Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup is cautiously plotting Acqume’s return clash with Godolphin star Alizee after his promising filly recorded back-to-back wins at Warwick Farm. Acqume was third on debut at Warwick Farm behind Alizee and Songlife last month. But while Alizee stepped and held her own at stakes level at… Read More »
Shoals has risen to every challenge so far and the unbeaten filly begins her push towards the Group One Thousand Guineas in a stakes race at Moonee Valley. The Anthony Freedman-trained Shoals has her first start as a three-year-old in Saturday’s Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) for fillies when she… Read More »
Rebel Miss has scored her first Sydney win at her fourth attempt and may be on track for another tilt at black-type racing. The Matthew Smith-trained mare finished strongly on her home track at Warwick Farm to claim the Schweppes Handicap (1000m), a potential step towards the upper echelon. Her… Read More »
Stoutly bred mare Miss Arabella confirmed she was a stayer of the future with her dour win at Ipswich on Wednesday. Despite hitting a couple of flat spots during the race Miss Arabella ($2.60) ground out a win in a Benchmark 75 Handicap (1680m). Miss Arabella, who has won three… Read More »
After an encouraging season return, He’s Our Rokkii is an early favourite to land his first victory since last year’s spring carnival when he runs in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes. Saturday’s Group Two weight-for-age race at Moonee Valley has a field of 11, with last year’s Group One… Read More »
Long-term friends and rival jockeys Brenton Avdulla and Tommy Berry won’t just be comparing Australian and Hong Kong racing in the lead-up to the inaugural $10 million Everest. Sydney-based Avdulla keeps in regular contact with Berry, who started riding in Asia last weekend, and talking shop has taken on an… Read More »
Stakes winner Dreams Aplenty takes the first step towards the Melbourne spring on Saturday and his trainer John Zielke has an extra reason to hope the four-year-old has returned in top form. Dreams Aplenty will be having his first run since finishing 14th in the Group Two Queensland Guineas on… Read More »
A foot abscess has been blamed for Diamond Tathagata’s dismal return to racing but trainer Mark Newnham is still taking no chances ahead of the Run To The Rose. The Mark Newnham-trained colt was unable to replicate encouraging barrier trial form in the Rosebud Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill last month,… Read More »
Trainer Robert Smerdon won’t be rushing Superhard deep into the spring after the colt remained unbeaten at Sandown. The All Too Hard three-year-old, a debut winner on the synthetic track at Pakenham last month, finished strongly in Wednesday’s Sheamus Mills Bloodstock Handicap to show he’s a galloper of quality. Ridden… Read More »
Brett Bellamy will miss not having Ray Spokes ride Northern Knight when the unbeaten sprinter runs in the Highway Handicap at Rosehill. Spokes has ridden Northern Knight in each of the four-year-old’s three wins but the jockey will be looking on from afar on Saturday. He will turn proud father… Read More »
Champion Hong Kong-based jockey Joao Moreira is set to ride at the first night meeting of the season at Moonee Valley. Moreira, who rode five winners at the opening meeting of the new season in Hong Kong on Sunday, will be a part of the action on AFL Grand Final… Read More »
Indian jockey Trevor Patel has warmed up for his Australian race debut by riding four winners at the Deagon trials. Patel, 25, is in Australia on a trial basis and will have the backing of five-time Brisbane premiership trainer Robert Heathcote. He rode Storm Girl, Page One, Still Cool and… Read More »
Trainer Martyn Meade is ready to let Eminent take his chance in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown with Frankie Dettori set to take the ride. Owned by New Zealander Sir Peter Vela, the Frankel colt had a confidence-boosting win in last month’s Group Two Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville… Read More »
Ex-pat trainer Cliff Brown has called on Queensland jockey Damian Browne for a black-type race in Singapore. Browne will fly to Singapore on Sunday to partner Elite Excalibur in the Group Three Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) at Kranji. Browne’s previous two trips to Singapore have been for the former Victorian-based… Read More »
Trainer Henry Dwyer has indicated he will plead guilty before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board after one of his horses returned a positive sample to a banned substance at a country jump-out. Racing Victoria stewards received a report from Racing Analytical Services Limited confirming a positive swab taken from… Read More »
Co-trainer Adrian Bott admits Siege of Quebec faces another significant test at Rosehill in the lead-up to the focal point of his preparation. The colt makes another step up on Saturday when he takes on several of his highly rated potential Golden Rose rivals in the Group Two Run To… Read More »
The second wave of a leading New Zealand stable is ready to begin the road to the Cups. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained mares Bonneval and Lizzie L’Amour run in Saturday’s Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on a path leading towards the Caulfield Cup… Read More »
Plans for Global Glamour’s return to racing will be firmed up now the the Group One-winning mare has made the shortlist for the Australian Turf Club’s slot for The Everest. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained four-year-old is among five candidates vying for a start in October’s inaugural $10 million… Read More »
The McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley will see potential Everest contenders put their credentials on the line. Saturday’s Group Two 1000m race has attracted eight nominations with Houtzen already a starter in next month’s $10 million The Everest at Randwick. Co-trainer Paul Snowden said he and his father Peter are… Read More »
Winning debutant Jessamin reignites her quest for black-type on her racing record when she resumes from an extended at Warwick Farm. The three-year-old enjoyed a dream introduction at the Sydney track in November, and although co-trainer Adrian Bott thought the Magic Millions 2YO Classic was a viable target in January,… Read More »
