Jockey Robbie Fradd has blamed a head knock for the defeat of heavily supported favourite Impregnable at Doomben. Impregnable, backed from $1.60 to $1.40, never looked a winning hope before labouring into third place behind the winner High Cost ($10) in the Eloise Gannon Foundation Handicap. Fradd told chief steward… Read More »
Only one horse in the Grand National Steeplechase at the all-jumps meeting at Ballarat has had fewer race starts than Dormello Mo. But when it comes to racing over jumps, the Simon Ryan-trained galloper is one of the most experienced. Of the 35 times Dormello Mo has raced, only once… Read More »
Tommy Berry views his Sydney racing swan song as a new beginning, and not just because he is relocating to Hong Kong. Berry, who departs Australia on Sunday to start a one-year contract riding for John Moore, was not anticipating a particularly fond farewell at Randwick on Saturday. He rides… Read More »
Apprentice Ben Allen will be out to make the most of early season opportunities on two well-performed Darren Weir-trained horses at Caulfield. Allen reunites with stayer Big Duke in a 1600m-handicap and has also been booked to ride quality Japanese import Tosen Stardom in the day’s feature race, the P… Read More »
Allergic is among a host of Godolphin horses using the Warwick Stakes meeting as a launching pad for spring campaigns. While there are no expectations when Allergic comes up against Winx in Saturday’s Group Two feature, head trainer James Cummings is using the race as a foundation for the Group… Read More »
Popular sprinter Steel Zip is set to race on after his Doomben assignment but trainer Pat Duff but admits retirement isn’t far away for the veteran grey. Steel Zip, who has a cult following in Brisbane, will be having his 85th start in Saturday’s Open Handicap (1350m) at Doomben. The… Read More »
Corey Brown’s careless riding suspension should not jeopardise My Tagoson’s second crack at a Highway Plate with Scone trainer Tod Northam snaring Sydney’s premier jockey Hugh Bowman. Brown, who rode My Tagoson on his Highway Plate debut at Rosehill on July 29, was suspended at Canterbury last week and Bowman’s… Read More »
Tony McEvoy admits starting A Thousand Degrees in the Vain Stakes on debut is an aggressive placement but he would not be doing so unless he believed the colt had the talent to measure up. A Thousand Degrees is one of two runners for the trainer in Saturday’s Group Three… Read More »
Gold Standard has an opportunity to live up to his name when the promising colt makes his black-type debut at Randwick. The three-year-old makes the step up from his maiden win at Canterbury on August 9 to Saturday’s Group Three Up And Coming Stakes (1300m). Trained by Gai Waterhouse and… Read More »
With the official start of spring fast approaching, some of the Lindsay Park team’s big guns will be out to begin their seasons in style at Caulfield. Three of the stable’s five Group One winners from last season are scheduled to resume in separate stakes races on Saturday. The Goodwood… Read More »
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission has discontinued proceedings against two trainers on positive swab charges because of procedural issues. The decision means Rockhampton-based Ricky Vale, who was disqualified for a year, can return to training. Tony Gollan was fined after his case was heard but he will now have the… Read More »
Former French gelding Sayed has a chance to measure up for The Metropolitan with an imposing audition at Randwick. Chris Waller took over training the five-year-old in June last year and after an uninspiring initial preparation in Sydney, Sayed has thrived since being gelded. Four wins and two seconds so… Read More »
While Winx’s preparation is similar to springs past, the nerves have intensified for part-owner Debbie Kepitis. Kepitis is always anxious ahead of the first race of any Winx campaign but the feeling is particularly acute as the champion mare lines up for Saturday’s Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick…. Read More »
One-time Caulfield Cup hope Berisha begins his spring campaign in a sprint race at Caulfield following an injury-enforced lay-off. Berisha was assured a start in last year’s Caulfield Cup courtesy of his win in the Mornington Cup. He was progressing nicely towards the race, finishing third behind Cup winner Jameka… Read More »
Trainer Kelly Schweida is having his best start to a racing season but he isn’t counting on three of his veterans adding to his win total at Doomben. Schweida has had seven winners since the new season started on August 1 at a win percentage of about 35 per cent…. Read More »
While the public focus will be on Winx at Randwick, trainer Chris Waller has a host of other horses kicking off spring campaigns including the talented Omei Sword. Touted as a potential Group One winner when she ran second in the 2016 Golden Rose, Omei Sword missed her chance in… Read More »
Talented filly Francisca is set to write another successful chapter in one of Queensland racing’s most successful owner-trainer stories. Francisca, who cost $37,500, has won her past two starts at provincial tracks and gets her biggest test in Saturday’s Three-Year-Old Handicap (1350m) at Doomben. She is trained by Steve O’Dea… Read More »
Champion jockey Damien Oliver is appealing the severity of a 14-meeting suspension incurred at Sandown. Oliver fronts the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Tuesday to have his appeal heard. He pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge aboard Redcore in the opening race at Sandown on Wednesday which resulted… Read More »
Jockey William Buick will see a specialist to determine the extent of the injury he sustained in America. Buick was riding the Mark Johnston-trained Permian when the Royal Ascot winner fatally fractured a foreleg and unseated him shortly after crossing the line in the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park in… Read More »
Winx and the team behind the champion mare have swept the awards conducted by the NSW Racehorse Owners Association and Racing NSW. As expected by her deeds during the season, Winx was awarded the highest honour as Horse of the Year and picked up the miler and middle distance trophies…. Read More »
