So who is Australia’s Champion 2YO? With pretty much just the Brisbane Winter Carnival left of the juvenile season, one must emerge as the Champion, and alongside of it, the Champion Male and Champion Female. And unless someone jumps out of the woodwork and lands a couple of Gr 1s… Read More »
The old racing adage, “where there is an unraced 2YO, there is always hope,” could not have been better exemplified than on Monday at Toowoomba. Old Bill Brown, saddled up an unraced baby named I Am Courage. He has a white blaze, a handsome head and is by the sire… Read More »
As you wake this morning, startling and worldwide horse racing news has just broken in the U.S. A coalition of race track owners in the United States have released statement saying they will phase out Lasix from 2YO racing , and by the end of 2020 all Black Type races… Read More »
Plenty of stallion news has surfaced and here is the latest. The blockbuster news was the release of the Widden Stud stallion roster and Trapeze Artist (Snitzel-Treppes) debuts at a staggering, no wait , whopping $99,000. To bring how ambitious that price is into perspective, his sire Snitzel hasn’t left… Read More »
With Winx retiring comes the obvious question: who will she go to first? Lots of social media comments have Justify, American Pharoah and Snitzel high on the list. Personally, I think she grew rather fond of staring at The Autumn Sun during training and that relationship should be consummated. But… Read More »
We know Winx is a freak of nature. We know what she did two starts ago against a very determined and brave superstar in Happy Clapper and then backed it up winning with absolute ease against some decent up and coming horses in the likes of Brutal and Dreamforce. We… Read More »
Winx has left us all with myriad memories. All good. Some even spectacular. And she should again in the Gr 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday. But in real life terms, in reality, in hard copy version, in something tangible we can all keep, from her race track days, I’m… Read More »
It has been a non-stop record breaking career and all of us are just so thankful we’ve seen it. But on Saturday in the Gr 1 $4million Queen Elizabeth Stakes, even if she doesn’t win, she creates yet another record. In Australia we have a passion for memorabilia – call… Read More »
Attention Darren Flindell: be careful, be very careful with your call of Winx on Saturday. Please, for your sake, no mentioning of ‘London to a brick on’, or ‘Kingston Town can’t win’ or ‘down the stretch they come.’ Maybe not even go near, ‘she’s running like a tremendous machine’ either…. Read More »
Attention all race horse owners, here’s something that should peak your interest. On 9th April this year (today), at the new and wonderful Inglis Sales complex at Riverside (fancy name for Warwick Farm race course), the annual Easter Yearling sale will take place. And in there is a filly, an… Read More »
I’m putting my Nostrodamus hat on here with what will be a rather long-sighted prediction. I think we in Australia will see a horse named Buckhurst racing for Melbourne Cup glory one day. Probably next year. And I base this on the fact he ground out a dour, come from… Read More »
Ok, here is the update on the Santa Anita track, the world of horse racing in general, and what will probably take place. And it’s not a pretty picture. Santa Anita is the tipping point for change in our sport whether we like it or not. And as sure as… Read More »
Yesterday, in Sydney, a Strategic Plan for racing in NSW was released. And it is brilliant. Now, while there are many things to unpack about it, one that stood out like dog’s balls is this: Right now, on the eve of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, is perhaps the best… Read More »
When racing stopped at the famed Santa Anita course in March, following the deaths of 22 horses over a scant few weeks, the why and hows started immediately. The owner of the track, The Stronach Group, when finally allowing racing to return three weeks later, after every possible thing was… Read More »
So what do we classify as bigger? Winx making the front page of the Daily Telegraph? Being on the Sunrise TV show, or this latest one….a feature on her because she is big, bold, beautiful and the best ever, in Vogue Australia of all magazines? I’m going to say the… Read More »
Almond Eye storms away from the field then under persuasion, she hangs on to impressively win the Gr 1 Dubai Turf over 1800m on Sunday morning. Everyone raved about it and yes, it was outstanding, probably even awesome. The time was good, the way she won was grand sitting 3-deep… Read More »
The tremendous Australian sprinting mare Viddora ran her heart out but in the end, we saw a global sprinting superstar emerge in Dubai last night. In the 1200m Gr 1 Al Quoz Sprint, the Blue Army’s Blue Point (Shamardal-Scarlett Rose) ran 1.8.62 on turf to claim the big race at… Read More »
Holy Flying F… Batman. Fetch the firemen. This field is on fire.” That’s Robin talking about the Provincial Championship Qualifier worth $150,000 today at Wyong. It’s race 8 on the card at 6:05pm. And the only two F – word horses in the race look like fighting it out. Which… Read More »
So the answer to the question: what 5 things would improve racing in Australia, rests with the answerer’s perspective. Is it a punting viewpoint he/she is coming from? Or an owners, or a trainers? As I’m an owner and a punter, I’m going to address the question from toset perspectives…. Read More »
Here’s a good news piece to start your day. Remember last weekend, Gr 1 Golden Slipper Day? Well, the winner Kiamichi, is by Freshman Sire Sidestep. Sidestep, himself a Slipper placegetter in his day, is leading the First Season Sires table now and looks to win it if the reports… Read More »
