CANTERBURY STAKES Run at Randwick since 2014, 1300m, $500,000, weight-for-age. HISTORY * First run in 1929 when won by Amounis * Elevated to Group One status in 2013 * Run at Canterbury except for at Rosehill in 1973-75, 1980-81, 1997-98, 2004-07. * Before 2004 run over 1200m. 2008 run over… Read More »
AUSTRALIAN GUINEAS Run at Flemington, 1600m, $750,000, Three-year-olds. HISTORY * First run in 1986 when won by True Version * 1998-2000 run over 2000m NOTABLE WINNERS * Zabeel (1990); Triscay (1991); Mahogany (1994); Baryshnikov (1995); Flying Spur (1996); Mouawad (1997); Pins (2000); Reset (2004); Al Mahar (2005); Apache Cat (2006);… Read More »
Can’t Remember’s Blue Diamond Prelude run is one trainer John Moloney would rather forget but he is looking for the colt to show what he is capable of in another stakes race at Flemington. Moloney had aspirations to head to the Blue Diamond with Can’t Remember but those were shelved… Read More »
Tony McEvoy has tasted Group One success and is itching for more when Hey Doc runs in the 2017 Australian Guineas. He was associated with numerous Group One winners with Lindsay Park over more than 30 years and led in a Cox Plate winner, Fields Of Omagh, in his name… Read More »
Trainer Toby Edmonds will again test a tried and true theory when Fiery Heights and Raffinato join his strong team at Eagle Farm. Much of Edmonds’ focus will be on star two-year-old Houtzen on Saturday but he again has a strong hand in several other races at Eagle Farm. Leading… Read More »
A proud moment looms for a prominent Victorian racing family with brother and sister Andrew and Katelyn Mallyon to ride in the same Group One race for the first time. Both siblings will be chasing their first Group One win in Saturday’s Australian Guineas at Flemington with Andrew to ride… Read More »
Talented mare Dream Finnish has passed a veterinary inspection and is ready to resume at Eagle Farm. Dream Finnish showed she had a future as a stayer with a strong win over 1800m at Eagle Farm on December 3. But at her next start at Doomben in an Open Quality… Read More »
Trainer James Cummings is covering his Guineas bases with Prized Icon and has a contingency plan if the Randwick meeting is put back. The Victoria Derby winner is an acceptor for both the Australian Guineas at Flemington and the Randwick equivalent on Saturday. The colt arrived in Melbourne on Thursday… Read More »
Racing identity Bill Vlahos, accused of defrauding punting club members out of millions, has represented himself in court because he’s run out of money to pay a lawyer. Vlahos told the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court that after three years of legal representation funded by himself, family and friends, he now needed… Read More »
A field of 14 plus two emergencies has been declared for the Black Opal Stakes in Canberra with several horses also among the acceptances for the two-year-old races in Sydney. The Randwick meeting is scheduled to go ahead on Saturday despite the forecast for rain but several trainers have taken… Read More »
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah will join the Coolmore stallion roster in Australia in the spring. In 2015, American Pharoah ended a 37-drought when he claimed the Triple Crown of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Later that year he added the Breeders’ Cup Classic to his record…. Read More »
Hey Doc remains a clear favourite for the 2017 Australian Guineas with the last start C S Hayes Stakes winner drawing an inside barrier for the Group One race at Flemington. The Tony McEvoy-trained Hey Doc has barrier two in a capacity field of 16 plus three emergencies for Saturday’s… Read More »
Trainer Tony Gollan is on target to set a Brisbane premiership record for the third consecutive season after equalling his career-best four winners at Doomben. Gollan moved to 56 wins with five months of the season remaining after the wins on Wednesday of Ignite The Light ($2.20), Scorcha ($1.90), I’m… Read More »
The next Provincial Championship heat at Hawkesbury likely hinges on a change in the weather and an early morning track gallop by jockey Grant Buckley. The second opportunity to qualify for the $400,000 Provincial Championship final at Randwick on April 8 risks joining Kembla Grange and Warwick Farm as non-events… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher-trained Jukebox will undergo a further veterinary inspection when he arrives in Sydney from Melbourne ahead of his attempt to get his Golden Slipper 2017 campaign on track. The colt was withdrawn from the Blue Diamond Stakes on the eve of last Saturday’s race with two Racing Victoria… Read More »
Noted breeder Rick Jamieson has continued a successful week with Good Oh scoring a debut win at Sandown. On Monday the Jamieson-bred half-brother to Newmarket Handicap winner The Quarterback was sold for a Melbourne yearling sale record $1.4 million. Jamieson’s record as a breeder includes unbeaten champion Black Caviar, All… Read More »
Victorian trainer Mick Kent is keeping a close eye on the Sydney weather for lightly raced sprinter Supido. The Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday is on the five-year-old’s radar where he is an $11 chance with Sportsbet.com.au with the likelihood of a seven-day back-up into the Newmarket Handicap… Read More »
West Australian apprentice Clint Johnston-Porter has ridden a winner at his first ride in Melbourne, guiding Bastille home at Sandown. Johnston-Porter gave Bastille a polished ride in the Dream Thoroughbreds National Apprentice Riders Race (1200m) on Wednesday. Sent out the $2.60 favourite, Bastille was up on the speed until the… Read More »
Trainer Robert Smerdon believes multiple Group winner Hooked is showing the right signs to run a bold race in his first start for the stable at Flemington. Hooked won five of his 31 starts for trainer John Thompson including a Group Two Tramway Stakes, Group Two Crystal Mile and Group… Read More »
The prospect of persistent rain in Sydney has not dampened John O’Shea’s enthusiasm for the $1 million Randwick Guineas. While rival trainers James Cummings, Grahame Begg and David Brideoake kept options open by also accepting with Prized Icon, Land of Plenty and Hardham respectively in the $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m)… Read More »
