Victoria Racing Club chairman Neil Wilson is still hoping minimal crowds can attend the Melbourne spring carnival and the club is making plans around this scenario. Wilson said the VRC had been working on a number of contingencies in response to the COVID-19 situation but they had the advantage of… Read More »
Kris Lees will have his bases covered for the first Group race of the Sydney season, regardless of whether the forecast rain arrives. The Newcastle horseman, who finished last term as the leading trainer in NSW with 193 winners, has stable mainstay Le Romain and the emerging Special Reward in… Read More »
Connections of Juan Diva will be hoping it’s a case of patience afforded equates to patience rewarded when the lightly-raced mare resumes at Canterbury. Juan Diva was a pre-post favourite for a race at Randwick on Saturday but the task of an outside gate on the heavy-rated track prompted co-trainers… Read More »
The first Melbourne stakes race of the season will go ahead with only essential staff and participants as Racing Victoria responds to a tougher government lockdown in the state. The sport has been given the green light to continue despite the Victorian government’s move to put Melbourne under stage four… Read More »
Nature Strip has ticked the first box in his march towards The Everest with a comfortable barrier trial win at Rosehill. Partnered by regular rider James McDonald, the star sprinter raced on the speed and was not let off the bridle to win Tuesday’s 900m heat by three lengths. He… Read More »
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden are set to unveil the first of their new-season three-year-olds when stakes racing kicks off for the term at Rosehill. The training partners enjoyed an outstanding 2019-20 season with their youngsters, preparing the winners of 39 two-year-old races, highlighted by a brace of Group One… Read More »
Top New Zealander Catalyst is being readied for a Sydney spring campaign which could encompass starts in two of the carnival’s richest races. Trainer Clayton Chipperfield will target Catalyst at the $7.5 million Golden Eagle and says The Everest is also on the table if Catalyst’s early season form catches… Read More »
Chris Waller will roll out his spring carnival big guns when Nature Strip and Verry Elleegant step out in a talent-laden barrier trial session at Rosehill. Nature Strip, one of two horses confirmed for an Everest slot along with the Les Bridge-trained Classique Legend, will make his first public appearance… Read More »
After a bumpy start, a thrilled Tom Sherry has celebrated a career milestone with his first metropolitan winner at Randwick, fittingly for boss Mark Newnham. The Irish-born apprentice combined with promising mare Fulmina to claim the ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1800m) on Saturday, earning high praise from Newnham for… Read More »
Jason Warren is keeping his cards close to his chest but there is no doubting his excitement at having Brooklyn Hustle back in winning form. Racing for the first time since finishing fifth to Exceedance in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring, Brooklyn Hustle’s class was on… Read More »
Illness interrupted his juvenile season but Hard Landing has put his career back on track and booked a return trip to The Valley with a determined win at his seasonal return. A Group Three winner on debut, Hard Landing was in the frame for the better two-year-old races in the… Read More »
An experiment to determine the Kosciuszko credentials of Man Of Peace has put the hardy gelding firmly in the mix for the $1.3 million feature. Trainer Matthew Dale deliberately targeted Saturday’s ATC Thank You Jockeys Handicap (1300m) at Randwick to showcase the horse’s credentials for the October 17 sprint. Man… Read More »
Not Feint Hearted has snuck under the guard of punters but not trainer Gary Portelli, who was thrilled to kick off the new racing season with a Randwick win. Not Feint Hearted was having his first run in over six weeks when unplaced at his most recent start and was… Read More »
