Jeff Lloyd has ridden seven winners at the Sunshine Coast to set a Queensland record for a metropolitan meeting. His feat also equalled the long standing record for the number of winners ridden at any Queensland meeting. Five of his winners at the expanded 12-race day/night meeting on Wednesday were… Read More »
With veteran sprinter Rebel Dane grabbing headlines, trainer Gary Portelli has received a boost with the Gerry Harvey-owned Improvement emerging as a promising new talent for the stable. Sent out the $3.10 favourite, the three-year-old filly foreshadowed her potential by winning the TAB Maiden Plate (1200m) at Canterbury on Wednesday…. Read More »
Lightly raced Order Again has avenged an unlucky last-start defeat to confirm his rating as a possible winter carnival contender with a decisive win at the Sunshine Coast. Sent out the $1.50 favourite in Wednesday’s 1400m-maiden, Order Again ran down the leader The Amateur ($3) to win by 2-3/4 lengths… Read More »
Australia’s most recent Group One winner Takedown has arrived in Hong Kong where he will contest the International Sprint. The Gary Moore-trained four-year-old received a late invitation to the Sprint (1200m), one of four Group One races on International day on Sunday week. By the time the invitation was issued,… Read More »
Unbeaten three-year-old Wise Hero is not certain to chase his second win in eight days with trainer John Price still considering his options. A debut winner at Moe earlier in the month, Wise Hero followed it up with an impressive win at Moonee Valley last week and is an acceptor… Read More »
France, a full-brother to Group One winner Peeping, has shaken off a bump in the straight to score a maiden win at Canterbury. The three-year-old colt won Wednesday’s Schweppes Maiden Plate (1200m), hanging on to win by a half head after a tense battle in the closing stages. France, an… Read More »
Jockey Rory Hutchings has been suspended for 14 meetings over his involvement in a fall which led to a horse being euthanised at Hawkesbury. Hutchings was slapped with the careless riding ban for crossing on Mount Taishan and causing interference to Blaike McDougall’s mount Dragon’s Magic in the opening stages… Read More »
Lucky Liberty has returned from 18 months off the scene to win two of his four races this campaign with the chance to add another on Pakenham Cup day. But while getting the injury-plagued gelding back in winnng form is satisfying, trainer Henry Dwyer admits there’s also a feeling of… Read More »
When Iggi Pop was standing in retirement on a hill at Segenhoe Farm, the thought of him returning to the track to win more than $100,000 in stakes seemed distant. But that’s the mark the veteran stayer has reached as he loads up again to contest the Listed ATC Cup… Read More »
Lindsay Park continues to learn about the imported Pilote D’essai and is hoping to find out even more in the Pakenham Cup. A wide barrier forced Pilote D’essai into a leading role when he passed a distance test to win the Ballarat Cup on November 19 over 2200 metres, The… Read More »
Unbeaten colt Winning Rupert has returned to Brisbane where he will try to keep his record intact and put himself in line for a lucrative bonus. Trained in Sydney by Bjorn Baker, Winning Rupert has raced twice, both times in Queensland for a debut win at the Sunshine Coast followed… Read More »
Craig Williams is to take up a short-term contract in Hong Kong to help fill a shortage of lightweight jockeys. The Melbourne-based jockey will take his family to Hong Kong to ride for just over two weeks, commencing at the international meeting on December 11. Injuries and suspensions have resulted… Read More »
Favourite Perfect Reflection has drawn barrier two as she bids to turn the tables on Scales Of Justice and Good Project in Australia’s final Group One race of the year, the Kingston Town Classic. The mare finished third behind Scales Of Justice and Good Project in the Group One Railway… Read More »
Des O’Keeffe has been appointed chairman of the Australian Jockeys’ Association replacing Ross Inglis who is retiring from the organisation after 14 years. A long-time advocate for jockeys, O’Keeffe has resigned his position with the Victorian Jockeys Association and will be replaced by Matthew Hyland, a former jockey and trainer…. Read More »
A trip to the Dubai World Cup meeting is in the pipeline for Emirates Stakes winner Awesome Rock. The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained five-year-old returned to work on Monday following a three-week spell after his Group One 2000m win on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival. Troy Corstens… Read More »
Godolphin jockey James Doyle can hit the ground running with a maiden Australian stakes win aboard the Peter Robl-trained Ninth Legion in the Group Three Festival Stakes. Doyle arrived in Sydney on Monday to begin a stint replacing retained rider James McDonald who is on the sidelines pending the outcome… Read More »
Michelle Payne will be allowed to ride Husson Eagle in Queensland with authorities granting her a licence for Magic Millions day. Racing NSW this week refused to allow Payne to ride Husson Eagle in a lead-up race at Randwick on Saturday, citing integrity concerns regarding her dual trainer/jockey licence in… Read More »
The racing career of Brian Cox appears to be over with the Wodonga trainer handed a 3-1/2 year disqualification relating to the use of steroids in his stable, Cox was last week found guilty on eight of 13 charges laid against him by Racing Victoria stewards with the Racing Appeals… Read More »
It’s been almost four years and 40 starts since Group One-winning sprinter Famous Seamus stepped out over 1500 metres but his trainer believes now is the time to try again. The eight-year-old runs in Saturday’s Group Three Festival Stakes at Rosehill and, if he performs as Noel Mayfield-Smith hopes, he… Read More »
After a late start to her career, four-year-old Nieta has made up for lost time with a sparkling run of form taking her earnings to more than eight times her price tag. But despite her superb form, at one time her ascendancy was far from assured. “She’s one of racing’s… Read More »
