Chaquinta’s meteoric rise from the picnic circuit to triple metropolitan winner could make her final start a Group race. The mare continues to delay her career as a broodmare and won again at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. She backed up midweek wins at Warwick Farm and Canterbury in August to… Read More »
Queensland Oaks winner Provocative has been retired after sustaining a tendon injury. The Tony Pike-trained New Zealand mare sustained the injury over the weekend and connections have made the decision to send her to the breeding barn. “She had a bit of heat in her tendon over the weekend and… Read More »
It might look a run of the mill three-year-old race at Caulfield but it could also be the next step in a spring goal for Rocketeer. The Mick Price-trained gelding contests the Ladbrokes Supports National Jockey Trust Plate (1600m) on Saturday which the trainer hopes may propel him towards a… Read More »
Criterion’s half-brother Comin’ Through has signalled the emergence of Chris Waller-trained colts, making up one leg of a winning treble at Warwick Farm. The stable’s three-year-old fillies Omei Sword and Foxplay have been impressive Group Two winners this season, but it was the boys’ turn on Wednesday. Comin’ Through’s jockey… Read More »
Trainer Robert Smerdon and Berisha’s group of owners have devised a plan for their assault on the Caulfield Cup. A part of that plan unfolds at Caulfield on Saturday when Berisha runs in the Group Three Naturalism Stakes over 2000 metres. The Naturalism winner gains an automatic start in next… Read More »
Wet weather has forced a change in plans for popular mare Miss Vista who will have an exhibition gallop at Caulfield. The George Osborne-trained four-year-old with distinctive white markings was scheduled to gallop between races on Wednesday at Bendigo before wet weather forced that meeting to be moved to Pakenham…. Read More »
This year’s Cox Plate is again set to have an international flavour with connections of Vadamos and Tryster accepting invitations to run in the Moonee Valley showpiece. Moonee Valley Racing Club said connections of the Charlie Appleby-trained Tryster and Andrew Fabre-trained Vadamos had confirmed the two would enter quarantine this… Read More »
Irish trainer Willie Mullins says he is surprised to hear Wicklow Brave is at the head of Melbourne Cup markets after his St Leger win in Ireland over one-time favourite Order Of St George. Order Of St George was given equal topweight of 58kg with 2014 winner Protectionist when Melbourne… Read More »
Consistent gelding Colour Charge has shaken off his injury problems and is set to propel his trainer Natalie McCall back into the limelight at Eagle Farm. A last-start Sunshine Coast winner, Colour Charge makes his metropolitan open company debut in Saturday’s Spring Carnival Hcp (1830m). He has been consistent for… Read More »
Warrnambool trainers have been blocked from using one of their best weapons in the preparation of their racehorses. The sand dunes at Levys Point are off limits following advice to the Warrnambool City Council from Aboriginal Victoria there were Aboriginal Protected places in the area. Jane Baker, secretary of the… Read More »
For a horse no one thought would amount to much, Takedown has been a revelation. Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson and Rob and Deb Anderson bred and own Takedown, but he was never expected to be a three-time Group Three winner and collect more than $500,000 in stakes by the end… Read More »
Star sprinter Buffering will attempt to win his fourth Moir Stakes later this month without another barrier trial. Buffering was brilliant winning a trial at Doomben last week when he clocked close to a course record time for the 1000 metres. It was his first serious hit-out since he was… Read More »
The battle is hotting up to gain a start in the Caulfield Cup. It gathers momentum on Saturday at Caulfield where the winner of the Group Three Naturalism Stakes is guaranteed a start in next month’s 2400m handicap. Of the 28 horses nominated for the Naturalism (2000m), only Great Esteem… Read More »
Golden Slipper winner and successful sire Stratum has died suddenly at Widden Stud of a heart attack. Trained by Paul Perry to win the 2005 Golden Slipper, Stratum began standing at Widden in the Hunter Valley the following year. He was the champion first season sire and champion two-year-old sire… Read More »
The aches and pains associated with being a jockey has resulted in Dale Smith retiring from the saddle. After 20 years of booting home winners on racetracks around Australia, Smith will now work in real estate. “Over the past 20 years of riding, all the injuries have come to a… Read More »
While gallant in defeat after leading during the Furious Stakes, cover could be the key to Bacarella’s bid to turn the tables on Foxplay in the Tea Rose Stakes. The Gary Moore-trained Bacarella took up the running at her last start in the Group Two Furious Stakes at Randwick but… Read More »
Racing Victoria’s international scout Leigh Jordon is expecting the house full sign to be posted at the Werribee quarantine centre for the spring carnival. Jordon says the two quarantine stables can house 24 horses, eight in one barn and 16 in the other. The first lot of international horses, which… Read More »
Winx is destined go to her next start at the same sort of odds Black Caviar did in many of her races but trainer Chris Waller plays down any comparison between the two mares. Although Winx is attracting a public following and is odds-on to be named Australia’s champion for… Read More »
Dual Group One winner Suavito has been retired and sold to New Zealand’s Waikato Stud. Trainer Nigel Blackiston announced the retirement of Suavito on Wednesday saying the six-year-old mare would be served by Savabeel in the coming weeks. “She is one of the toughest fillies or mares I have dealt… Read More »
Wet weather in Victoria has forced the transfer of a number of meetings to the synthetic tracks at Pakenham and Geelong. Pakenham will host Wednesday’s Bendigo meeting after the track was deemed unsuitable for racing following a stewards inspection on Tuesday. Bendigo received 27mm of rain on Tuesday morning, bringing… Read More »
