James Mcdonald took Riff Rocket for a spin around Caulfield and in a scary thought for his potential rivals on Saturday said the gelding had trained on since his recent stylish victory. Riff Rocket runs in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) as a lead up to the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m)… Read More »
Spanish Mission’s name will not be there when Caulfield Cup final acceptances are taken on Wednesday, but that’s no reflection of the stable’s satisfaction with the way he is going. The imported entire will instead head to Wednesday week’s Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m), where he will be on trial… Read More »
Military Mission incurred a Melbourne Cup penalty for his win in last Saturday’s Herbert Power Stakes, but he is not yet assured of a start in the big race on the first Tuesday in November. Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping David Hegan rehandicapped the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stayer from… Read More »
Will the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) go to the locals with the likes of Soulcombe ($5), Gold Trip ($6) and Montefilia ($13) big hopes or will it be those coming from overseas? West Wind Blows ($6), Breakup ($9) and Okita Soushi ($21) could be massive hopes with their international connections. Nominations were extended for the G3… Read More »
Mick Price has won most of Victoria’s feature two-year-old races, but he will chase his maiden win in his old home track’s first juvenile race for the season this Wednesday at Caulfield. The two-time Blue Diamond Stakes-winning horseman and his co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr have Written Tycoon colt First Settler among the 10… Read More »
Amelia’s Jewel remains ‘not her usual self’ almost two days after the most disappointing run of her career and trainer Simon Miller is hoping blood tests reveal the reason for her poor showing at Caulfield, thus keeping alive hopes of a start in the $10 million Golden Eagle. The glamour four-year-old has… Read More »
James McDonald’s commitment to ride Francesco Guardi in this Saturday’s Caulfield Cup highlights just how desperate he is to win the $5 million event. The champion jockey has leapt at the chance to ride the Chris Waller-trained import in the 2400-metre event, in which he has 54kg. McDonald has not… Read More »
A jump-out at Cranbourne on Monday will determine if Lofty Strike makes his racetrack return on the final day of the Caulfield Cup Carnival. Lofty Strike is entered for the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) on Saturday as a lead-up to his main spring target, the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on the… Read More »
Improved mare Vienna Princess has all but booked herself a spot in the $10 million Golden Eagle with a commanding victory in an important lead-up at Randwick. Prepared by Chris Waller, the four-year-old has taken time to hit her straps and while she emerged from winter benchmark grade to post an… Read More »
James McDonald is satisfied with the progress Romantic Warrior has made towards the Cox Plate since the Hong Kong star’s last start defeat in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Fresh from notching his 81st victory at Group One level at Randwick on Saturday, James McDonald took an evening flight to Melbourne… Read More »
Chris Waller’s 153rd Group 1 win has been a special one with Fangirl carrying the Ingham family’s famous cerise silks to a commanding victory over top miler Mr Brightside in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes at Randwick. The Ingham family has been a constant on Waller’s training journey, backing the… Read More »
Mitch Freedman and Beau Mertens combined for their maiden Group 1 victories after engineering an upset result in a Toorak Handicap that could have severe ramifications for the spring ahead. Attrition provided their young duo with their biggest thrills in racing when he held off Queensland raider Antino to score in the iconic 1600-metre event…. Read More »
A wayward Griff has overcome the widest barrier to provide Ciaron Maher and David Eustace with their first victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. Taking the bull by the horns, jockey Ben Melham took Griff across the front of the field to lead in the early stages and looked to be comfortably holding the runner-up Veight in the… Read More »
What has felt like the longest week of Joe Pride’s life has also turned out to be the most momentous. Pride went into Saturday’s $20 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick with the $4.40 bookie favourite Think About It and last year’s runner-up Private Eye ($7) and walked away with… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse described him as ‘special’ and Alligator Blood will get the chance to further endear himself to the Hall of Fame trainer after his win in Saturday’s Group 1 The Might And Power at Caulfield. The gelding’s first win at 2000 metres, which came in dominant style, was all Waterhouse needed… Read More »
At the corresponding meeting last year, Matthew Dale approached fellow trainer Geoff Duryea to congratulate him on winning The Kosciuszko with Front Page. Fast forward 12 months and the two men found themselves sharing the spotlight after Front Page made it back-to-back victories in the $2 million country feature at Randwick, the… Read More »
Almighty Class will look to put a disappointing first run behind him as he returns to flaunt his Pinnacles carnival credentials at Ascot’s season-opening meeting on Saturday. Mitchell Pateman had big hopes and was happy to spruik Almighty Class in the Amelia Park Plate (1200m) at Belmont in July, but the Playing… Read More »
Caulfield has been happy hunting ground for Godolphin sprinter Ingratiating and trainer James Cummings is expecting it to be so again. Ingratiating heads back to Caulfield on Saturday to contest the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m). The now five-year-old sprinter has been to Caulfield on 10 occasions, registering three of his five career wins… Read More »
Little Brose will join two illustrious names on the Caulfield Guineas honour roll if successful in the Group 1 race for three-year-olds on Saturday. Only two horses have won the Blue Diamond Stakes and Caulfield Guineas double since the Blue Diamond was first run in 1971. Champion sprinter Manikato took the double in 1978 while Redoute’s… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse insists the 2000m journey of the Might And Power at Caulfield on Saturday is Alligator Blood’s right distance. Alligator Blood has won 14 times from his 32 starts over distances ranging from 1200m to 1800m but is yet to win in two attempts in the 2000m range. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian… Read More »
