Trainer Tony Noonan was as excited for the metropolitan breakthrough win of apprentice Dakota Keane as the young rider herself at Sandown. The Mornington-based horseman has had a number of apprentices go through his stable over a long period of time and had no hesitation in declaring Keane will make the grade. Having… Read More »
Godolphin will let the dust settle before determining where Tarpaulin fits into their spring plans following the well-related colt’s classy maiden win at Warwick Farm. A half-brother to multiple Group winner and stablemate Aft Cabin, Tarpaulin had shown promise at his only two starts to date, including a first-up second to… Read More »
A dominant first-up win has Peter Snowden optimistic that Mafia can extend his distance range this campaign, although the trainer isn’t ready to test the theory just yet. An $850,000 yearling purchase, Mafia broke his maiden over 1000m in provincial grade in June last year and shortly after was sold via… Read More »
Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig is banking on a return to Caulfield and a rain-affected track turning around the fortunes of Ashford Street. The sprinter has had three starts since joining Dabernig’s yard, two at Caulfield, for a win and a second, and an unplaced finish at Flemington. The Group 3 Sir… Read More »
The Listed Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) in October looks to be the ideal spring target for trainer Dan Morton’s quality stayer, Another Chino. Morton won the Kalgoorlie Cup with Staffords Lad in 2022 and believes Another Chino has the qualities to give him a second victory in three years. Another Chino has won… Read More »
A swag of betting agencies last week opened markets on the Group 1 races in Melbourne and Sydney this Spring Carnival and no name features more prominently than Pride Of Jenni. The Ciaron Maher -trained mare occupies a place on the top two lines of betting in 10 features, including being… Read More »
A meeting with Party Of Two’s owners late on Monday afternoon was to decide whether the Queensland filly will contest Saturday’s $200,000 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. The three-year-old daughter of Sidestep was one of only nine entries for the 1100-metre Group 3 event, with Recommendation, Ashford Street, Honey Girl… Read More »
Gary Nickson has contemplated rare interstate excursions in the hope of find of finding a dry track for Felix Majestic, but the frustrated Warwick Farm trainer is giving Sydney’s weather one last chance. His stable star’s lone nomination this weekend is for the $160,000 benchmark 88 over 1400 metres at Saturday’s… Read More »
Ciaron Maher strengthened an already-powerful Melbourne Cup hand via Berkshire Breeze at Flemington on Saturday, further elevating himself in a market that is headed by a Group 1-winning stablemate. Circle Of Fire is advancing in his work towards providing Maher with a second win in Australia’s most famous race, two years after Gold… Read More »
The retirement to stud of Group 1 winner Ozzmosis has Bjorn Baker on the lookout for his next young gun sprinter and he might not have far to search. Caballus, who joined his team earlier this year from the Chris Waller yard, is back in work and Baker is pencilling in some ambitious… Read More »
Ethan Brown headed to Flemington on Saturday knowing it had the potential to be a red-letter day and the young hoop was delighted to see it live up to expectations. Despite the disappointment of being unplaced on short-priced favourite Pharari in the last race, the 25-year-old had his best day at the… Read More »
Munhamek did not need to win Saturday’s Winter Championship Final to stamp himself as the best horse of Nick Ryan’s ever-evolving training career, but he ensured any horse who hopes to surpass him will have to work even harder. The ageless gelding brought up a winning hat-trick when he overcame a… Read More »
Just weeks after celebrating his maiden Group 1 win in the Stradbroke Handicap, star apprentice Zac Lloyd has landed his first four-timer at a Saturday metropolitan meeting, highlighted by the Listed Winter Stakes on Tamerlane. The 20-year-old managed to achieve the feat for different trainers, teaming with Hawkes Racing to take… Read More »
Paul Messara doesn’t know where Clear Thinking’s ceiling is, but he is looking forward to finding out after the up-and-coming mare lit up Randwick with a breathtaking Highway Handicap win. Clear Thinking slipped at the start and had to muster quickly to find a position midfield, forcing apprentice Zac Lloyd to… Read More »
Imported stayer Berkshire Breeze has quickly established a liking for Flemington and Ciaron Maher is hoping it is an affinity that extends until later in the year. The grey gelding made it two wins from as many starts at Australia’s most famous racecourse when he spaced his rivals as a $1.30 betting… Read More »
Michael Hawkes is an unabashed fan of first season sire Exceedance, who has provided the stable with its second Sydney Saturday metropolitan two-year-old winner in the space of a month. Brave One ($8) showed his class to get the better of Mayfair ($2.30 betting fav) by three-quarters of a length in… Read More »
Luvnwar’s strong workout yesterday (Thursday) has added to Michael Grantham’s confidence leading into Saturday’s Belmont Oaks (2000m). One of two horses in the Listed race prepared by Grantham, Luvnwar emerged as a leading contender following her victory in the Belmont Guineas (1600m). She’s attracted significant backing and currently holds the position… Read More »
Sam Freedman is happy Saturday’s Next Generations Sprinters Series Final at Flemington does not have the depth he expected it to possess but, oddly, that might make the $150,000 event is harder to win. I Found You Freedman-trained duo Earth God and Golden Warrior will have Sydney blueblood I Found You to contend with… Read More »
Many engaged in Saturday’s Winter Championship Final are wondering how they turn the tables on Munhamek, but Peter Moody is looking to Pounding’s last battle with him for confidence in his chances in the $200,000 Listed event. That was over 1600 metres at Caulfield on June 1, a day that Munhamek… Read More »
Trent Busuttin always planned to let Craig let him know if he should run in Saturday’s Silver Bowl Final at Flemington, but that stopped the trainer asking a few leading questions. Busuttin and his co-trainer Natalie Young have looked hard for signs to suggest the import might be coming to… Read More »
