Trainer Patrick Payne says he feels like a fake after Zed Em gave him his first Brierly Steeplechase victory at Warrnambool. Zed Em gave a dashing display to win Tuesday’s main race on the opening day of Warrnambool’s three-day meeting. An easing $3.30 favourite, Zed Em, under Steve Pateman, looked… Read More »
The profile of six-year-old mare Wings shows a change of trainer preceded her first win for more than two years although Tash Burleigh’s connection goes back further. “I’ve been with Wings for just over four years now,” Burleigh, a former jockey and stable foreman for the late Graeme Spackman, said…. Read More »
A suspension to Tom Sadler has opened the door for Craig Newitt to chase another country feature win on in-form Observational in the Warrnambool Cup. Newitt rode the John Sadler-trained Observational to a last-to-first victory in the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo two starts ago when the gelding had a… Read More »
Patrick Ryan is hoping victory in a flat race is the perfect pipe-opener for a bigger prize at Warrnambool. The Ryan-trained I’ll’ava’alf took out the Cally Hotel Handicap (2350m) on the opening day of Warrnambool’s three-day carnival and will return on the final day for the feature, the Grand Annual… Read More »
Sydney trainer Joe Pride has never been to Adelaide before but is hoping to leave an impression on his first visit. Saturday’s Robert Sangster Stakes will also be a new experience for sprinting mare I Am Zelady who steps up to Group One company for the first time in the… Read More »
Apprentice jockey Melanie Bolwell is expected to begin rehabilitation within a week after being seriously injured in a three-horse fall in NSW last month. Bolwell has been in hospital on the Gold Coast for almost a month following the April 8 fall at Warialda, in which fellow rider Darren Jones… Read More »
An Italian Derby placegetter has taken the honours in a maiden hurdle at Warrnambool. Ancient King, who finished third in the 2012 Italian Derby, overcame a suspensory injury to win at Warrnambool on Tuesday. Former trainer Peter Moody bought Ancient King and Derby runner-up Wish Come True following their placings… Read More »
Arch Fire’s chances of victory in the main hurdle race at the Warrnambool three-day carnival could depend on his mental state. The Robert Smerdon-trained nine-year-old can be his own worst enemy when it comes to his jumping prowess. Arch Fire is the $3.70 second favourite in Wednesday’s Galleywood Hurdle for… Read More »
The recent victory of Rhythm To Spare at Caulfield has given trainer Mike Moroney confidence ahead of the major sprint race at the Warrnambool three-day carnival. Yesterday’s Songs will be chasing back-to-back wins in Wednesday’s Wangoom Handicap over 1200m. Like he has done with Rhythm To Spare, Moroney has changed… Read More »
There has been no shortage of compelling horse racing storylines in recent years but Patch could top them all when the one-eyed underdog sets off in the Kentucky Derby for the first leg of US thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt’s left eye was removed last June because… Read More »
Capacity fields have been declared for both the Australasian Oaks and Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide. The fields for Saturday’s two Group One races at Morphettville have been released with the Oaks (2010m) attracting a field of 16 plus four emergencies and the $1 million Sangster Stakes (1200m) for fillies… Read More »
Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has the two favourites heading the the 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Churchill heads betting among 12 colts in the 2000 Guineas with O’Brien looking for an eighth win in the Classic on Saturday, which would make him the most successful trainer in the… Read More »
Training partners Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have lodged an appeal against their conviction and $5000 fine on a conduct charge. The partnership was last week found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing after an inquiry into the substitution of horses listed to gallop in a televised… Read More »
Speedster Hidden Pearl will have a short, sharp winter carnival starting at the Gold Coast. Trainer Barry Lockwood nominated Hidden Pearl for last Saturday’s Victory Stakes but decided to wait another week for the Bat Out Of Hell (900m). Hidden Pearl will have only a few starts this campaign aimed… Read More »
Now convinced Missrock is a sprinter, trainer Robbie Laing will try her at the highest level in the $1 million Ubet Classic in Adelaide. The Cranbourne-based Laing is sending the three-year-old to Morphettville on Saturday to take on older mares in the 1200m-Group One sprint formerly known as the Sangster… Read More »
One of Victoria’s top jumpers will continue his preparation for a feature steeplechase win with a run on the flat at Flemington. While all eyes are on Warrnambool this week with key jumps races over the three-day meeting, last year’s Grand National Steeplechase winner Wells will line up on Saturday… Read More »
Joe Pride is not sure how much racing on wet tracks has affected New Tipperary but he will give him his chance on a firmer surface at Rosehill before deciding whether to continue his preparation. The four-year-old has been nominated for the Listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) and the Group… Read More »
Right from his early years trainer Robert Smerdon has been attending Warrnambool’s three-day May carnival. Growing up in Derrinallum, about 45 minutes from Warrnambool, Smerdon got his first taste of the carnival from the small country town before his family moved to Ballarat. “I went there as a kid before… Read More »
A field of 12 plus three emergencies has been declared for Australia’s most gruelling race, the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool. Thursday’s 5500m race crosses roads and races up and down paddocks while also turning in different directions with contestants negotiating 33 jumps. Last year’s winner No Song No Supper… Read More »
Apprentice Tiffiani Brooker will not appeal a seven-day suspension for excessive use of the whip on Gunsynd Classic winner Dreams Aplenty as connections of the runner-up consider legal action to have the result reversed. Dreams Aplenty beat Violate, ridden by Larry Cassidy, by a nose in Saturday’s Group Three race…. Read More »
