A holiday meeting at tiny Te Teko in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty offered ample food for thought for Gingernuts’ trainers and connections. The gelding still had a question mark hovering over his racing prowess when he lined up in a benchmark 65 worth a mere $8000, but after taking… Read More »
Champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman has brought up his first winner as a trainer with Zagaya at Geelong. Pateman was recently granted a dual rider-trainer licence and Zagaya was the first runner he saddled up when he finished third at Terang on March 2. A fifth placing at Warrnambool followed… Read More »
The $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick is the next port of call for Tivaci to chase an elusive Group One win in his final preparation before retiring to stud. Tivaci was placed twice at the top level in the Toorak Handicap and Cantala Stakes last spring while the… Read More »
Rebel Dane will stand the next breeding season at Victoria’s Swettenham Stud but first he will attempt to add another Group One win to his record. The Gary Portelli-trained seven-year-old runs in Saturday’s TJ Smith Stakes aiming for a third win at the elite level. Swettenham’s Adam Sangster said he… Read More »
Queensland stewards have opened their second inquiry in a week into alleged cobalt infringements. Last week Rockhampton trainer Ricky Vale pleaded not guilty to four prohibited substance charges including three involving cobalt. Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards have taken initial evidence in a hearing in which cobalt charges have been… Read More »
A horse Mike Moroney had hoped would be a Caulfield Guineas prospect last spring is ready for a bold showing at his stakes debut in the Listed Bendigo Guineas. But first he has to get into the field. Milwaukee is 19th in the ballot order for Saturday’s Bendigo Guineas (1400m)… Read More »
Kris Lees is in relatively unfamiliar territory as he rejoins the list of trainers striving to snap Chris Waller’s recent domination of the Doncaster Mile. Lees is no stranger to trailing Waller’s runners, most recently Winx, but with the super mare not defending the $3 million focal point of Saturday’s… Read More »
Fillies have been to the fore in the major two-year-old races so far this season and they hold the key to the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes. Both Group One races for juveniles this season have been won by fillies, with Catchy taking out the Blue Diamond in Melbourne while… Read More »
Cranbourne trainer Doug Harrison is hoping to strike while the iron is hot with Alrouz at Sandown. The rising 10-year-old gave Harrison his first winner for 2017 when successful at Sandown last week and lines up again on Wednesday over 1800 metres in the Ladbrokes Up For The Challenge. Harrison… Read More »
Doncaster Mile favourite Le Romain has drawn well in barrier eight for the $3 million race. A field of 20 plus three emergencies has been declared for Saturday’s time-honoured race. Melbourne filly I Am A Star will start from the inside alley while Tosen Stardom has the outside gate. View… Read More »
A full field of 20 plus three emergencies has been declared for the $3 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick while 13 will take their places in the Australian Derby. The Doncaster and Derby are two of four Group One races at Randwick on Saturday for the first day of The… Read More »
Plans for BMW winner Jameka are in limbo with the star mare found to be suffering from travel sickness on her return from Sydney to Melbourne. Jameka was a runaway winner of Saturday’s Group One BMW (2400m) at Rosehill with a clash with Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on… Read More »
Noel Callow will bid to recoup some of his losses when he appeals a one-month ban and $15,000 fine for his Group One-winning ride on Montoya’s Secret. Racing NSW stewards took a harsh stand against Callow for what they said was a “win at all costs” ride on the filly… Read More »
John Sadler is hopeful a return to the spaciousness of Bendigo will spark a return to some type of form for imported galloper Observational. The former Lloyd and Nick Williams-owned galloper will be lining up for his fourth start for Sadler in the Golden Mile (1600m) on Saturday. Observational won… Read More »
Blinkers have given Happy Clapper a new look this campaign as he heads to go one better in the Doncaster Mile after beating all but Winx in the race a year ago. The gelding had his final fast gallop for the race on Monday, a strategy Pat Webster employs rather… Read More »
Craig Williams will ride Tosen Stardom in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick as long as he passes a concussion test before race day. Williams, who was knocked unconscious when he fell from stricken horse The Gold Trail after the winning post in Saturday’s Mornington Cup, was initially thought to be… Read More »
Melbourne jockey Stephen Baster will reunite with Sircconi for a Group One race at Randwick. Baster hasn’t ridden Sircconi in a race to date but was involved in the early education of the two-year-old who makes his Sydney debut in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes on Saturday. After winning a… Read More »
Safety concerns caused by high winds have forced the Victorian race meeting at Stony Creek to be abandoned after two races. Jockeys met stewards after the opening race on Monday to discuss their concerns before agreeing to ride in the second event. A ballot was taken following the victory of… Read More »
Champion Adelaide apprentice Matthew Poon has had a mixed introduction to racing in Hong Kong with a winner at Sha Tin and a visit to hospital. Poon, a Hong Kong native, did his mandatory time overseas to hone his skills, and his performances in South Australia earned him the call-up… Read More »
Pelerin and After All That have secured the final two spots in the $400,000 Country Championship final by running the quinella in the Wild Card at Scone. Sunday’s meeting was the last chance to qualify for the race at Randwick six days later and was held at Scone when the… Read More »
