Trainer Peter Gelagotis has his sights set on the Caulfield Guineas after Levendi made a triumphant return to racing at Mornington. An impressive debut winner at Ballarat in June, Levendi was sent out the $2.40 favourite for his return run in the Fastrac Foodservice Handicap (1200m) on Wednesday. The Caulfield… Read More »
Trainer Mike Moroney has set his sights on achieving Group One success with Savile Row who makes his Australian debut in a sprint race at Flemington. Savile Row finished runner-up three times in Group One races last season in New Zealand before heading to the Australian base of Moroney’s trans-Tasman… Read More »
Adrian Bott wouldn’t be fazed if Gerald Ryan replicates his game plan to throw super mare Winx off her stride in the Group One George Main Stakes at Randwick. Winx was stretched in her latest run in the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) on September 2, when Josh Parr urged… Read More »
A week after landing her first metropolitan winner, apprentice Chelsea Hall has defied her opposition with daring tactics at Mornington. Riding the $101 outsider Miss Hissy in Wednesday’s Carol Campbell Handicap over 2000m, Hall established a big lead to steal the race. Last week Hall opened her city account with… Read More »
Former jockey Gary Doughty received a timely boost to his health when promising Cabeirian won at Doomben on Wednesday. Doughty, who holds a place in turf history as the rider of Australia’s longest-priced Group One winner when Abaridy won the 1986 Caulfield Guineas at 250-1, has been helping his trainer… Read More »
A race in her own backyard has seen Extreme Bliss on her best behaviour which has in turn led to victory at Mornington. Trained at Mornington by David Brideoake, Extreme Bliss led throughout over Wednesday’s 1000m journey of the Annie Ammitzboll Maiden. A half-sister to black type winner Thames Court,… Read More »
Gary Moore concedes it is going to be difficult for Takedown to post successive wins in The Shorts when the sprinter starts his spring campaign at Randwick. Twelve months ago Takedown returned from a spell in style, winning the 1100m Group Two race. That result launched an impressive preparation that… Read More »
Godolphin gelding Beacon took a step towards Saturday-grade racing with an impressive win at Canterbury. The Lonhro three-year-old took advantage of a plumb barrier draw under Hugh Bowman and made a decisive move in the straight to win the Pluck@Vinery Handicap (1100m) by 1-1/2 lengths. “He’s got a bit of… Read More »
It was no laughing matter at the time, but Thomas Lyttle couldn’t help but see the funny side when his Highway Handicap history was revisited before Classic Conquest heads to Randwick. The Moruya-based trainer’s last Saturday runner in Sydney made the journey from the NSW south coast but Gatto Mondo… Read More »
The star of Godolphin’s Australian stable is a short-priced favourite to give trainer James Cummings his first Group One win for the global operation. Cummings was appointed as head trainer in Australia for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation earlier this year and Hartnell will be his first Group One runner for… Read More »
Stakes-winning mare With A Promise will be at the crossroads of her racing career when she runs at Doomben. With A Promise will be taking on seasoned sprinters for the first time when she tackles the Ezidebit Handicap (1110m). The mare was one of the finds of the winter carnival,… Read More »
A star-studded field of 12 horses has been declared for the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington, headlined by Hartnell who will jump from barrier eight. To be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy in Saturday’s weight-for-age 1600m race, Hartnell could give James Cummings his first Group One win since taking… Read More »
Winx will have eight rivals when she steps out in her first Group One race for the spring, the George Main Stakes at Randwick. The champion will start the odds-on favourite in Saturday’s 1600m-event as she attempts to take her winning sequence to 20. She has drawn the inside barrier… Read More »
Doomben 10,000 winner Redzel has secured his place in the $10 million Everest with James Harron Bloodstock choosing the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained sprinter as its representative. Owned by Triple Crown Syndications, Redzel is a last-start winner of the Group Three Concorde Stakes, his first run since his Group One… Read More »
Seventy-eight horses remain in contention to take on champion Winx in her bid for a record-equalling third Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Of the 141 nominations taken last month, 79 remained for the $3 million weight-for-age race on October 28 after first acceptances closed on Tuesday. Among them are 10… Read More »
Stephen Marsh has watched a replay of the Chelmsford Stakes several times, but not to marvel at Red Excitement’s bold breakaway or super mare Winx’s relentless finish. The New Zealand trainer instead focused on the third-placed horse, a stayer who exceeded his expectations at Randwick. Chocante produced a Sydney debut… Read More »
Le Romain is no stranger to toppling more fancied runners at Group One level and will chase another elite-level win when he returns to Flemington for the Makybe Diva Stakes. The Kris Lees-trained Le Romain has won three Group One races, including last year’s Cantala Stakes at Flemington, and each… Read More »
Pat Webster is confident stable favourite Happy Clapper can continue to make strides towards the Epsom Handicap when he resumes a one-sided rivalry with Winx. The Randwick trainer has set the seven-year-old the challenge of a top-three placing in Saturday’s Group One George Main Stakes (1600m), a goal that seems… Read More »
The Melbourne Racing Club has welcomed a change in the re-handicapping policy for the Caulfield Cup winner in the Melbourne Cup. Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter announced on Tuesday the Caulfield Cup winner would not be given a Melbourne Cup weight penalty if it already has 56kg or more…. Read More »
Star Irish stayer Order Of St George has been given top weight for the Melbourne Cup for the second-straight year and the handicapper says he will be bitterly disappointed if the horse doesn’t take up the challenge this time. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Order Of St George has 58kg for the… Read More »
