The opening race at Caulfield has been decided in the stewards’ room with Ma Jones’ rider Ben Allen successfully lodging a protest against the horse who was first past the post. Quilate, ridden by Melbourne’s leading apprentice Beau Mertens, was first across the line in Saturday’s Jack Elliott Handicap but… Read More »
Arrogate and Winx remain at the top of the world rankings with the American horse on 134 and Australia’s champion given a rating of 132, retaining her position as the best on turf. Hartnell is equal with Gun Runner and Jack Hobbs on 123 and the next best Australian with… Read More »
Kevin Kemp hopes to ease the disappointment of missing the chance to create a record in the Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba. Veteran Tisani Tomso missed a run in the Weetwood at Toowoomba last Saturday but gets a chance to atone in Saturday’s Open Hcp (1050m) at Doomben. Kemp holds the… Read More »
ALL AGED STAKES 1400m, $600,000, weight-for-age HISTORY * Before 2004 run over 1600m * First run in 1866 when won by Falcon * Outstanding winners include: Tim Whiffler (1870-71), Carbine (1889-90), Wakeful (1902), Chatham (1934), Peter Pan (1935), Ajax (1938-39-40), Bernborough (1946), San Domenico (1952), Tulloch (1958), Lord (1959), Sky… Read More »
In-form Tasmanian gelding Hellova Street has crossed Bass Strait again to attempt to cap his preparation with another stakes win in the Group Three Victoria Handicap at Caulfield. The Scott Brunton-trained six-year-old won the Listed March Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last month which made it three-straight wins after weight-for-age Listed… Read More »
A sunny lead-up to the All Aged Stakes won’t be enough to dry the Randwick track as much as trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith would like for Famous Seamus but his stable star will run regardless. The eight-year-old is the outsider of the field for Saturday’s Group One race, his first start… Read More »
The man who has the job of replacing Greg Miles has paid tribute to the record-breaking Melbourne race caller who he describes as a “colossal broadcaster”. Miles, who has called a record 36 consecutive Melbourne Cups, will call his final meeting at Caulfield on Saturday with the final race on… Read More »
Guaranteed drawcard Winx is no certainty to race in a rescheduled Craven Plate before her third Cox Plate. Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club are considering moving the Group Three weight-for-age 2000m- race from its customary slot to complement the inaugural running of the $10 million Everest (1200m) at… Read More »
Darren Bell is looking to cement his comeback from a four-month enforced break when Eight’s A Party runs at Doomben. Eight’s A Party will be Bell’s first city runner since he was forced to close his stable late last year because of a strangles outbreak. The trainer had runners at… Read More »
Boom Time will be on trial for a crack at the rescheduled Sydney Cup when he runs over a staying distance on the undercard to the Easter Cup at Caulfield. The Group One Sydney Cup (3200m) was declared a no-race at Randwick last Saturday because of concerns over horse and… Read More »
Two months of frustrations for trainer David Kelly will finally come to an end when Group One winner Sakhee’s Soldier makes his return to racing at Doomben. Gold Coast-based Kelly has had a frustrating time with the weather thwarting several attempts to get Sakhee’s Soldier to the races. Kelly was… Read More »
Chris Waller is accustomed to the highs and lows of racing but a week after Winx’s latest romp reverberated around the equine world, a return to Randwick looms as a particularly challenging anti-climax. Sydney’s supremely focused premier trainer admitted even he can struggle to adapt to a race day build-up… Read More »
Sydney’s Randwick racecourse is rated a “heavy 9” ahead of the weekend’s All Aged Stakes meeting. The track is expected to remain heavy for Saturday’s meeting, featuring the All Aged and Champagne Stakes, after constant rain over the past two-and-a-half months. After more than 450mm fell in Sydney over February… Read More »
Veteran Steel Zip will break his usual racing pattern and back up at Doomben after pulling up well from an unplaced run in the Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba. Trainer Pat Duff usually likes to space Steel Zip’s runs to help the veteran grey recover from hard runs. But he said… Read More »
CHAMPAGNE STAKES FOR TWO-YEAR-OLDS AT RANDWICK: HISTORY: * First run over seven furlongs (1400m) in 1866 when won by Fishhook * Held over 1600m since 1972 * The final leg of the two-year-old triple crown after the Golden Slipper Stakes and ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes * Outstanding gallopers to have… Read More »
Rocket Commander will step outside mares grade in the Group Three Victoria Handicap at Caulfield as she continues on a path towards a homecoming in South Australia. Five-year-old Rocket Commander joined Canberra trainer Matt Dale’s stable last year and, in eight starts since in Victoria and NSW, has netted a… Read More »
* Being a jockey is a dangerous career, with riders at risk of serious injury and death * NSW jockey Darren Jones, 49, died in a three-horse fall at Warialda in the state’s north on April 8 * Two former Queensland jockeys – Ben Saunders , 54, and Wade Clasohm,… Read More »
Popular NSW jockey Darren Jones will be remembered as a cherished husband, father and son after his death in a three-horse fall in the state’s north. The 49-year-old – who fell at Warialda while riding race favourite Montague Clan on Saturday – will be farewelled in Tamworth on April 20…. Read More »
Jockey Brad Pengelly has shown his respect for promising mare Tumbler by committing to ride her at 54kg when she returns at Doomben. Tumbler makes her long awaited comeback to racing in Saturday’s Open Hcp (1050m) in which she has the minimum weight of 54kg. Trainer Barry Lockwood was expected… Read More »
The corks weren’t exactly popping although Paul Snowden was relieved to learn impressive filly Frolic is no longer an impediment to Invader adding the Champagne Stakes at Randwick to his record. Although the two-year-old colt beat Frolic home by five lengths when they last duelled in the $1 million Sires’… Read More »
