Winx has confirmed her place as a modern-day great of Australian racing, winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes to make it 17 victories on end. In overtaking the famed New Zealand mare Sunline to secure second place on the all-time prize money list for Australasian racehorses, Winx signed off on a… Read More »
Derryn brushed off also-ran status in the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes behind the world’s best sprinter Chautauqua to thrive among his age-group on day two of The Championships. After finishing eighth of 15 in the TJ Smith, Derryn has backed up seven days later at Randwick to claim the… Read More »
Bonneval has given her rivals a lesson in how to stay the distance with a runaway win in the $1 million ATC Australian Oaks. Favourite to add the Randwick Group One to her win in the New Zealand Oaks last month, Bonneval came from the second half of the field… Read More »
A last-to-first finish from Maryore has given Canberra’s Philip Courtney the biggest thrill of his short training career in the rich Provincial Championships Final at Randwick. The 65-year-old Courtney took up training about five years ago, firstly as a hobby until going full-time with eight horses currently in work. The… Read More »
Trainer Ben Currie went from the basement to the penthouse in the space of 40 minutes when Cantbuybetter won at Toowoomba. Currie’s filly Girl In A Million was backed as though unbeatable in the two-year-old race but ran second last, beaten 15 lengths. However, Cantbuybetter ($5) went some way to… Read More »
Arrowfield Stud boss John Messara has bred and raced some of the best horses in Australia and won many of the country’s biggest races. But Shoals’ win in Saturday’s Group Two race at Randwick named for his long-time vet and close friend, the late Percy Sykes, meant more than most…. Read More »
The colours carried to success in a Group One race in Sydney during the autumn carnival have taken the honours in a two-year-old race at Caulfield. Saturday’s Wellington RC Handicap winner Kobayashi is raced by a number of the owners of last month’s Vinery Stakes winner Montoya’s Secret with both… Read More »
Garry White originally planned for Generalissimo to contest the Provincial Championships final at Randwick. But was happy to settle for winning the $150,000 South Pacific Classic on Saturday after Generalissimo finally found a favourable track. “That’s the best track we’ve had in the last couple of starts,” White said. “I… Read More »
A betting move for filly Girl In A Million came unstuck when Noble Hussler caused an upset at Toowoomba on Saturday. As much as $4.20 was bet about Girl In A Million before she shortened to $1.80 in the Moore Trailers Handicap. However, after being unsettled in the barriers Girl… Read More »
Talented filly Whispered Secret could follow in the hoofsteps of stablemate Prized Icon after taking out the Listed Fernhill Handicap at Randwick. Trainer James Cummings won the Fernhill a year ago with the colt Prized Icon who then backed up a week later to win the Group One Champagne Stakes… Read More »
Hartnell will be running in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick trying to cement a trip to Hong Kong for another race named for the monarch, and one he might find a little easier. The Group One winner finds himself again playing second fiddle to Winx on Saturday, an all… Read More »
Frances Nelson has become the first woman and first South Australian to be elected chair of Racing Australia. Nelson replaces the now-retired John Messara. “I feel very privileged to contribute in this way in an industry I have been involved in for a lifetime.” Nelson said. She is currently the… Read More »
Big Duke has significant support for the Sydney Cup but racing powerhouse Godolphin is undeterred as Penglai Pavilion and Polarisation zero in on their Australian debuts. James Ferguson, assistant to English trainer Charlie Appleby, said the two were primed to follow the example of stayers Qewy and Francis of Assisi,… Read More »
A barrier mishap dashed Robert and Luke Price’s hopes of three runners in the Provincial Championship Final at Randwick but the father and son training partnership is still poised to make an impact in the $400,000 race. The Price stable has qualified two horses for Saturday’s rich race restricted to… Read More »
Baguette, Tie The Knot and Spinning Hill are just three of the famous horses raced by the Tait family over their many decades in racing. And although she doesn’t have quite the same record as those multiple Group One winners, Zanbagh is right up there in the pecking order with… Read More »
SYDNEY CUP 3200m, $2 million, handicap at Randwick HISTORY * Sydney’s premier staying event first run in 1866 when won by Yattendon * Honour roll includes: The Barb (1868-69), Carbine (1889-90), Wakeful (1902), Eurythmic (1921), Rogilla (1933), Sailor’s Guide (1956), Sharply (1961), Galilee (1967), Reckless (1977), Double Century (1979), Kingston… Read More »
Weetwood day in Toowoomba always has a special place in retired champion jockey Chris Munce’s heart and he is hoping for another feature win when he returns as a trainer. Munce rode one of his first big winners on Count Henri in the 1989 Weetwood Handicap and remembers the day… Read More »
You can bank on Lasqueti Spirit hitting the front in the $1 million Australian Oaks, and take the odds she can stay there. The three-year-old filly used the element of surprise to break clear of the field to win the VRC Oaks as a $101 outsider in the spring, and… Read More »
Queensland police have charged one man and flagged further arrests in a crackdown on race-fixing in the state’s harness racing industry. It comes as its governing body insists most of those in the industry are honest and have a sincere passion for harness racing. A 46-year-old licensed harness driver and… Read More »
Training partners Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra know the strengths and weaknesses of their stable. In recent seasons the cousins have become minor players at carnival times before making the most of their opportunities in the off-season. Crystal Dreamer is one horse ready to make his mark when he runs… Read More »
