Two highly fancied Cox Plate contenders took advantage of having a look at the Moonee Valley circuit ahead of the Group 1 contest on Saturday week. While most eyes were on the international pair of Prognosis and Docklands, the James Cummings-trained Broadsiding and Chris Wallers’ Via Sistina also had their first look at… Read More »
Star Japanese galloper Prognosis was given a look at the Moonee Valley circuit with race jockey Damian Lane in the saddle ahead of Australia’s weight-for-age championship, the Cox Plate. The $4 favourite for the Group 1 2040m showpiece, made the trip from where he has been stabled at Werribee after completing… Read More »
Ceolwulf was well beaten by Pride Of Jenni in their only clash to date but trainer Joe Pride is convinced the recent Epsom Handicap winner will run a much better race when they meet again in the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick. Exciting four-year-old Ceolwulf stormed home to claim his first… Read More »
A lack of suitable restricted races in the right distance range forced Gavin Bedggood to head to a Stakes race with promising imported galloper Kingswood. And after success in the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on Wednesday, Bedggood says he will now raise the bar further into the Melbourne… Read More »
Trainer Joe Pride has flagged his intention for Think About It to press forward in the Sydney Stakes in a bid to overcome a wide draw in the $2 million race at Randwick. One of three acceptors in Saturday’s Sydney Stakes (1200m) for the Pride stable along with Mazu and Coal Crusher, last year’s… Read More »
Miss Celine has become the latest two-year-old to add its name to the honour roll of Debutant Stakes winners for Lindsay Park with a blistering burst of speed at Caulfield. The daughter of Magnus became the seventh two-year-old since 2000 to win for the Hayes family after coming from last… Read More »
The Magic Millions Classic in January is on the radar for connections of Icarian Dream after the two-year-old filly made a winning start to her racing career at Warwick Farm. Trained by Ciaron Maher, Icarian Dream was an impressive winner at the official two-year-old barrier trials at Randwick late last month… Read More »
A filly or mare is yet to win The Everest but Bjorn Baker and Annabel Neasham are two trainers who are optimistic that can change this year, with their respective mares primed to give the rich sprint at Randwick a shake on Saturday. Neasham, who now trains in partnership with Rob Archibald,… Read More »
New Zealand trainer Mark Walker has called on an old friend from his days in Singapore for the ride on Exuberance at Caulfield. Joao Moreira will pilot the filly when she runs in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) on Saturday. Walker and Moreira combined on 204 occasions during their time in… Read More »
A narrow defeat then a failed protest bid in a Group 1 contest may just give Godolphin mare Zardozi a weight edge in the Caulfield Cup. Zardozi was beaten in a photo finish in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 5 before apprentice Zac Lloyd lodged a protest… Read More »
Fangirl will chase a second-straight King Charles III Stakes win at Randwick this Saturday, but the 2024 edition is unlikely to look anything like last year’s. The Chris Waller-trained mare dominated her rivals in the race’s first running in an October timeslot with a $5 million purse, cruising home by 2-3/4… Read More »
This year’s $20 million The Everest is the most open edition seen in eight editions, and Tuesday night’s barrier draw has done little to sort out the field of 12 for Saturday’s 1200m newly anointed Group 1 at Royal Randwick. I Wish I Win remains a narrow favourite at $5 after… Read More »
The Melbourne Cup is three weeks away and after second declarations closed on Tuesday there are 55 horses still in contention for Australia’s great race. Headlining the list of second declarations is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Jan Bruegel who arrived in Melbourne on Saturday evening and is currently undergoing quarantine at… Read More »
A third win by a Japanese-trained galloper in the Caulfield Cup has been made a little tougher with Warp Speed drawing wide in the Group 1 handicap. Warp Speed will have to overcome barrier 19 â he will jump from gate 16 if the three emergencies do not gain a start… Read More »
Jockeys Joao Moreira and Zac Purton will renew their rivalry when they face off on a couple of Chris Waller-trained stablemates in the Caulfield Cup. The pair had thrilling battles in Hong Kong over the seasons, bringing out the best in both, but the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday will… Read More »
Trainers can often wonder in hindsight whether they pulled the right rein, but Peter Snowden is comfortable with the call he made on Touristic. The import will run in Wednesday’s $200,000 Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield, which Snowden elected in preference to last Friday’s Port Macquarie Cup (2000m). The… Read More »
Amelia’s Jewel faces the biggest test of her high-profile career this Saturday at Randwick, but co-trainer Rob Archibald believes there are enough things in her favour to suggest a peak performance is possible in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes. The daughter of Siyouni takes on recently-crowned Horse of the… Read More »
Jockey Joseph Azzopardi capped off a stellar weekend in the saddle, booting home five winners at Geraldton yesterday. Joseph Azzopardi teamed up with trainer Michael Grantham to score wins abord Just Gifted, New Music, King Akeed and First Beach. He also scored aboard the Adam Durrant-trained Snippy Which. Azzopardi said he was pleased… Read More »
The lavish odds put up about Kingswood before his first start for Gavin Bedggood are nowhere to be seen ahead of this Wednesday’s Coongy Cup at Caulfield. The import made a stunning first impression in Bedggood’s care when he thrashed his rivals in benchmark 78 grade at Sandown on September 28. He… Read More »
Warmonger has fallen from favour with many punters in the lead-up to Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, but co-trainer Mick Price remains optimistic about his chances in the $5 million event. The Cranbourne trainer is convinced the rise to 2400 metres will bring out the best in the gelding, who he trains in… Read More »
