An imported galloper who gave Matt Cumani a Melbourne Cup runner in his first season of training is close to making a racetrack return. Cumani has pencilled in the Group Three Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on April 15 as Grey Lion’s first start since he finished 14th behind Almandin… Read More »
A brilliant win by It’s Somewhat in the Doncaster Mile has boosted Brisbane trainer Desleigh Forster’s confidence about Cylinder Beach in the Toowoomba Cup. Cylinder Beach had one run in Sydney beaten 2-1/2 lengths into seventh place behind It’s Somewhat in the Group Two Ajax Stakes, and heads to Saturday’s… Read More »
Harlow Gold will have a jockey other than Regan Bayliss for the first time when she bids to go one better in the ATC Australian Oaks than the Victorian equivalent. Bayliss has ridden Harlow Gold in her 10 starts, including her second in last spring’s VRC Oaks at Flemington, but… Read More »
Racing Queensland has expanded its TAB coverage of country racing and added three new regional bonus scheme series for the next racing season. Queensland will have a total of 781 thoroughbred race meetings in 2017-18. RQ boss Elliot Forbes said authorities were keen to continue to support country racing. “There… Read More »
Waking Moment’s maiden win in the $200,000 Adrian Knox Stakes has trainer John Thompson dreaming about a similar outcome in next weekend’s $1 million Australian Oaks at Randwick. The two-year-old filly needed practically every inch of the 2000m on her home track to reel in Perfect Rhyme and did so… Read More »
Winx naturally caught the eye with a track gallop on day one of The Championship, yet for once the mighty mare was upstaged. Ultimately, it was a history-making Chautauqua that captivated a crowd of more than 20,000 at Randwick on Saturday as he surged from dead last with 400m to… Read More »
Global racing power Godolphin has savoured a Group One win in the Doncaster Mile, with It’s Somewhat leading all the way in a major upset at Randwick. Ridden by Hong Kong-based expat Zac Purton, It’s Somewhat who was a $31 chance with Sportsbet went straight to the front and was… Read More »
Just 20 minutes after champion sprinter Chautauqua’s breathtaking third TJ Smith Stakes win at Randwick, the same colours have been to the fore in Victoria with Milwaukee winning the Bendigo Guineas. The Hawkes Racing-trained Chautauqua carries the colours of Rupert Legh who is also in the ownership of the Mike… Read More »
Connections are hoping Queensland’s wet weather continues for another week after noted mud lark Mount Nebo earned another tilt at the Weetwood Handicap. Mount Nebo ($4.40) made it seven wins on rain-affected tracks when he won the Future Furniture Open (1050m) at Doomben on Saturday. The Wyong-based gelding had his… Read More »
Murray Baker is an old hand when it comes to winning the Australian Derby but for his young training partner Andrew Forsman, Jon Snow’s win is a whole new world. Baker, who previously won with Nom Du Jeu (2008), It’s A Dundeel (2013) and Mongolian Khan (2015), stayed at home… Read More »
Two years after winning the Golden Mile in his first Australian start, import Observational has had a barnstorming run to win the Listed race at Bendigo for a second time. Observational had not won since his 2015 win and has changed stables and ownership from the Macedon Lodge team of… Read More »
It’s Somewhat has hung on to win the $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick. The Godolphin gelding with Zac Purton aboard pushed forward early during the Group One race and fought off a late charge from Happy Clapper. Sense of Occasion came third. It’s Somewhat was $31 when gates… Read More »
An injury-enforced withdrawal from the Golden Slipper ultimately produced a silver lining for Invader’s connections when he booted clear to score the $1 million Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick. The colt was diagnosed with a stone bruise of the eve of the world’s richest race for two year-olds but thanks… Read More »
Chautauqua has made history at Randwick, coming from last to win his third TJ Smith Stakes in a row. The 1200m $2.5 million sprint looked like a battle between English and Fell Swoop in the final stretch on Saturday before the gelding made a sensational charge from the turn to… Read More »
She only gained a start as an emergency but Diddums has belied her standing to claim a Group Three win at Randwick. The filly was a $19 chance once she made the field for Saturday’s 1200m sprint but has always been a favourite with her trainer, Gerald Ryan. Diddums left… Read More »
New Zealand colt Jon Snow has shown his staying power to win the $2 million Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick. He proved too strong for Harper’s Choice down the straight on Saturday, with Hardham in third, and favourite and fellow Kiwi Gingernuts finishing fifth. The win is New Zealand trainer… Read More »
After a successful work trip from Coffs Harbour to Randwick, Cathleen Rode is looking forward to her first holiday for seven years. That break is well deserved after Free Standing claimed the Country Championships (1400m) final on Australian Derby Day. “I’ve only got three horses in work and they’re all… Read More »
Invader has stormed home to win the $1 million Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt chased down Summer Passage late in the first Group One race on Saturday, with Trapeze Artist in third place. “When I needed him to move, he was able to… Read More »
A week after a potentially serious fall, jockey Craig Williams has made a triumphant return to riding aboard Big Duke in the Chairman’s Handicap at Randwick. Williams suffered concussion when he came off The Gold Trail past the post in last Saturday’s Mornington Cup, when the English Godolphin horse fatally… Read More »
Northern rivers trainer Stephen Lee has driven his horse Spiral through floods to get him to Doomben and victory. Lee is based at Ballina and took a truck to get Spiral to Brisbane rather than the usual float after being told it would not get them there. “We had to… Read More »
