The absence of a crowd will not dull Josh Parr’s excitement if he can capture the ATC Australian Derby on his personal pin-up horse Shadow Hero. Parr feels a sense of unfinished business with the three-year-old, who was the beaten favourite in the Victoria Derby last spring. He has warned… Read More »
Colin Little has not lost faith in Vegas Knight despite what looks on paper to be some disappointing recent form. The Caulfield trainer is expecting to see the Vegas Knight he knows when the three-year-old runs in the Neds Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Little holds Vegas Knight in… Read More »
THE DONCASTER MILE * A race synonymous with Randwick. Usually the world’s richest Group One mile at $3 million but prize money has been halved for year because of the coronavirus pandemic and reduced wagering income Market 💰: View the Odds for the Doncaster Mile HISTORY * Highlight of first… Read More »
Trainer Phillip Stokes rarely has a Sydney runner but is hopeful stable star Mr Quickie can cause an upset in the signature Group One Doncaster Mile. Stokes, who has stables in South Australia and Victoria, has only had one Sydney Group One runner when Hucklebuck was unplaced in the George… Read More »
Trainer Peter Hulbert admits he had to look twice and then a third time when the fields were released for Doomben. Hulbert, who trains in partnership with his son Will, has a strong hand on Saturday with Oh Five Glory (Three-Year-Old Handicap) and Moonlight Lady (Class Six). Both have been… Read More »
The decision to switch the Brisbane meeting from Eagle Farm to Doomben is a bonus for classy mare Femme Fireball as she strives for her first win at 1600 metres. Eagle Farm has been given a three-week break for repairs with its meetings, including Saturday, transferred to Doomben. Metropolitan racing… Read More »
New Zealand racing’s governing body is making plans to get the sport back up and running in the second half of the year. Racing in New Zealand was shut down last month in line with government protocols surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. NZ Thoroughbred Racing has been working on a schedule… Read More »
British bookmakers are behind a virtual running of the Grand National with profits to be donated to the National Heath Service. Flat racing in Britain has been suspended until at least the end of April because of the coronavirus pandemic with jumps racing on hold until July 1. The world’s… Read More »
More in the mould of family pet than racehorse, Bobbing is in line to achieve a feat that may never be replicated when he tackles the Country Championships Final at Randwick. Twelve months ago, Bobbing won the Provincial version for trainer Bernie Kelly, who was then based at Hawkesbury. Kelly… Read More »
James McDonald has given Japanese visitor Danon Premium the seal of approval after riding him in a gallop ahead of his Group One assignment in Sydney. Danon Premium is the third northern hemisphere horse to make it to Sydney for the carnival with English-trained Young Rascal and Addeybb already winners… Read More »
Gerald Ryan is keeping a close eye on the weather and will scratch Standout from the Group One TJ Smith Stakes if Randwick is rain-affected. An outstanding winner over older horses first-up, Standout appeared to be travelling strongly in the Canterbury Stakes but as soon as he came off the… Read More »
Weather conditions in the northeast of Victoria have resulted in the Benalla race meeting being postponed. Friday’s meeting will now be held on April 8 and run alongside the Sandown meeting. Following a track inspection on Thursday, the Benalla track was rated in the heavy range with surface water detected…. Read More »
The Doncaster Mile has not been the kindest race to Anthony Cummings but the trainer is hoping Prince Fawaz can rectify that at Randwick. Cummings is yet to win the 1600-metre Doncaster Mile famed as one of the most prestigious on the calendar, although he has twice come within a… Read More »
An abandoned winter carnival in Queensland has forced Melbourne trainer John Sadler to assess the potential of two emerging stablemates much closer to home than he had planned. Sadler had last week’s Bendigo winner Big Night Out earmarked for a trip north along with promising three-year-old Beehunter. But as the… Read More »
The Chairman’s Quality at Randwick has been an autumn target for Carif and co-trainer Peter Snowden will wait until after that race to decide whether the young stayer presses on to the Sydney Cup. Carif will be racing on a seven-day back-up in Saturday’s Group Two 2600m Chairman’s Quality at… Read More »
A renowned trainer of stayers with an unrivalled recent record in the ATC Australian Derby, Murray Baker might soon find himself with expertise in another major sport. Baker and training partner Andrew Forsman have no horses in work in New Zealand where racing has been shut down, along with other… Read More »
Queensland’s racing restrictions have had an upside for veteran Group One-winning trainer John Wallace. Gold Coast-based Wallace has picked up handy two-year-old Mishani Rebel after the restrictions were brought in this week. Mishani Rebel was trained at Eagle Farm by Les Ross who has a large team for the gelding’s… Read More »
Dismissal is at big odds for the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes but trainer Gary Portelli believes the two-year-old is not out of Group One contest. Portelli has opted to give the maiden filly a crack at Saturday’s 1400m feature for juveniles at Randwick after deciding to bypass her original target,… Read More »
Premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan has scratched stakes performer Silvera from Doomben in the hope there might be some feature races for the gelding in the winter. Gollan had accepted with Silvera and Get Stuck In for Saturday’s TAB Handicap (1600m) but will rely on the latter. The race has… Read More »
Promising two-year-old Papaya will miss next weeks’s Capricornia Classic to concentrate on Doomben. Papaya was a strong last-start winner at Eagle Farm and trainer Chris Munce had been planning to take her to Rockhampton for the Capricornia Classic which was scheduled for Saturday However, due to the regional racing restrictions… Read More »
