Godolphin travelling foreman Chris Connett says the pressure is mounting ahead of Kidmenever lining up at Caulfield. Kidmenever will be the first of English trainer Charlie Appleby’s horses to run at this year’s spring carnival when he contests Saturday’s Group Two Herbert Power Stakes. Appleby was the star international trainer… Read More »
THOUSAND GUINEAS 1600m, $500,000. Three-year-old fillies, set-weights, 1600m HISTORY * First run in 1946 when won by Sweet Chime * Group One since 1979 NOTABLE WINNERS * Chicquita (1949), Wenona Girl (1960), Beginia Belle (1967), Toltrice (1972), Toy Show (1975), Richfield Lady (1991), Northwood Plume (1994), Alinghi (2004), Miss Finland… Read More »
Booker gave her jockey an early indication that she could be effective over the Thousand Guineas distance and she gets the chance to prove it in the Group One race for fillies. The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Booker steps to 1600m for the first time in Saturday’s $500,000 Thousand… Read More »
The Sydney handicapper has made trainer Bruce Hill’s decision to keep Man Of His Word in Brisbane an easy one. Hill had accepted with Man Of His Word in the Iona Old Boys Open Handicap (1600m) at Doomben and the Star Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday. He wanted to… Read More »
If ever a horse was born to win a race on Caulfield Guineas day, it is Encryption. The two-year-old has his first start in Saturday’s Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield for trainer James Cummings and Godolphin. Encryption is a son of 2001 Caulfield Guineas winner Lonhro from the 2013 Thousand… Read More »
The inaugural Everest sprint will run as race eight at Randwick on Saturday at 4.15pm (AEDT) WHAT IS IT? * A $10 million race over 1200m at weight-for-age offering a $5.8 million first prize purse down to $175,000 for sixth to 12th-placed finishers * A dozen slots are sold at… Read More »
Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie is hoping his dominance of the provincial circuit can translate to more metropolitan success at Doomben. Currie has been in great form winning a TAB meeting record of six races on his home track last Saturday. He missed Wednesday’s Ipswich meeting to attend the Gold Coast… Read More »
Three-time TJ Smith Stakes winner Chautauqua may be growing older and greyer but he still has the will to win, trainer Michael Hawkes says. The seven-year-old, who completed his final serious gallop around Rosehill on Tuesday morning, is one of 12 contenders in the $10 million Everest (1200m) at Randwick… Read More »
A return to his pet track and distance for Emphasis has Toowoomba trainer Richie Stephenson confident a rare trip to Brisbane can be a successful one. Emphasis will tackle a handy field in Saturday’s Open Handicap (1600m) at Doomben in his second run back from a spell. The gelding has… Read More »
Trainer Chris Anderson has decided to try new tactics and will use an apprentice’s claim on tough three-year-old Mishani Bullitt at Doomben. Mishani Bullitt beat older horses first-up carrying 59kg in August but has had three runs against his own age group since for two thirds and a fourth. On… Read More »
Mark Zahra faced a difficult choice going into the Group One Caulfield Guineas before deciding to pin his hopes on star filly Catchy. As it’s turned out, the in-form jockey could have been left sitting in the jockeys’ room when the $2 million race was run had he gone another… Read More »
Golden Rose winner Trapeze Artist has been scratched from the Sydney Stakes and is no longer an emergency for the $10 million Everest after suffering a leg injury. Racing NSW senior veterinarian Dr Craig Suann inspected the colt after a request from trainer Gerald Ryan, who found Trapeze Artist lame… Read More »
Godolphin has appointed experienced bloodstock figure Vin Cox as managing director of its thoroughbred interests in Australia. Cox will fill the role left vacant when Henry Plumptre resigned in July after 16 years with Sheikh Mohammed’s racing and breeding empire. Plumptre quit during a stewards’ inquiry into the circumstances of… Read More »
New Zealand Group One winner Summer Passage will have to wait for his next chance to claim an Australian Group One win with connections pulling the pin on the $2 million Caulfield Guineas because of his outside barrier. Co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan said instead of running on Saturday Summer Passage would… Read More »
Any information a jockey can get about a horse before a Group One race can only be beneficial. Luke Nolen has taken the opportunity to get to know his Toorak Handicap mount Kaspersky in a workout at Werribee on Thursday morning ahead of Saturday’s 1600m race. Nolen picked up the… Read More »
Luke Nolen has ridden his Toorak Handicap mount, English horse Kaspersky. in a light work-out at the Werribee quarantine centre. Nolen got the late call-up to ride the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Kaspersky when Michelle Payne fell ill and missed riding the horse in trackwork on Sunday and again on Wednesday. Payne… Read More »
Aidan O’Brien fields Happily in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket as he hunts down a 24th top-level success of the year. The trainer is on the cusp of breaking Bobby Frankel’s record of 25 Group/Grade One victories in a calendar year and Happily will have the chance to add to… Read More »
Trainer Phillip Stokes has called on a proven big-race jockey and opted for a gear change on Eclair Sunshine in a bid to maximise his chances in the Group One Caulfield Guineas. Eclair Sunshine will wear winkers in Saturday’s $2 million 1600m race for three-year-olds and the gelding will be… Read More »
Irish gallopers The Taj Mahal and Johannes Vermeer begin their spring carnival campaigns in the Caulfield Stakes with bigger Group One targets on the horizon. The Aidan O’Brien-trained pair have been in quarantine at Werribee racecourse just shy of two weeks and are set to line up in Saturday’s Group… Read More »
Godolphin filly Savatiano has finally enjoyed her moment in the sun after breaking her maiden at Warwick Farm. At her second start in February, Savatiano finished in front of future Group One winners Ace High and Trapeze Artist in a race won by another subsequent elite-level winner Invader. Racing fresh… Read More »
