Is it fair to say, as Bob Dylan once did, ‘that the answer is blowing in the wind’? Certainly when it comes to horse racing rules, the winds of change are very, very close and North American racing actually needed the upheaval that occurred at the recent Kentucky Derby to… Read More »
The racing career of an impressive stakes winner from last Saturday, is over. And connections couldn’t be happier. The rising star called Clearly, who triumphed in the Listed Centaurea Stakes in Adelaide last Saturday, at just her 3rd start in Australia, has been retired to stud. The decision ends a… Read More »
Winter up north in Queensland awaits a couple of boomed gallopers if they can win at Rosehill on Saturday. And the street tip is: both horses will. They are the 2YO HULK for Chris Waller and the untapped giant 4YO JAZZLAND. Hulk, being a well bred colt, needs Black Type… Read More »
I love racehorse names. So bear with me while I rattle off a few that attracted my attention these past few days, and that might be of interest to you. STRANGELY NAMED Last night in Hong Kong, at the Happy Valley race meeting, race caller Brett Davis described the all… Read More »
Out in the dusty central west of NSW, at the Parkes races to be exact on Sunday, many people rejoiced, a few broke into tears and everyone, either a winner or loser, felt some sort of divine justice had been metered out. The race meeting featured two events: the Parkes… Read More »
Well, it didn’t take too long for Australia to lay claim to another international success story. Former 5-star Eventer and multiple Australian representative, Crystal Conning, has now exploded into her new sport with a bang. As a jockey, representing Australia in the United States, Conning rode her first winner on… Read More »
Well, bit of a baptism by fire for Crystal Conning on her debut Churchill Downs ride. Seems the track throws up incidents pretty much all the time. She rode her unraced 2YO filly Urban Diva into a fast finishing 5th place, but that was after she was completely pole-axed at… Read More »
When you wake tomorrow (Friday time in Australia), some of your fellow die hard racing fans would have just watched another race meeting at the famed, and now controversial Churchill Downs, in Kentucky. And in doing so they would have seen one of our own go round! Aussie girl Crystal… Read More »
The brand new trainer for last year’s Gr 2 winner, Leonardo Da Hinchi, says the 3YO will be aimed at the Gr 1 Stradbroke Handicap. And joining him in Queensland will be last week’s Gr 1 winner Spright. Mick Price who took over the training of the gifted Leonardo Da… Read More »
Coolmore’s part-owner Tom Magnier went to $2million for the talented Gr 1 winning mare Srikandi at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on the weekend. And he may have a bargain. But before all that, this mare Srikandi (Dubawi-Raining) has been one of those horses you just dream about. A regular instant-teller… Read More »
I’ve had a couple of bets today and one of them is in race 5 at Grafton. His name is Kalks (Epaulette-Loving New) and he is currently listed at $17 on Ladbrokes and a few others. But I’m writing this to show you just how useless pulling the stick in… Read More »
Colourful racehorse owner Bert Vieira didn’t make any friends when he wanted his stallion Trapeze Artist to stand his debut season at Widden Stud for $99,000. But he certainly has done something to square the leger. Last week he gave wounded jockey Tye Angland, who had ridden Trapeze Artist to… Read More »
Only in America. Maximum Security led from start to finish and crossed the line first in the 145th Kentucky Derby, then loses it in the stewards room. Why? How? Wow! Result overturned! Following an objection after interference caused by Maximum Security, Country House is the @KentuckyDerby winner! #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/XgeZrHZxgC —… Read More »
The world will watch the Gr 1 Kentucky Derby on Sunday morning (Sydney time). A lot normally do as we know. The race, America’s Melbourne Cup if you like, elbows its way ahead of all sporting events during the first weekend of May. But more so this year. That’s because… Read More »
Race horse names. Can they make or break a horse? Look at the greats: Tulloch; Winx; Phar Lap; Gunsynd; Bernborough; Peter Pan; Kingston Town; Strawberry Road; Makybe Diva; Black Caviar; Sunline; Atlantic Jewel – and many others. They all are strong, robust and command attention. Now, yesterday at Muswellbrook a… Read More »
Joe Heather, the Studmaster at the emerging stallion operation in Queensland called Telemon, had been searching for a 2nd stallion since, oh Kiamichi bounced onto the scene. Telemon stand her sire Sidestep and after she won the Gr 1 Golden Slipper and placed in the Gr 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes,… Read More »
This might be a first in horse racing anywhere in the world. Let me set it up. You’ve seen race track winners when they retire turn into Clerks Of The Course horses, right? Subzero and Ming Dynasty come to mind. A certain, quiet, passive, non-aggressive temperament is required for that… Read More »
When Unbiased with Mitchell Bell riding hard, crossed the line on Sunday to win the big $150,000 Tamworth Cup, screams of pure joy could be heard all over the parade ring. Because this wasn’t just another victory. This was a well planned, co-ordinated, sharply, deeply emotional, family involved campaign that… Read More »
Pressure is now mounting for Freshman Sire sensation Sidestep to shuttle abroad following his first Northern Hemisphere winner in France last night. Real Appeal is the 2YOs name and he led all the way to win on debut at Chantilly over 1100m. He was got while Sidestep stood his solitary… Read More »
ANZAC Day – very emotive on many levels for every Aussie and Kiwi. And it isn’t lost on sport in this country either. We know that. Everyone will stand and hear the last post, at pretty much every game played, and at each racetrack, and will feel a sense of… Read More »
