If the exciting Nature Strip is to upstage a host of Australia’s other top sprinters in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick, he will have to do something he has not done for 18 months – win twice in a row. The Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip is favourite… Read More »
Racing Victoria says with the aid of the state government it could support industry participants for up to 12 months if racing is forced to shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Chairman Brian Kruger said RV had more than $70 million in its sustainability fund that could be used… Read More »
Victoria Racing Club chief executive Neil Wilson will be the next chairman of the club, but when he takes over has not been decided. The VRC Board met on Friday to give Wilson the green light as chairman, but for the time being he will remain as chief executive to… Read More »
Golden Slipper placegetter Mamaragan has earned his chance at the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes, a race his trainer originally dismissed as an option. John Thompson had him pegged as as a pure sprinter and early on was eyeing a Magic Millions campaign. Mamaragan’s debut was delayed by shin soreness… Read More »
New Zealand champion Melody Belle has been replaced as favourite in an open market for the Group One Doncaster Mile which has attracted a capacity field. Melody Belle, who shares top weight of 57kg with Epsom Handicap winner Kolding, has drawn barrier 14 for Saturday’s $1.5 million Doncaster Mile and… Read More »
A star-studded field of 13 has been declared for the Group One TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick with Nature Strip drawing barrier one. One of four Group One races on Saturday’s opening day of The Championships at Randwick, the weight-for-age TJ Smith (1200m) features a number of star sprinters including… Read More »
Favourite Melody Belle has drawn barrier 14 in the Doncaster Mile with 24 runners declared for the $1.5 million race. Saturday’s Group One race at Randwick has a field limit of 20 with four emergencies among the acceptances. Three-year-old Brandenburg has barrier seven and will be ridden by Glen Boss… Read More »
Champion jockey Glen Boss has made a habit of winning the Doncaster Mile on lightly weighted three-year-olds and will be out to do so again when he takes the ride on promising colt Brandenburg. Boss has won a record seven Doncasters at Randwick with the past five of those on… Read More »
As he prepares his contenders in two of Sydney’s signature races on the opening day of The Championships, trainer Mark Newnham believes horse racing in Australia is doing everything right to be able to continue. A former jockey and now Group One-winning trainer, Newnham has Shadow Hero set for Saturday’s… Read More »
Syndicator Terry Henderson is looking to have two Group One chances at Randwick in the two most prestigious races on the program. Henderson runs OTI Racing which has Quick Thinker in Saturday’s Australian Derby (2400m) and possibly Night’s Watch in the Doncaster Mile. Quick Thinker, trained in New Zealand by… Read More »
There is something special about both the Doncaster Mile and Australian Derby for Mark Newnham. And on Saturday the trainer hopes he can get his name etched onto the honour roll of one, or both, of the time-honoured races at Randwick. Newnham has forged a career in racing, starting as… Read More »
Prominent trainer Adrian Bott is grateful racing is still proceeding during the coronavirus crisis and supports prize money cuts for The Championships at Randwick. The Championships are scheduled to go ahead over the next two Saturdays under strict biosecurity measures with prize money for the eight Group One races halved…. Read More »
Queensland’s top metropolitan jockeys will be divided into two divisions when regional racing starts in the state this week. Racing Queensland has introduced five regions for race meetings in an effort to combat the spread of coronavirus in the industry. Racing is continuing with no crowds and strict biosecurity restrictions… Read More »
The Provincial Championships Qualifier which was washed out at Wyong has been rescheduled to Newcastle. The $150,000 Qualifier at Wyong on Saturday was called off after heavy rain. Racing NSW has added the race to Tuesday’s Newcastle meeting which will now have 11 races. Scratchings have been reinstated for the… Read More »
Joao Moreira has become the fourth jockey to rack up 900 winners in Hong Kong. Moreira rode five winners at Sha Tin on Sunday with racing continuing in the Asian centre throughout the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting went ahead after the Hong Kong Jockey Club received a late exemption to… Read More »
Under normal circumstances, Probabeel would be on her way home to New Zealand after a profitable Sydney campaign. The filly has had three starts for a Group One win in the Surround Stakes and seconds in the Group Two Phar Lap and Group One Vinery. With uncertainty over how long… Read More »
Trainer Danny O’Brien is unsure what the future holds for Vow And Declare’s bid for consecutive Melbourne Cup victories. O’Brien was planning to take Vow And Declare to Brisbane for a three-run campaign, part of a nine month build-up to this year’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington in November. But the… Read More »
Brad Rawiller has heaped praise on the chief executive of the Victorian Jockeys’ Association Matthew Hyland for his tireless work during the coronavirus pandemic. Rawiller said without Hyland representing the 170 plus members of the VJA, there was a strong possibility racing may have ground to halt. “Matt Hyland has… Read More »
Chris Waller is convinced a return to Sydney racing will help Kolding when the gelding heads a strong team trying to give the champion trainer a record-equalling seventh Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Waller expects to have at least six runners in Saturday’s Group One Doncaster Mile on the first day… Read More »
Brisbane three-year-old Eric The Eel has been given the green light to head to Sydney for the Australian Derby under revised coronavirus protocols for transporting horses. Trainer Stuart Kendrick waited until consulting all the owners on Sunday afternoon before making the decision to head south for the G1 Australian Derby…. Read More »
