An interruption to Winx’s campaign is of no concern to trainer Chris Waller. After a comprehensive win over Hartnell in the Warwick Stakes, Winx missed a scheduled start in the Chelmsford Stakes because Waller did not want to risk her on a heavy track. The champion mare is again likely… Read More »
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne has finished just out of the placings in her return to the saddle at Sale in country Victoria. Payne made her comeback to competitive riding after injury with one ride at Sunday’s meeting, finishing fourth aboard the Henry Dwyer-trained Lucky Liberty. It was Payne’s first… Read More »
The Quarterback has beaten two of the country’s best horses in a Newmarket Handicap and his next challenge is to match it with the top sprinters at weight-for-age. Trainer Robbie Griffiths is hopeful the gelding can prove his credentials this spring during a three-run preparation in Melbourne. The Quarterback gave… Read More »
Te Akau Racing will continue to monitor Xtravagant but have not found anything amiss in the 24 hours since his failure at Flemington. The New Zealand star behaved badly before Saturday’s Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington and Damien Oliver eased him down in the race. His co-trainer Stephen Autridge… Read More »
Jockey Larry Cassidy admits he was sceptical when Brian Smith steered him into an unusual aid to try to help with his crippling knee pain. Cassidy rode his first winner after a lengthy injury lay-off aboard the Smith-trained Sony Legend at Doomben on Saturday. Smith has played a big part… Read More »
Hucklebuck will kick off his spring campaign earlier than expected in a stakes race at Caulfield. Adelaide trainer Phillip Stokes will bring him to Melbourne for Saturday’s Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) rather than wait to start him off in the Schillaci Stakes on October 8. Stokes changed his mind… Read More »
Doomben racecourse is recovering quickly after being hit by a deluge in a bizarre afternoon of weather. Light rain fell early on Saturday afternoon and was followed by a storm which dumped about 25mm on the track in 15 minutes just after the running of race five. The official enclosure… Read More »
A race meeting at Casterton in western Victoria has been called off because of localised flooding in the area. The Glenelg River has peaked and caused flooding throughout the town and access routes to the racecourse on Sunday are blocked.
French Derby winner Almanzor has won the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in which Cox Plate placegetter Highland Reel finished seventh. Almanzor pounced on the outside under Christophe Soumillon after being held up early on to continue a brilliant season for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Found – second… Read More »
Laura Mongan has become the first woman to train the winner of the St Leger with Harbour Law swooping late in a dramatic edition of the world’s oldest Classic at Doncaster. Odds-on favourite, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Melbourne carnival entry Idaho, lost his jockey Seamie Heffernan 600 metres out when he… Read More »
Tony McEvoy has his eyes set on a Group One race with Don’t Doubt Mamma after her victory in a mares stakes race at Flemington. Don’t Doubt Mamma will tackle the males after her pattern defying win in the Group Two Let’s Elope Stakes on Saturday. McEvoy is hoping a… Read More »
Chris Waller was denied the major prize on Golden Rose day, but dominated the undercard to come away with a winning treble. Invinzabeel was the trainer’s third victory at Rosehill on Saturday, taking out the final race at Sydney’s first Group One meeting of the season. Earlier, Mackintosh won the… Read More »
Palentino’s affinity for Flemington has continued with the Darren Weir-trained horse upsetting his stablemate Black Heart Bart in the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes. Giving Weir the first one-two Group One finish of his training career, Palentino ($9) unleashed a devastating turn of foot in Saturday’s 1600m weight-for-age race to… Read More »
Seven years after his last Group One winner, trainer Tim Martin believes he has a horse on his hands who can deliver his next. Since Typhoon Zed won the Manikato Stakes in 2009, Martin has scaled down his operation and almost gave away training completely to concentrate on educating young… Read More »
Joao Moreira’s smash and grab raid on Golden Rose day has left Chris Waller with two strong Epsom Handicap hopes. Hong Kong’s champion jockey showed the Rosehill crowd why he is considered one of the world’s best riders as he guided Mackintosh to victory in the Group Two Theo Marks… Read More »
David Hayes would like to travel Faatinah internationally after his first-up win at Flemington. But before that takes place Hayes, who trains in partnership with son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig, has his sights on another couple of Flemington straight races in the next month. Having his first run since… Read More »
Sheikh Mohammed’s investment in Australian racing has reaped yet another big prize with Godolphin colt Astern’s win in the Golden Rose. Godolphin won the $1 million race a year ago with Exosphere but both trainer John O’Shea and jockey James McDonald believe Astern has the scope to go on to… Read More »
The last three races at Doomben were abandoned on Saturday after heavy rain lashed Doomben mid-afternoon, leaving the track sodden and the official enclosure under water. Stewards inspected the track at 3.15pm and after originally indicating the meeting would not go ahead they elected to give the track 40 minutes… Read More »
Palentino upset stablemate Black Heart Bart to win the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Black Heart Bart went out as the $2 favourite and Damien Oliver had the gelding nicely poised heading into the straight. However Australian Guineas Palentino ($8.10), also trained by Darren Weir, strode… Read More »
New Zealand colt Saracino has made an immediate impact in Melbourne, upstaging his Australian rivals in the Group Two Danehill Stakes at Flemington. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained three-year-old defeated older horses in a Group Two race in New Zealand in his season return last month before heading to… Read More »
