Breeder Basil Nolan’s two-edged plan to promote his sire Golden Archer is set to pay dividends again at Doomben. Nolan owns Lady Lark who will contest the Three-Year-Old Handicap (1615m) and he hopes the filly can win her first Saturday race to add to her stud value. Lady Lark is… Read More »
A look at the form guide doesn’t always give a punter an account of a horse’s true ability. Trainer Heath Conners points to Clear Signal as a case in point. Conners knew he had potential before he broke through for an upset maiden win on the Geelong synthetic track on… Read More »
He might be a seven-year-old with 39 starts under his belt but The Monstar still has a few tricks. The gelding returns to the scene of his most dominant win when he runs in Saturday’s Group Two Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. Since he won the Listed June Stakes by… Read More »
Brisbane trainer Kelly Schweida has elected to keep handy sprinter Stella Ombra at home after the gelding drew a bad barrier at Randwick. Schweida accepted with Stella Ombra and L’Entrecote in the Saturday’s Open Hcp (1200m) at Doomben and with Stella Ombra in the Schweppes Hcp (1200m) at Randwick. He… Read More »
Queensland’s Racing Minister Grace Grace has called a meeting to review a report into the closure of Eagle Farm racecourse. Eagle Farm has not raced since May 27 and Grace instigated an independent report from former Victoria Race Club chief executive Dale Monteith. The track was closed after repeated complaints… Read More »
Multiple Group One-winning trainer John Meagher has announced he will increase his presence in Victoria but he will still play a major role in Brisbane. Meagher will open a stable at Mornington with a few horses including Group winner Savanna Amour who runs in the rescheduled Bletchingly Stakes at Sandown… Read More »
Former Godolphin heavyweights Henry Plumptre and John O’Shea will face charges when the inquiry into the non-reporting of a case of strangles resumes in Sydney. O’Shea, who resigned as Godolphin’s head trainer in Australia in late April, has been issued with two charges, one for failing to report the confirmed… Read More »
Champion Brisbane apprentice Tiffani Brooker has bounced back from a bout of influenza with a strong book of rides including star mare Tumbler at Doomben. Brooker was ill at the Sunshine Coast meeting on Sunday but was fine to ride at the Gold Coast on Wednesday. She will ride Tumbler,… Read More »
Here Comes When has excelled in atrocious conditions to claim a major upset over Ribchester in the Group One Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. Copious amounts of rain throughout Wednesday (Thursday AEST) morning and afternoon led to second favourite Churchill’s withdrawal less than an hour before the race and while 8-13… Read More »
Shortly before he was banned for 13 meetings, Collett was all smiles after helping secure partner Clare Cunningham’s first city winner. Jason Collett left Warwick Farm with a careless riding suspension, but the first metropolitan meeting of the season will still hold fond memories for the New Zealand jockey. Collett… Read More »
Jason Collett has been suspended for 13 meetings after pleading guilty to a careless riding for an incident that ended in Rachel King falling from her mount as it passed the winning post at Warwick Farm. King avoided injury but stood down for the remainder of Wednesday’s meeting after she… Read More »
The Bletchingly Stakes at Sandown will be a different experience to the one Lankan Rupee encountered in an early morning track gallop. The Mick Price-trained sprinter was taken to Sandown on Wednesday in preparation for Sunday’s Group Three weight-for-age sprint. A heavy fog shrouded the circuit, making it difficult for… Read More »
Most racehorses are well into retirement by Nat King Cu’s age, but a tree change has revitalised the nine-year-old, helping the veteran record his first city win in 56 starts. The gelding had until May spent his career under the guidance of Canberra trainer Nick Olive before his owners took… Read More »
A crack at a record-equalling third Grand National Steeplechase win is on the horizon for 10-year-old Wells. But first the gelding will try to claim a breakthrough win in the Crisp Steeplechase at Sandown. The Kathryn Durden-trained Wells headlines nominations for Sunday’s $125,000 Crisp Steeplechase (3900m), a traditional lead-up to… Read More »
James Cummings has set his sights high for Alizee after her maiden win at Warwick Farm, with the Silver Shadow Stakes now on the talented filly’s schedule. Godolphin’s head trainer was certainly taken with the daughter of Seepoy after the three-year secured an early double for Cummings on Wednesday. Piracy… Read More »
Top jockey Damian Browne made a rare trip down the highway to partner promising filly Dansez to her first win at the Gold Coast on Wednesday. Caloundra-based Browne is known for his dislike of road travel and in particular has an aversion to the two-hour trip to the Gold Coast…. Read More »
One look at a Frankel colt at a Sydney Easter yearling sale was enough for Robbie Laing to hunt out potential buyers. With a reserve of $500,000, Laing took a gamble on the colt after he was passed in at auction for $475,000. That 2016 purchase, named Frankel My Dear,… Read More »
Memes has consistently pushed the boundaries since she met Jason Coyle’s expectations by ticking off her maiden win. But now the in-form mare faces the stiffest challenge of a breakthrough preparation when she takes on weight-for-age sprinters in the Missile Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. When the Warwick Farm-based Coyle… Read More »
Barry Humphries has been cast in a supporting role as his wife attended her first horse racing meeting as an owner. The international comedy star accompanied wife Lizzie Spender in the Warwick Farm mounting yard to watch Dante Rossetti, a three-year-old she part-owns, make his debut. It was a dream… Read More »
Some advice from her boss Gai Waterhouse has convinced Rachel King to stand down from riding for the day following an early fall at Warwick Farm. The apprentice jockey took a tumble just past the winning post after her mount in the first race, Puppet Master, was tightened up between… Read More »
