Standing at the side of the pool with her head held high, Jameka rushes into the water to take a well-deserved afternoon swim at Caulfield. It is the end of a long day for the four-year-old mare who is the second favourite for the Melbourne Cup on November 1. “She… Read More »
Trainer Chris Waller will put blnkers on two-year-old Luiza believing they will help the filly when she has her first Melbourne start at Moonee Valley. Luiza made a winning debut at Randwick in Sydney on October 8 and is the early favourite for Saturday’s $250,000 Inglis Banner (1100m) for juveniles…. Read More »
Although it has been 35 years since Ron Quinton won the Cox Plate on Kingston Town, he still vividly remembers every stride. Quinton, now a trainer, rode the legendary horse in the second of his three consecutive Cox Plate wins. While the race shines brightly in his mind, so does… Read More »
Being charged with a cobalt offence has left Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate-winning trainer Mark Kavanagh’s family and career “in tatters”. Kavanagh has sold his home to keep his unprofitable training operation going and cover his legal costs as he fights a three-year cobalt disqualification. “I sold it earlier this… Read More »
An typhoon threat has thwarted the Group One aspirations in Melbourne of two Hong Kong-based jockeys. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has stopped Joao Moreira from flying out to ride Vadamos in the Cox Plate on Saturday while Sam Clipperton cannot ride English in Friday night’s Manikato Stakes. The problem… Read More »
Tony Pike has taken the blinkers off Sacred Elixir for the Group Two Vase as the gelding steps up to a distance his trainer has always expected him to relish. Sacred Elixir has had the blinkers on for shorter races in all but his first career start, but Pike doesn’t… Read More »
WINX FACTS: * Born – September 14, 2011. * Sire – Street Cry. * Dam – Vegas Showgirl. * Cost – $230,000 at Magic Millions yearling sale. * Trainer Chris Waller. * Prizemoney of $7,498,175 with 16 from 22 starts. WINNING STREAK: * Started with the Group Three Sunshine Coast… Read More »
Having a big team of horses provides enough distractions for Chris Waller tso he doesn’t get too caught up in the hype of training the country’s best horse. Winx is the favourite to extend her winning streak to 13 in Saturday’s $3 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, a race… Read More »
Mr Gustavo is the latest in a string of New Zealand horses sent to Sydney with dollar signs in their eyes. Even before purses for Sydney metropolitan Saturday races were elevated to a minimum $100,000, more horses were travelling across the Tasman in search of prize money. Sydney’s premier trainer… Read More »
View everything you need to know about the 2016 Cox Plate, a Group One, $3 million, weight-for-age over 2040 metres. HISTORY: * First run in 1922 when the Moonee Valley Racing Club committee voted for a high-quality, weight-for-age race for the best horses * Named after William Samuel Cox, founder of Moonee… Read More »
Unbeaten colt Super Suave will make his city debut against three-year-olds instead of older horses after drawing a good barrier at Eagle Farm. Trainer Liam Birchley entered Super Suave for the Three-Year-Old (1200m) and the Class 3 Plate (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. But he elected to go with… Read More »
When Rebel Dane walks out of Gary Portelli’s driveway for the final time, he knows he could be waving goodbye to a once-in-a-lifetime ride. While that moment is not expected to come until next year, the trainer and his Group One journeyman will bid a sad farewell to the Moonee… Read More »
A dry track and general improvement in the racing surface could help Sea Red break her long-running Eagle Farm hoodoo. Sea Red can run final sectional times comparable with stakes horses and her get-back racing style would indicate she should love Eagle Farm which has a long straight. But Sea… Read More »
Godolphin stayer Qewy has moved a little further up the Melbourne Cup ballot order after being penalised for his Geelong Cup win. The Charlie Appleby-trained stayer, who beat Grey Lion and Oceanographer in Wedesday’s race, has been given a half-kilogram penalty by Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter following his all-the-way… Read More »
The much-travelled Rebecca Williams can take advantage of a shortage of claiming apprentices in Brisbane when she rides well fancied Hard Stride at Eagle Farm. Emma Ljung and Sarah Eilbeck are injured, Tiffani Brooker is suspended, and Matt McGillivray is riding in Sydney meaning Williams is one of the few… Read More »
A decision is still pending on whether Hong Kong jockeys Joao Moreira and Sam Clipperton will be allowed to travel to Melbourne for Group One races at Moonee Valley as Typhoon Haima approaches. While the weather is fine early on Thursday, the typhoon is heading towards Hong Kong and is… Read More »
Winx has already excelled under the pressure of a Cox Plate which gives trainer Chris Waller added confidence going into the mare’s defence of the $3 million race. Waller says he couldn’t be happier with Winx two days out from Saturday’s weight-for-age race at Moonee Valley, but he also respects… Read More »
Trainer Peter Snowden is keeping his eye on Melbourne’s weather, saying Capitalist needs a good track to show his best in the 2016 Manikato Stakes. Snowden says the Golden Slipper-winning colt is in good order for Friday night’s Group One race but he is concerned by a forecast for rain…. Read More »
English trainer Charlie Appleby has not ruled out a 2016 Melbourne Cup start for Scottish with stablemates Qewy and Oceanographer also moving close to a start with their first and third in the Geelong Cup. Appleby said the Godolphin team would finalise plans for the Melbourne Cup early next week… Read More »
Glyn Schofield says he is highly likely to appeal the severity of a careless riding suspension which will put an end to his Victoria Derby hopes on Prized Icon. Schofield was outed for his ride on Laucala at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Stewards determined that Laucala shifted in and caused… Read More »
