The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes have will be out to add their names to the honour of Cox Plate winning trainers. That honour roll includes their father David and grandfather Colin and Ben Hayes believes they have a strong chance in this year’s edition of the… Read More »
Adam Carney treated himself to an early birthday present when he won the battle for the share in Future History that was offered via Inglis Digital this week. Carney paid $205,000 for a 10 percent she in the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained import, who is guaranteed a start in next month’s… Read More »
Gerald Ryan travelled to the United States a few years ago to attend the sales in Saratoga and while there, he also took the opportunity to sample the local racing product. One of the horses he saw compete was triple Group 1 winner Frosted and it left an indelible mark. “I… Read More »
With a Group 1 prize at stake, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable has again called on James Mcdonald to ride I Am Me in the Manikato Stakes. I Am Me will be having her first start at Moonee Valley on Saturday when she lines up against six opponents in the Group 1 sprint…. Read More »
Punters are struggling to get their head around many runners in this year’s Cox Plate, none more so than Victoria Road. The Aidan O’Brien-trained entire, a four-year-old by Australian time, is the only UK-prepared galloper in the 2040-metre Group 1 and will be having his first Australian start in Saturday’s… Read More »
Glamour mare Amelia’s Jewel is back on track after a shock defeat and will now progress to the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 4. Amelia’s Jewel ran well below her best in the G1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield when ninth to Attrition, but a vet test… Read More »
Apprentice Zac Lloyd will be looking to emulate his cousin Chad Schofield as a Cox Plate winning jockey when he partners Militarize in the weight-for-age championship at Moonee Valley. Schofield scored aboard the last three-year-old, Shamus Award in 2013, to win the 2040m Group 1 Cox Plate, and on Saturday Lloyd will be attempting the same feat. Shamus Award went into… Read More »
We haven’t seen anywhere near the best of four-time Group 1 winning sprinter-miler Alcohol Free in Australia, but Gai Waterhouse is confident she can improve over a bit further in Saturday’s The Invitation (1400m). Purchased by Yu Long Investments as a racing and breeding prospect in Australia, she’s run 10th,… Read More »
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will back-up Gold Trip into the Cox Plate after all the early indications are that he has taken no harm from his tough run in the Caulfield Cup. Gold Trip will be joined in Australia’s weight-for-age championship at Moonee Valley on Saturday by three-year-old King Colorado. The… Read More »
A fourth win at Moonee Valley beckons for Imperatriz when the mare faces six rivals in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes. Saturday’s 1200m sprint will be the fourth consecutive run at the track for Imperatriz who started the ball rolling with victory in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) in March. This… Read More »
It isn’t the barrier James McDonald requested, but Danny Shum has labelled gate seven ‘OK’ for Romantic Warrior in Saturday’s $5 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. The Hong Kong star will start just wide of the middle of the field of 12 for the 2040-metre weight-for-age contest. Romantic Warrior… Read More »
The two days at Moonee Valley come to a crescendo on Saturday afternoon but there are so many highlights. It shapes as another intriguing G1 WS Cox Plate (2040m) with international interest aplenty. Romantic Warrior, the $4.00 favourite with online bookies, is the hope of Hong Kong but he will… Read More »
Grahame Begg is confident Magic Time has what it takes to secure a big pay-day in Saturday’s The Invitation at Randwick after she won her fourth race and second at Group 3 level from just six starts last time out. Sent forward by Nash Rawiller second up in the Group 3 The… Read More »
Without A Fight has been issued a 1kg penalty for his Caulfield Cup win with the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained gelding to now carry 56.5kg in the Melbourne Cup. Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping David Hegan announced the penalty on Monday afternoon, two days after his win under 55.5kg in the… Read More »
The G1 Spring Champions Stakes (2000m) has often been a good horse’s race as the boys get to the 2000m for the first time and may well press on to the Victoria Derby. Tom Kitten ($2.50) looks like he is really striving for that ground so has to run favourite… Read More »
James McDonald’s confidence in Romantic Warrior ahead of this Saturday’s $5 million Cox Plate is increasing with every track gallop. The champion jockey was at Moonee Valley on Monday morning to partner the Hong Kong star in a 1200-metre workout with Danny Shum stablemate Romantic Charm, six days out from… Read More »
Matthew Dunn is confident Big Dance favourite Cepheus can overcome a minor setback in time for the $3 million Melbourne Cup Day feature at Randwick. The in-form gelding was scratched from Saturday’s Filante Handicap (1600m) at Randwick after presenting with mild swelling in his near-fore fetlock three days earlier. However, Dunn said… Read More »
In a bid to claim a fifth Cox Plate champion trainer Chris Waller will give his two representatives extra experience at Moonee Valley ahead of Australasia’s weight-for-age championship. Fangirl and Militarise had their first look at the Moonee Valley circuit on Saturday ahead of the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and will return on Tuesday morning for Breakfast With The Best. Both horses were not out to break the clock but will be asked to… Read More »
Moonee Valley track staff freely admit that preparing the course for the double-header Cox Plate Carnival is a challenge, and the plan for Friday night’s meeting is for a firmer track. Since the final Moonee Valley meeting of the 2022/23 season back in March, their focus has all been about providing the best surface… Read More »
Reigning Everest winner Think About It might have been back home in the stable, but Joe Pride only had eyes for his Big Dance Wild Card winner King Of The Castle at Randwick, describing the gelding as his “horse crush”. King Of The Castle ($7) raced his way into the $3 million… Read More »
