Craig Williams knows the unforgettable ride with Mr Brightside is going to end at some point, but he is excited about embarking on a sixth Spring Carnival with the gelding. The champion hoop will reunite with the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained nine-year-old in this Saturday’s $750,000 Group 1 Memsie… Read More »
Guest House proved himself a junior superstar last preparation and this spring is all about showing he’s much more than an early-developer. The colt Mick Price described as a ‘big centre-half-forward’ will have his first start as a three-year-old in this Saturday’s $250,000 Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at… Read More »
George Boughey feels that the 2026 Melbourne Cup will be tailormade for Hopewell Rock after he went down by the narrowest of margins in the Ebor Handicap (2787m) at York on Saturday. Purchased by powerhouse Qatari-based owners Wathnan Racing earlier in the season, Hopewell Rock ($7.50) arrived at York with… Read More »
Yellow Jersey kept Half Yours company at Sandown on Saturday and Calvin McEvoy thinks there was some symmetry in the pair having a workout together on the eve of their spring return. Half Yours taught McEvoy and his training partner, father Tony, what it was like to deal with pressure… Read More »
David Payne will focus on the early season three-year-old features with Baillieu placegetter Persian Wonder, starting with the Up And Coming Stakes at Rosehill. The decorated trainer confirmed he would nominate the gelding for next Saturday’s Group 3 Rosehill feature with the intention of running, pending the make-up of the… Read More »
Things are about to get tougher for Gold Coast Belle, who returned to racing a winner at Sandown on Saturday. Danny O’Brien flagged a step up to Group 2 company for the four-year-old, who outclassed her rivals – which included the previously unbeaten Tennessee Bound – in the $150,000 Dr… Read More »
The first clash of racing’s super mares was compelling even though Autumn Glow dominated the race to claim the fourth Group 1 win of her career in the $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. But Sheza Alibi’s effort to finish within one-and-a-half lengths of the winner… Read More »
Sandown is not a venue that regularly has the Group racing spotlight shining on it, but Craig Williams wouldn’t mind seeing more of it after dominating Saturday’s Carlyon Stakes card. Melbourne’s premier jockey owned the meeting that was transferred from the under-construction Moonee Valley with four wins, including the day’s… Read More »
Almost five months to the day since he saddled up his first runner as a trainer in his own right, Todd Pollard has celebrated his maiden Group success with Midnight In Tokyo taking out the Show County Quality at Randwick. Cutting his teeth with Annabel and Rob Archibald in Sydney… Read More »
Will Pembrey’s connections give the filly an opportunity to attempt a rare clean sweep of the coveted Princess Series or set her for The Everest? These are the options being considered after Pembrey made a mess of her rivals with a stunning display of sustained speed in the Group 2… Read More »
Mick Price is not yet convinced Buggsy belongs in the top bracket of sprinting three-year-olds, but he will be given his chance to prove so after a first-up win on Saturday. The son of Harry Angel out-toughed his rivals in the $150,000 Chef’s Hat Handicap (1000m) at Sandown. The race… Read More »
An ambitious throw at the stumps has delivered the perfect reward for connections of Prima Bella after the in-form mare claimed a couple of high-profile scalps to win the Toy Show Quality at Randwick. Trainer Matthew Smith decided to raise the bar to Group 3 company after the six-year-old strung… Read More »
Import King Of The Sea has stamped himself as a stayer to watch this spring with trainer Ciaron Maher considering some lofty targets following his resounding first-up win at Randwick. In just his second Australian campaign, the former UK galloper was dominant, unleashing a stunning turn of foot from back… Read More »
Boniface was ridden like the best horse in the race and finally rewarded punters who kept the faith with his win in the Group 3 $250,000 Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The French import had been raced without much luck in his four previous Australian starts but… Read More »
Tough mare Foire De Trone showed superior staying qualities and could be set for The Metropolitan trail after her impressive win at Royal Randwick on Saturday,. Foire De Trone finished too strongly for favourite Le Troisir to take out the Jersey Day Andrew Wisemantel Handicap (2400m). The Ciaron Maher-trained was… Read More »
A dream to maybe run in the Melbourne Cup has been shelved for South Australian galloper Sir Kingsford who will instead concentrate on Cup races at home. After finishing second in the Port Adelaide Cup at Morphettville in May, Sir Kingsford crossed the border to run in the Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington which provided… Read More »
Trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy know only too well the progress a horse can make. Last year, after a winter in the Queensland warmth, Half Yours came out to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double. Half Yours is heading to the Melbourne Cup again, via the Cox Plate, although he was entered… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher stable has had a 1000m dash at Stakes level in the back of their minds for a little while with Signature Scent. Despite failing to run a place in a three-year-old race at her most recent outing, the stable sees no reason to not line up in… Read More »
With the Cox Plate dangling as a potential spring goal, trainer Matthew Smith is keen to see how Idle Flyer measures up against some of the best horses in the country when the mare kicks off her campaign in the Winx Stakes at Randwick. A brilliant winner of the Group… Read More »
Just as Ninja made a statement with his Missile Stakes win two weeks ago, stablemate Apocalyptic will be on a mission to do the same when she launches her campaign in the Toy Show Quality at Randwick. Dominant in the Princess Series as a spring three-year-old, Apocalyptic performed below expectations… Read More »
