Shane Jackson said there was ten times the excitement in training his first Grand National Hurdle victory than when successful twice as a jockey. Highland Blaze led throughout to claim Sunday’s Grand National Hurdle (4200m) at Sandown to give Jackson a second feature hurdle win for the season. Jackson won the Grand… Read More »
The door remains ajar for Stern Idol to have a third attempt at the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat after a stroll in the park victory at Sandown. Stern Idol took out a third consecutive Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) when leading throughout and in an ominous warning to his rivals, jockey… Read More »
John O’Shea and Tom Charlton will welcome back several of their carnival horses at a Randwick trial session this week as they bid to parlay a successful season into a lucrative spring. In their first full term as training partners, the pair had a memorable 12-months with three Group 1… Read More »
Michael Dee celebrated his return to Melbourne racing with a ‘dream’ double, including Saturday’s feature event at Flemington. The New Zealand native teamed with the Peter Snowden-trained King Of Roseau to score a third win in Victoria’s first Group race of the season, the $200,000 Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m). The… Read More »
An uncharacteristically below-par run from the usually consistent Headley Grange left Joe Pride scratching his head, but all was explained when he returned to the winner’s list at Rosehill. Pride took the gelding north for last month’s South Grafton Cup (1600m), a qualifying race for the Big Dance, and was disappointed when he… Read More »
He still has some kinks in his racing style to iron out, but Zou Sensation is likely to be directed towards the top level now after winning Saturday’s $150,000 Victorian Jockeys’ Association Trophy at Flemington. The six-year-old Zoustar gelding made it three wins in a row with a gritty on-pace performance… Read More »
The first Sydney meeting of the new season is one Denim Wynen won’t be forgetting any time soon, the young Central Coast trainer celebrating her first metropolitan win with new stable addition Sunshine Law. The 29-year-old had only had a handful of runners in town previously, but she was optimistic Sunshine… Read More »
Progressive country sprinter Without Parallel has ploughed through the heavy conditions at Rosehill to thump her Highway Handicap rivals, putting herself in the frame for a slot in the $2 million The Kosciuszko. Trainer Matt Dunn confirmed earlier this week he was bringing Without Parallel to Sydney with the intention of… Read More »
Some canny placement allowed to Crossbow to break his maiden on the biggest stage of all and have Chris Waller’s name up in lights after Victoria’s first metropolitan race of the season. The son of Better Than Ready proved too good for a small field of rivals in the $150,000 TAB… Read More »
Godolphin’s transition to a public training model got off to the perfect start when its first Sydney runner, Amusing, posted a dominant win in the opening race of the new season at Rosehill. Trainer Chris Waller described it as an honour to count the global operation as a client after… Read More »
A gritty win over the Glorious Goodwood carnival has put UK gelding Seagulls Eleven firmly in the frame to make the trip to Australia for the $10 million Golden Eagle. Trainer Hugo Palmer confirmed his interest in the lucrative feature after his charge fended off all challengers to take out the… Read More »
Henry Dwyer remains confident Asfoora can crack it for another European win, despite his star sprinter’s unplaced effort at Goodwood overnight. Last year’s King Charles III Stakes winner finished seventh in the Group 2 King George Stakes (1005m) won by $15 chance Jm Jungle. With Oisin Murphy aboard, Asfoora settled towards the… Read More »
Trainer Shane Jackson has called on Irish experience in his bid to win the Grand National Hurdle at Sandown. Jackson will saddle up Highland Blaze and Loft in Sunday’s hurdle over 4200m, with the trainer claiming both are undeniable chances of giving the trainer another a feature jumps win. With Tommy Ryan… Read More »
Cranbourne trainer Matthew Brown is hoping the conditions that prevailed in the straight races the last time Flemington raced will again be on offer. She’s Pretty Rich lines up in the VRC.com.au Sprint (1200m) on Saturday and has drawn the widest gate in the sprint down the famous straight. Winners in the… Read More »
The Tony and Calvin Mcevoy stable expect the straight track and being able to get her toe into the ground will suit Bossy Nic in her return run at Flemington. Bossy Nic runs first-up in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star handicap (1200m) on Saturday and will be looking to expand on her… Read More »
While the Ciaron Maher stable is banking on the addition of blinkers to bring out the best in consistent mare Piggyback, Sydney’s week of wet weather could also play a critical role. Piggyback has two wins and a placing from three starts on heavy tracks and with Rosehill already in that… Read More »
Trainer Matt Smith has warned punters to disregard Astero’s last start failure, declaring the gelding only needs to reproduce his Civic Stakes performance to be hard to beat at Rosehill. Astero was an eye-catching third to Headley Grange at Listed level in June before enduring a tough run when down the track in… Read More »
Zoustar has been one of Australia’s most sought-after stallions for several seasons and he has now achieved the ultimate accolade after being crowned Australia’s premier stallion. The Widden resident rounded out an unforgettable 2024/25 season to halt I Am Invincible’s three-season run with a dominant win in the Australian Champion… Read More »
Luke O’Connor’s $1500 fairytale horse Placo will chase a third win on end at Murray Bridge on Saturday. After wins at Gawler in June and Morphettville in July, Placo will attempt to give his trainer the perfect start to the new racing season in Saturday’s Benchmark 76 handicap over 1400m. With… Read More »
Trainer Gavin Bedggood will get a better guide to the spring fortunes of recent stable acquisition Casino Seventeen after he runs at Flemington. Casino Seventeen will be having his third start for the Bedggood stable when he lines up in the 25/26 VRC Membership Renewals Open (2530m) on Saturday. The much-travelled galloper,… Read More »
