniel Guy has a solid reason to believe promising filly Nivo can develop into a stayer despite her breeding. Nivo steps out to 1600 metres for the first time in the Three-Year-Old Handicap at Doomben on Saturday. Guy, who trains Nivo with his father Bryan Guy, has plenty of… Read More »
Sydney trainer Gary Moore is expanding his operation to the Gold Coast in a bid to ensure his Magic Millions contenders are in the best possible shape for January’s meeting. Moore has fives boxes reserved next to the Magic Millions base and hopes to eventually have 20 stalls. “I’ve moved… Read More »
The connections of European galloper Mask Of Time are banking on a scratching from the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield. The Hugo Palmer-trained galloper sits as first emergency in Saturday’s Group One race over 1600m at Caulfield. Should there be no scratchings, Mask Of Time will run in the Listed Weekend… Read More »
John O’Shea is content with a low-key involvement when the $10 million Everest heralds a new era for Sydney racing. As head trainer of Godolphin, O’Shea was accustomed to being a focal point on some of the biggest days on the Australian racing calendar, notably when Hartnell ran in the… Read More »
Toby Edmonds wasn’t convinced Houtzen deserved a place in the $10 Everest despite the filly winning her lead-up race at Moonee Valley. A comforting debrief from veteran jockey Jeff Lloyd changed his thinking. Edmonds thought Houtzen’s victory in the Group Three Scarborough Stakes (1200m) on September 29 was not good… Read More »
The way former Australian Racehorse of the Year Lankan Rupee lets down at the business end of the Schillaci Stakes is likely to determine whether his race career continues. The Mick Price-trained gelding resumes from a let-up in Saturday’s Group Two Schillaci (1100m) on his home track at Caulfield for… Read More »
CAULFIELD STAKES 2000m, $1 million, weight-for-age HISTORY * First run in 1886 when won by Isonomy * Group One since 1979 Run over 1800m 1886-1967 except for 2000m in 1887 & 1888, returned to 2000m in 1968 NOTABLE WINNERS * Wakeful (1901, 02), Amounis (1930), Tranquil Star (1942), Bernborough (1946),… Read More »
With training bases at Angaston in South Australia and another at Flemington in Melbourne, Tony McEvoy has added another one in recent weeks. McEvoy has been a regular visitor to Werribee racecourse where his European import Calderon has been residing in quarantine since arriving in Australia almost two weeks ago…. Read More »
TOORAK HANDICAP 1600m, $500,000, handicap HISTORY * First run in 1881 when won by Josephine * Group One since 1979 * Run over 1700m 1931-35, 1800m 1891, Run at Flemington 1940-43 NOTABLE WINNERS * The Trump (1937), Royal Gem (1946), Galilee (1966), Tobin Bronze (1967), Gunsynd (1971), All Shot (1972),… Read More »
Max Whitby appeared rueful when he drew barrier 10 for Vega Magic, but the prominent horse owner still believes he’s on a winner by holding a slot in The Everest. Whitby initially flinched at the financial outlay needed to be a part of the world’s richest turf race, but as… Read More »
Damien Oliver’s willingness to make weight to ride Egg Tart in the Toorak Handicap offers the Chris Waller stable cause for optimism following the filly’s Sydney spring disappointment. The veteran jockey was happy to ride lighter than usual at 53.5kg in one of three Group One miles on Saturday’s card… Read More »
