Father-and-daughter training combination Ken and Kasey Keys have with a small team of horses always been able to find one to give them hope. Rich Enuff went close to securing a Group 1 for the stable, while Soul Patch also went close at the highest level. More recently it was Scheelite who… Read More »
The $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes is shaping as a moment of truth for Ceolwulf as the dual Group One-winning miler seeks to prove he can mix it with the country’s best horses over a middle distance. Ceolwulf will take his place in a crack field that boasts Cox Plate winner… Read More »
When a young Campbell Rawiller dreamed of a being a jockey, the chequered flag being waved on his career after a highweight race at Kyneton with him barely into his mid-20s was not part of the fantasy. But that’s how it will end, with the 24-year-old preparing for his final race… Read More »
Trainer Steve Wolfe is hoping Rope Them In Can make a statement in Saturday’s Roma Cup (1200m) and use it as a springboard to the $5 million Quokka (1200m) on April 26. Steve Wolfe says Rope Them In is ready to step up for his next big encounter after disposing of his… Read More »
Classy filly Yes Queen will present her Karrakatta Plate claims to champion jockey William Pike on Saturday, who has yet to lock away a ride in the Group 2 feature. Yes Queen’s pride was pricked, and her Karrakatta Plate plans took a mini hit when she was beaten as hot… Read More »
Star international jockey Christophe Lemaire will ride for the first time in Sydney when he partners Japanese galloper Rousham Park in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Lemaire, who won the 2011 Melbourne Cup aboard Dunaden, flew into Sydney on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 race over 2000m at… Read More »
Widden Stud celebrated after a dream start to the second day of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale with the famed nursery reaping a big payday via two products of their star stallion Zoustar who are siblings to Group 1 winners. The brother to Schwarz sold for $1.4 million just over… Read More »
Grant and Alana Williams have an uncanny knack of getting their horses to peak for their Grand Final and in unison with Western Empire, who fires best when fresh, they believe they can burst the bubble of Overpass in The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on April 26. The Williams camp… Read More »
Otago will make his return to racing at Bendigo this Saturday, but do not go looking for the one-time Australian Guineas favourite among the entries for the day’s features. Co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have selected the $80,000 benchmark 70 as the likely kick-off point for the four-year-old, who will… Read More »
Jockey Brandon Louis doesn’t get a whole heap of riding opportunities in big races, but you won’t ever find him complaining about it. Since calling Australia home, his positive attitude and work ethic has won him the respect of his peers and racing colleagues. Brandon Louis doesn’t doubt or lack confidence… Read More »
Chris Waller will wait until Tuesday morning to finalise his ATC Australian Oaks team, but it is unlikely runaway ATC Australian Derby winner Aeliana will contest the 2400-metre Group 1. The champion trainer reported from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale on Monday morning that the daughter of Castelvecchio had come through her… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott prepared Shout The Bar to win two Group 1 races and the powerful training team was determined to make sure they got the chance to train her first foal. So keen, they paid $3 million for her colt by Home Affairs at the 2025 Inglis… Read More »
Coolmore and Chris Waller are yet to decide whether Switzerland has run his last race, but they took extreme steps to secure a replacement for the Group 1 winner on Day 1 of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Tom Magnier on Sunday went to $2.7 million to secure the Coolmore Stud… Read More »
Tulloch Lodge trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are playing the long game with high-class stayer Vauban, their decision to start him in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes part of a considered plan to give him the best possible foundation for a Melbourne Cup 2025 campaign. Bott confirmed this week that… Read More »
Perth’s racing scene lit up over the weekend with a dominant performance that crowned a new local star. The WA Oaks meeting delivered major milestones, red-hot stables, and plenty of buzz ahead of the upcoming WA Derby. From an unstoppable filly to breakout wins by jockeys and trainers, the day… Read More »
Nicolini Vito has followed the lead of stablemate Here To Shock in winning the Victoria Handicap at Caulfield. Will Hayes has likened Nicolini Vito to a fine wine after he landed a last stride victory in the Victoria Handicap at Caulfield. The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained galloper gave the… Read More »
Bjorn Baker was blaming hay fever but the enormity of winning one of Sydney’s iconic races on a day that his family held dear managed to bring even the usually unflappable trainer to tears. Known for his big personality and fun-loving nature, Baker was choking back his emotions after Stefi Magnetica burst… Read More »
Briasa’s coronation as a bona fide star of the Australian sprint scene came at Randwick on Saturday when the untapped four-year-old won the $3 million T J Smith Stakes. The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained gelding landed a maiden Group 1 win at just his ninth start when he outgunned… Read More »
Matt Laurie has collected his second Group 1 win in the space of four days with Vinrock’s ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes victory and the trainer’s hot streak might not be over yet. Vinrock remains undefeated from three starts after becoming the first horse since Full On Aces in 1981 to… Read More »
Training partners Emma-Lee & David Browne have a decision to make on which Derby to chase after the win of Statuario at Caulfield. The three-year-old booked his place in either the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 3 or the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm… Read More »
