Plans to run Snitz in Sydney have been shelved for the time being with trainer Matt Dunn electing to keep the three-year-old in his own age group. Snitz is one of a bumper crop of early season three-year-olds racing in Brisbane and has never finished worse than fourth in his… Read More »
Some of the stars of Australian racing have been on hand to help launch this year’s Victorian spring racing carnival which begins with the Memsie Stakes meeting at Caulfield. Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse and Melbourne Cup-winning jockeys Michelle Payne and Damien Oliver were a few of racing’s stars at the… Read More »
The in-form Havasay will buck the current trend in Brisbane and skip restricted class to run in open company at Doomben. It is rare for restricted class horses to run in Brisbane open company races let alone start a short-priced favourite as will be the case with Havasay in Saturday’s… Read More »
Veteran gelding Ecuador has an opportunity to earn a late-career trip to Hong Kong when he continues his path to the Group One Epsom Handicap at Randwick. The eight-year-old was a creditable third to Winx and Foxplay in the Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago, a run that… Read More »
Frequent visits to the beach have veteran sprinter Someday ready to return to near his best form at Doomben. Someday hasn’t won since the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) at Doomben in December 2014. Trainer Desleigh Forster isn’t sure he can return to the winners’ list in Saturday’s Open Handicap (1200m)… Read More »
Another benchmark race at Caulfield is the next step on a path towards a possible crack at a Group One handicap for Theanswermyfriend. The four-year-old gelding finished second over 1100 metres at Caulfield first-up on August 19 and steps up to 1200m in another benchmark-78 race at the same track… Read More »
Sally Wynne has become the latest dual licence holder to win a race in Victoria. Stradista was successful at Pakenham on Thursday with Wynne riding and training the gelding to his maiden success at his 24th start. To make the win even sweeter, Stradista is owned by Wynne’s mother Dianne…. Read More »
The Group One Memsie Stakes is the first Group One race of the 2017/18 season. HISTORY: First run in 1899 at one mile (1600m) and won by Veneda. The race was given Group One status in 2013. This year the 1400m weight-for-age race has had a significant prize money increase to… Read More »
Recent stable acquisition Tom Melbourne should give Chris Waller a clearer indication of where his spring aspirations sit after a black-type debut for Sydney’s premier trainer at Randwick. Waller was impressed with the former Irish gelding’s first start since being transferred from Lee and Anthony Freedman, a luckless second to… Read More »
Godolphin stayer Allergic again confronts a thankless task against Winx at Randwick, with James Cummings using the Chelmsford Stakes as preparation for the Metropolitan Handicap. Allergic started this campaign in the Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m) at the previous meeting at Randwick, the scene of the Winx’s scary but ultimately… Read More »
Co-trainer Simon Zahra considers Booker the stable’s leading spring carnival hope. Booker gets a chance to make an immediate impression on the opening weekend of spring in Saturday’s McNeil Stakes at Caulfield, although Zahra lamented a wide draw. She is one of two fillies taking on male counterparts in the… Read More »
Brilliant three-year-old Whypeeo is unlikely to run in the Golden Rose but his trainer Toby Edmonds could still have a runner in the Group One event. Whypeeo ran class record time to win at the Gold Coast last Saturday but Edmonds declared the speedy galloper was unlikely to head to… Read More »
Caulfield trainer Stuart Webb has an affinity with fillies. His three Group One wins came with Yosei while his most recent city successes have come with filly Crown Witness. Two classy mares from the Webb stable are set to resume at Caulfield on Saturday. Stayer Ana Royale returns in the… Read More »
Roman Son will be after his fourth consecutive win when he runs at Randwick but though Anthony and Edward Cummings have far more coveted victories in mind for the developing stayer. The four-year-old returns from a let-up prompted by a foot abscess in Saturday’s National Jockeys Trust Handicap (2000m), the… Read More »
Trainer Kelly Schweida has decided to stick with his original plan and run Cellargirl in the Three-Year-Old Handicap at Doomben. Cellargirl is a possible contender for the Group One Golden Rose at Rosehill on September 23 but will have to perform well on Saturday to justify a trip. Schweida is… Read More »
Trainer Pat Carey has been fined $4000 by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board after an altercation with recently disqualified trainer Trent Pennuto. Carey on Thursday pleaded guilty to striking Pennuto at the Mornington racecourse in May. Stewards alleged Carey grabbed the front clothing of Pennuto while he was leading… Read More »
Matt Dale cannot fathom why Canberra trainers will be excluded from Racing NSW’s Highway Handicaps from December, as he prepares to chase back-to-back wins at Randwick. Dale, who has won 10 Highway races since they were introduced for country-trained horses in October 2015, says exclusion will adversely affect his business,… Read More »
Mike Moroney is looking forward to the season with imported stayer Vengeur Masque who the trainer believes has now fully matured. Vengeur Masque is the only horse the 2000 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer has entered for this year’s 3200m showpiece at Flemington and one of only two horses from the stable… Read More »
The first Australian Group One race of the season signals the start of latest assault from the New Zealand training partnership of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. Four horses from the stable arrived in Melbourne on Sunday with Australian Derby winner Jon Snow to be the first to step out… Read More »
Starter Dale Jeffs is as anxious as anyone ahead of Winx running in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick. Jeffs will on Saturday be on the starter’s podium just as he was when Winx bombed the start in the Warwick Stakes before recovering to win her 18th straight race. Jeffs said… Read More »
