Kelly Schweida’s decision to stay in Brisbane with Stella Ombra has capped a winning treble at three racetracks for the trainer while giving jockey Jim Byrne four wins at Doomben. Schweida entered Stella Ombra for Randwick as well as Doomben but elected to run in Brisbane when he drew a… Read More »
Riding Invincible Gem to win the Group Two Missile Stakes has proved a little easier for Corey Brown than walking the Kokoda Track. Putting aside the pain in his knees, Brown steered the Kris Lees-trained mare to a convincing 1-1/4 length win over her triple Group One-winning stablemate Le Romain…. Read More »
Trainer Mike Moroney is hopeful a fitness edge will allow Rhythm To Spare to pick up a better-class race during the early stages of the Melbourne spring carnival. Rhythm To Spare regained winning form after a patient ride by Patrick Moloney in the John and Denise Cobcroft Recognition Handicap at… Read More »
A winter handicap over 2000m at Flemington is not the usual formline for a Melbourne Cup winner. That was discounted 12 months ago when Almandin won Australia’s greatest race. Saturday’s 1 Oliver Street Plate, won by Aloft, a race Almandin ran last in 12 months ago, may again be a… Read More »
Chris Waller is plotting a backdoor entry into the Group One Metropolitan with emerging stayer Sayed. Sayed, a northern hemisphere-bred five-year-old, will be given his chance in provincial cups in the hope he can squeeze into the Metropolitan after winning at Randwick on Saturday. Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the $4.60… Read More »
Thirteen years of the National Jockeys’ Trust has been anything but unlucky for the hundreds of riders and riders’ families assisted by the fund. The annual jockeys’ celebration day has again focused on the role riders play in the industry and the sacrifices they and their families make. The NJT’s… Read More »
The Matt Dunn Highway show has rolled on at Randwick but this time with a horse destined for much bigger things. Care To Think gave the Murwillumbah trainer his 11th win in the races for country horses, two more than Canberra’s Matt Dale who scratched Super Star Bob from Saturday’s… Read More »
Apprentice Lani Fancourt declared front-running mare Sheiswhatsheis her new favourite horse after they combined for another win at Doomben on Saturday. Sheiswhatsheis made it five wins at the Doomben 1600m and in four of those Fancourt has been the jockey. It was a tried-and-true formula when Fancourt took Sheiswhatsheis ($2.90)… Read More »
At his second attempt at breaking into Melbourne riding ranks, Perth apprentice Jordan Turner has won his first race at Flemington. Riding the Brent Stanley-trained Red Alto, Turner guided the stayer to victory over the straight 1200m course in The Stayers Lounge Handicap on Saturday. Easy in the betting from… Read More »
Trainer Stuart Webb will consider chasing a stakes race with Crown Witness after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with her win at Flemington. A debut winner at Sandown last month, Crown Witness was well supported in betting on Saturday before taking out the Winter Lodge Handicap. Ridden by apprentice Ben Thompson,… Read More »
Whether Wahng Wah gets the chance to improve on her record remains to be seen but the mare has expanded her pedigree page with a win over 1800 metres at Randwick. Wahng Wah is slated for a stud career this season but trainer Kris Lees is hoping she can add… Read More »
Queensland raider Shogun Sun has upstaged a field of promising three-year-old sprinters at Randwick to put his name forward as a Golden Rose contender. Trainer Kelly Schweida had expressed doubts the 1200m trip would be too short for the $20 outsider in the walking2help.com.au Sprint. But soft ground and an… Read More »
Chris Waller has trained his first winner from his new Gold Coast satellite stable with Devil Hawk scoring at Doomben. Devil Hawk ($8.50) was too strong for Stanley ($3.90), winning by 2 1/4 lengths in the Tim Bell Memorial (2200m). The five-year-old’s stablemate, the $2.60 favourite Loving Home, finished 1-1/2… Read More »
The Caulfield Guineas is firmly in the sight of Tony McEvoy following the first-up win of Azazel at Flemington. Having his first run since a throat operation, Azazel powered home to win the VRC Members’ Pavillion Handicap on Saturday. Ridden by Luke Currie, Azazel ($5) scored by three quarters of… Read More »
Matt Dunn admitted he may have made an error in training Arrestar as a sprinter after the gelding won over 1600m at Doomben on Saturday. Arrestar ($5) showed plenty of heart to beat Lady Lark ($5) by a neck with 2 1/2 lengths to Diomedes ($6.50) in the Furances @… Read More »
A change of trial dates means Sea King will aim for a second Grand National Hurdle with 71.5kg rather than the Crisp Steeplechase. Trainer Patrick Payne intended running Sea King in the Crisp at Sandown on Sunday but he needs to qualify again to race over the bigger obstacles as… Read More »
Doomben racecourse will carry the majority of the extra workload in Brisbane caused by the closure of Eagle Farm. Racing Queensland and the Brisbane Race Club have agreed to recommendations in a report by former Victorian racing official Dale Monteith which means urgent remedial work at Eagle Farm means it… Read More »
The underpass constructed as a result of jockey Simone Montgomerie’s fatal fall is set to be named in her honour as racecourses nationally celebrate riders’ contribution to racing. Montgomerie, a rising star of Northern Territory racing, was killed on Darwin Cup Day in 2013 after her gelding baulked and reared… Read More »
The last time jockey Jarrod Lorensini was riding, Australia was in the midst of an unprecedented equine influenza crisis. It’s been a decade between drinks for the former South Australian whose return to racing on Friday was capped by victory aboard the Sue Jaensch-trained $17 chance Cheners at Warracknabeal. “It’s… Read More »
Former Godolphin trainer John O’Shea has vehemently denied knowing a horse in the stable had strangles while the organisation’s ex managing director Henry Plumptre has accepted responsibility for his part in the case. O’Shea, who resigned as head trainer for Godolphin in late April, pleaded not guilty to being a… Read More »
