An almost faultless display of jumping over 33 fences and 5500m has given Duke Of Bedford victory in the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool. Duke Of Bedford became the first jumper since Gold Medals in 2018 to complete the steeplechase double at the Warrnambool Carnival, having already taken out the Brierly… Read More »
Snitzanova has made a sparkling start to her racing career and trainer Ciaron Maher will consider raising the bar even higher if she can acquit herself well in the Hawkesbury Guineas. The filly won three of her first five starts, highlighted by back-to-back victories in the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle… Read More »
Osipenko hasn’t quite reached the heights connections originally hoped he might, but the Chris Waller stable hasn’t given up on him recapturing some of his early career form. As a three-year-old, Osipenko showed enormous promise, rattling home to finish a brilliant third in the 2022 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) when he drew wide… Read More »
The adage of not making decisions on race day has rung true for Cliff Brown and his Group 1 South Australian Derby hope Scintillante. Soon after Scintillante crossed the line in the Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville last Saturday, Brown was ready to pack his bags and head back to Melbourne…. Read More »
Peter Snowden’s two runners in the Hawkesbury Crown have had mixed fortunes at the barrier draw, although the rain-affected track could dictate which one luck has favoured. Reigning titleholder Coco Jamboo came up with gate 17 but will jump from 13 if the remaining emergencies don’t gain a start, while barn… Read More »
Trainers have concocted many a wild excuse for a racehorse being beaten but rarely has an intimidating chicken been one of them. Two years ago, the Sydney-based Joe Pride took Coal Crusher to Brisbane for the BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben where he started well in the market and finished down the… Read More »
Lindsay Park galloper Makram has a habit of being a blowout horse for punters. The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained galloper has registered a Flemington Stakes race win at $151, in which he lowered the colours of dual Group 1 winner Jimmysstar. That was in February last year, and Makram’s… Read More »
Local trainer Aaron Purcell has added the feature sprint race of the Warrnambool Carnival to his record with Dashing taking out the Listed Wangoom Handicap. Purcell has now won three of the five features over the three-day Carnival with Wednesday’s victory going alongside the Grand Annual Steeplechase and Galleywood Hurdle. He now… Read More »
A pair of Group-performed colts from the Chris Waller stable will face important tests this weekend, but it could be an untapped stablemate that steals the show. Former Victorian-trained three-year-old Coleman, who finished runner-up in the 2024 Golden Slipper when prepared by Matt Laurie, will make his debut for the leading… Read More »
The 2023 Railway Stakes winner settled midfield in the 1000m trial, before he eventually finished within two lengths of the winner Wind And The Lion. The five-year-old was winless through five starts last campaign but finished within four lengths of the winner of the Lee Steere Stakes (1400m), Railway Stakes… Read More »
The Cunning Fox has kept his record intact over jumps with a hard-fought victory in the feature hurdle race of the Warrnambool Carnival. Success in the Galleywood Hurdle, the feature jumps race on the middle day of the three-day carnival, gave trainer Patrick Payne, who now trains in partnership with his… Read More »
Queensland Oaks winner Socks Nation will kick off her latest campaign at the stand-alone Hawkesbury meeting as she heads towards another tilt at some lucrative winter carnival targets. The mare will resume in the Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) on Saturday and while trainer Ciaron Maher’s assistant Johann Gerard-Dubord expects her to improve… Read More »
Filly Miss Freelove might have enjoyed the favours to win at Canterbury but trainer Peter Snowden is adamant the two-year-old has a bright future. Given a beautifully judged ride by Kerrin Mcevoy, Miss Freelove ($2.60 fav) found the front and was able to slow the tempo mid-race before bounding further in front… Read More »
In the past 15 years, only four stables have prepared the winner of Australia’s toughest race, the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at Warrnambool. Ciaron Maher, who also teamed with David Eustace on three occasions, has seven wins to his credit since 2010 with Patrick Payne leading in four winners. New Zealander John… Read More »
Reigning Horse of the Year will meet 10 rivals when she heads to Caulfield in preparation for a race in Brisbane. The Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) on Saturday is being used as a lead up outing for the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 24. The Anniversary Vase has… Read More »
Global powerhouse Godolphin is reimagining its structure in the Australian racing industry and will no longer employ a private trainer from next season. In a joint statement with head trainer James Cummings on Wednesday, Godolphin Australia managing director Andy Makiv said their decision to move to a public training model was… Read More »
Giga Kick has rounded off his preparation for his return in a Group 1 contest in Adelaide with a quiet jump-out at Balnarring. A former winner of The Everest, Giga Kick is Adelaide bound for a tilt at The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 10. Under the set-weights and penalties… Read More »
After a maiden hurdle win at Hamilton two years ago, it would have been safe to assume that jumps racing would be the future for True Marvel. But since that win in May 2023, True Marvel has been kept to flat racing, contesting Stakes company including running eighth in the… Read More »
Trainer Andrew Bobbin will leave a decision to as late as possible before committing to a start with Duke Of Bedford in the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool. On top of the $192,000 first prize on offer if successful in Thursday’s Grand Annual over 5500m, a $50,000 bonus is also up for… Read More »
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable has a Stakes race or a benchmark option in mind for recently gelded Just Party at Hawkesbury. Just Party is entered in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas and the benchmark 88 handicap on Saturday with both races to be run over 1400m. The three-year-old will… Read More »
