Trainer Matthew Smith has the confidence in Buenos Noches to finally shed his bridesmaid tag in a feature Group 1 sprint down the Flemington straight. Buenos Noches runs in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on Saturday, having finished seventh in the race last year. But the four-year-old also has finished third in the… Read More »
Stephen Marsh’s immediate focus is on Ellerslie this Saturday with stable star Velocious, but he’s also got an eye on a following juvenile prize. The Cambridge trainer is upbeat about her chances in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and, all going well, a Central Districts venture awaits the filly, with… Read More »
Promising filly Bedtime Story will get her opportunity at attaining black-type in next week’s Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) following her victory in the Cavallo Farm & Chris Rutten Bloodstock 3YO (1300m) at Otaki on Wednesday. It was the third victory from five starts for the daughter of Per Incanto, having… Read More »
Owners Alastair Lawrence and John Rattray, of Bonneval fame, have had success sending horses to Waipukurau trainer Simon Wilson over the last few years and they are hoping that continues with their Group Three winner Marroni. Wilson had previously been entrusted with Scutar and Vidiano for the partnership, with the… Read More »
Trainer Steve Richards registered his first city win in more than two years when Biden Time scored at Sandown. Richards, who prepares a small team at Flemington, had not been successful in town since Holbein took out the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield in 2021. Runners have been scarce in… Read More »
Imported galloper Berkshire Shadow is set to make his Australian debut in a Stakes race at Flemington. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper is set to contest the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) on Saturday where he will avoid a clash with stablemate Jimmysstar. Jimmysstar is NSW bound for the Group 3… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrain Bott have added yet another two-year-old winner to their seasonal tally at Warwick Farm, although it wasn’t with the horse that favourite backers had hoped. Filly Southern Charm ($9.50) capitalised on her race experience and match practice to wear down stablemate and $2.50 favourite Johnny The Kid to… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrain Bott will be well represented in the nations capital’s biggest day of racing, headlined by unbeaten two-year-old colt Fully Lit in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m). The stable are enjoying an unprecedented two-year-old season with 19 total wins, including Fully Lit, with the Hellbent colt set… Read More »
A rising star of the three-year-old ranks and a colt that has already stamped himself among the best of his generation will clash for the first time in a tantalising rendition of the Randwick Guineas. The Group 1 race features a small but select field of 11 runners but it… Read More »
Missing the spring could prove a blessing in disguise for Godolphin sprinter Aft Cabin, who will be looking to make some immediate autumn inroads when he resumes in the Challenge Stakes at Randwick. The four-year-old has been off the scene since finishing midfield in the Stradbroke Handicap in June, trainer… Read More »
A trip to Flemington for a jump-out consisting of horses in the Newmarket Handicap provided Magic Time with the ideal lead-up to the Group 1 handicap. Trainer Grahame Begg took advantage of giving Magic Time a look at the straight 1200m course over which the mare will race first-up on Saturday. Magic… Read More »
Chock-full of confidence, Luke Fernie believes his outstanding training form can continue when one of his former proteges resumes at Albany on the weekend. Fernie is excited by the return of Laced Up Heels and has high expectations the mare can return with a bang and add to his haul… Read More »
Following another disappointing performance on the weekend, Bustler has been ruled out from the remainder of Melbourne’s autumn carnival. Perth’s top five-year-old hasn’t been able to reach the heights of last November when he claimed Group 1 honours in the Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot. Bustler flopped at his first Melbourne… Read More »
The $150,000 Bunbury Cup is returning to the state-of-the-art Bunbury Racecourse this weekend for the first time in three years, with up to 8000 racegoers expected to attend. The past two Bunbury Cups were held at Ascot during the $30 million upgrade of the South West’s premier thoroughbred track. Racing… Read More »
With hot weather expected for Super Saturday at Flemington, the meeting will be shortened to eight races with the potential of an early start. The change has been brought about with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting the temperature to reach 39 degrees at Flemington on Saturday. Racing Victoria and the… Read More »
If an adrenalin rush from riding racehorses is not enough, then try bull-riding. Not content with a lower-level past-time like golf, New Zealand trainer Chad Ormsby has had a crack a bull-riding for a change of pace, with some success. Ormsby, in Melbourne with his sprinter Master Fay for the Group 1… Read More »
When New Zealand trainer Chad Ormsby sold Master Fay to Hong Kong, he was expecting the horse to potentially develop into a champion sprinter. Ormsby was over the moon when Master Fay scored at his Hong Kong debut on New Year’s Day in 2021 and was eagerly awaiting to see when the… Read More »
Private Eye won’t seek to settle the score with Imperatriz from their Lightning Stakes clash with Joe Pride opting to bypass the Newmarket Handicap and favour the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday. It sets up a big day in Sydney for Pride, who will also have The Everest winner Think… Read More »
Peter & Paul Snowden have elected to concentrate on the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes with Fearless after his last start eye-catching run at Caulfield. Fearless flashed home from near last on the home turn in the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) which had the run of a VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes contender, run… Read More »
Phillip Stokes as long had this year’s Adelaide Cup in mind as a season goal for Amade, but he didn’t expect it would be the continuation of a campaign that started in September. The 10-year-old will be given the chance to go two spots better than last year’s third placing when… Read More »
