Danny Shum had an ominous warning after watching his stable star Romantic Warrior work live for the first time at Werribee on Wednesday morning. But it is not the horses the Hong Kong superstar will face in this Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes at Flemington who should be most concerned, rather those targeting… Read More »
A start in the Melbourne Cup is up for grabs in The Bart Cummings at Flemington and Perth trainer Daniel Morton is eyeing off that spot. Morton will saddle Alaskan God in the 2510m Cup qualifier on Saturday where the winner obtains a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7. But Morton… Read More »
The availability of feature race options in Melbourne and Sydney is being used to advantage by Grahame Begg as he endeavours to keep classy mares Magic Time and C’Est Magique apart. C’est Magique will run at Flemington on Saturday in the Gilgai Stakes (1100m), while Magic Time has already arrived in Sydney for… Read More »
The Melbourne Cup is likely to have a strong list of international runners after first declarations closed on Tuesday. Five horses remain in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 7 under the care of their overseas trainers while a sixth, Lastotchka will run for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr when she arrives in Melbourne within the next… Read More »
A $2 million prize on offer and potentially a slightly easier race than one worth less money in Melbourne could see Hezashocka head to the Hill Stakes at Rosehill. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper is entered for both the Hill Stakes (1900m) on Saturday along with the $750,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington. Hezashocka is… Read More »
The Turnbull Stakes in recent years proven the right formula towards for the Caulfield Cup. Run over 2000m under set-weights and penalties at Flemington on Saturday, the Turnbull Stakes is often seen as a make-or-break race for a number of spring campaign hopefuls. Recent Turnbull Stakes winners Verry Elleegant (2020) and Incentivise (2021) went on to win the Caulfield Cup that… Read More »
She won’t be his only runner, but Chris Waller’s The Everest representative is now known with the champion trainer announcing that Espiona would fill his slot the $20 million sprint. Waller, in conjunction with Chris Waller Racing partners Noel and Maria Greenhalgh, Ingham Racing, Magic Bloodstock and Neville and Jenny Morgan,… Read More »
With The Everest less than two weeks away and the field very close to being finalised, this morning was likely the last time we see a few key contenders for the race at the trials or races. Overpass, Mazu, In Secret and Buenos Noches are all confirmed runners while Shinzo could still take… Read More »
Experienced jockey Peter Knuckey believes Baby Paris has the weapons to take the next step onto bigger goals after she landed a career-best win at Belmont on Saturday. Baby Paris won the Black Heart Bart Stakes (1200m) in a thriller, chasing down the leader and race favourite, Phanta to win by a… Read More »
Trainer Simon Miller floated the idea of taking Amelia’s Jewel to Sydney for the $5 million G1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) after her Moonee Valley heroics on Friday. Amelia’s Jewel enhanced her growing reputation by winning the G2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) in track record time to keep her perfect Melbourne… Read More »
Just Fine has incurred a Melbourne Cup penalty for his win in last Saturday’s The Metropolitan with the imported stayer’s weight elevated 0.5kg to 53kg. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained-trained stayer extended his unbeaten run in Australia to three with his track record win in the 2400-metre Group 1 The… Read More »
Danny O’Brien has a $750,000 Group 1 at Young Werther’s favourite track he could direct the stable stalwart towards this Saturday, but the Flemington horseman will take the opportunity to chase the big bucks in Sydney. The rejuvenated gelding will run in the Group 2 Hill Stakes at Rosehill, where the… Read More »
That G1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) will see quite a challenge for those wishing to get a run with those big races in mind. One of the most interesting runners all carnival will be seen here as Romantic Warrior ($2) brings his elite Hong Kong form to Melbourne. But he will face… Read More »
The G2 Hill Stakes (1900m) has a lot of excellent middle distance horses entered. Hoo Ya Mal ($6) has gone here instead of the Epsom and there are others who may head back north such as Lindermann ($15), Duais ($6) and Duke De Sessa ($51). There is the new Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) and… Read More »
Gerald Ryan is now likely to direct his attention back to Black Type racing with Facile after the classy filly broke her maiden at Warwick Farm on Monday. Ryan identified the $65,000 benchmark 68 event for three-year-olds as a suitable first-up option for the daughter of Trapeze Artist, who was the lightest-weighted… Read More »
Archo Nacho is among the entries for Saturday’s $300,000 Danehill Stakes at Flemington, but the gelding is still not a guaranteed starter in the 1200-metre Group 2. Trainer Matt Laurie remains hopeful the son of Sioux Nation will be called up for a start in the following week’s $20 million The Everest,… Read More »
The decision to miss the Benalla Cup to concentrate on a shorter race at Sandown has secured Ain’Tnodeeldun victory for Anthony and Sam Freedman. Ain’tnodeeldun was one of the favoured runners in the Benalla Cup (2100m) last Friday, but with a race in mind for the gelding at Moonee Valley later in the month,… Read More »
After winning eight of his first nine starts in Queensland, Antino made his Melbourne debut at Flemington on September 16 which resulted in regular rider James Orman being replaced. Blake Shinn took over in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) on Sunday and the gelding with to gelding needing to pull out all stops to score a narrow,… Read More »
After much consideration, Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes decided to bypass an exhibition gallop at Sandown with Mr Brightside in favour of a trial in rural Victoria. Mr Brightside trials in opening heat over 1000m on at Benalla Monday, three days after the Benalla Cup meeting was staged on Friday. The Hayes brothers… Read More »
Joe Pride saddled up one runner at Randwick on Epsom Handicap day, but he took two Everest contenders to the races. Think About It and Private Eye, nicknamed ‘Spud’ and ‘Spade’ respectively, both have slots in next month’s $20 million The Everest after the latter was secured by slot holders Max… Read More »
