The Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai remains on the table for Group One-winner The Quarterback but he still has plenty of options at home. The Quarterback is scheduled to resume Group One Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 18 before a defence of the Group One Newmarket Handicap… Read More »
Godolphin colt Astern will be the headline act at the Warwick Farm barrier trials with Omei Sword, who he defeated to win the Golden Rose, to be saved for later in the week. Trainer Chris Waller said Omei Sword would run in a trial at Randwick on Friday. The filly… Read More »
Apprentice Emma Ljung has completed a roller coaster week with a long shot winner and a suspension. Lljung was stood down from riding after suffering heat stroke at the Ipswich meeting on January 14. She was cleared to ride at Doomben on Wednesday but was again stood down by stewards… Read More »
Brisbane’s hot summer has caused a change of plans for Group One placegetter I’m Belucci. Trainer Desleigh Forster brought I’m Belucci back from his spring spell with the idea of a light summer campaign. “He has been placed in Group One company twice (Spring Champion Stakes and Queensland Derby) but… Read More »
Some of the stars of Darren Weir’s high flying stable are set to step out this week to begin their campaigns aimed at Group One glory. Black Heart Bart, Palentino and Flamberge are already Group One winners and the three are set to resume in Friday night’s Group Two Australia… Read More »
When Chris Waller crossed the Tasman Sea armed with four horses and a pocketful of ambition, never in his wildest dreams could he imagine the heights he might scale. Now as the dominant Group One trainer in Australian racing, Waller will attend the world’s best racehorse awards on Wednesday (AEDT)… Read More »
Group One placed Teronado has been retired with connections deciding it is too risky to continue with him. Teronado won four races and $278,000 prize money with the latter part of his career dogged by injury. The gelding ran third to Criterion in the 2014 Group One Rosehill Guineas and… Read More »
Group One winner Ferlax has died at Haunui Farm in New Zealand after a paddock accident. The winner of the 2013 Australian Guineas, Ferlax began stud duties at Haunui in 2014 and his first yearlings will be sold at Karaka at the end of the month. “We are quite devastated,”… Read More »
Jockey Blake Shinn has been suspended for careless riding for the second time in four days. Shinn followed up a five-meeting ban incurred at Warwick Farm on Wednesday with a six meeting suspension at Randwick on Saturday for his ride on third placegetter Roaring To Win in the final event…. Read More »
After being dumped from a horse before the opening race at Moonee Valley, Dwayne Dunn has ridden through pain to post a win on Ameristralia in the final event. Dunn was dumped off Malaise in the mounting yard before the opening race and said he landed flat on his back…. Read More »
The narrowest of margins has saved star jockey Hugh Bowman from forfeiting rides on champion mare Winx after he admitted not riding Olympic Academy out to the line at Randwick. The Kris Lees-trained gelding won the Rebecca Louise Handicap (1600m), meaning Bowman was fined $600 rather than suspended after he… Read More »
Grand campaigner Ecuador has announced his intention to be an autumn carnival player, winning the Listed Carrington Stakes to continue a perfect start to his campaign. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained seven-year-old made it back-to-back wins over 1400m as he took his career prize money past $830,000. Carrying 61kg,… Read More »
A fifth Hobart Cup is in the sights of premier Victorian trainer Darren Weir after import Big Duke booked a shot at next month’s feature in Tasmania with victory at Moonee Valley. Big Duke was well-backed late from $2.05 to $1.90 in Saturday’s Schweppes Sparkling Handicap (2040m) and after being… Read More »
Much-travelled jockey Ron Stewart has made the most of his Singapore connection to ride his second winner for the week for co-trainers John and Chris Meagher. Stewart gave Rich Affair ($8.50) the run of the race to beat Ringo’s A Rockstar ($3.20) by three-quarters of length with a half length… Read More »
With a teenager who has been battling leukaemia for the past six months cheering him on, Burning Front has produced a dream result to win the VOBIS Gold Star for the second-straight year at Moonee Valley . Burning Front’s breeder and managing owner Justin Lovatt was at the track where… Read More »
Premier Brisbane jockey Jeff Lloyd has continued his great strike rate with trainer Michael Nolan, bringing up his 100th winner for the season on Upstart Pride at Eagle Farm. Upstart Pride ($6.50) had finished 10th at his previous outing after bungling the start but was on his better behaviour on… Read More »
While it came about by coincidence rather than design, jockey Bobby El-issa’s first Saturday metropolitan winner since beating cancer has come aboard the aptly named Super Star Bob. The Matthew Dale-trained three-year-old gelding stepped up from a maiden debut victory on his home track at Canberra on January 6 to… Read More »
The Tasmanian Oaks is an immediate target for lightly raced filly Wheal Leisure after a hard-fought win at Moonee Valley. Giving Michael Dee his first city win as a senior rider, Wheal Leisure made a long run around the field in Saturday’s Metcash Handicap (2000m) and fought off the challenge… Read More »
Premier Melbourne trainer Darren Weir has brought up an early winning double at Moonee Valley in contrasting fashions. After Gratwick controlled the opening race from the front, four-year-old Zabeel mare Zasorceress has come from last to lead in a stable quinella in the second event, the Schweppes Lemonade Handicap (1600m)…. Read More »
Two-year-old filly Exceeds has blown away the hype surrounding debutant Eden Roc by scoring a tough victory at Randwick. The Hawkes Racing-trained Eden Roc, closely related to Group One-placed stablemate Star Turn, jumped the $1.70 favourite but the James Cummings-trained Exceeds ($20) caused a boilover in Saturday’s two-year-old plate over… Read More »
