Trainer Grahame Begg has stepped away from his usual pattern ahead of the return run of Maharba at Flemington. Maharba is down to contest the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) on Saturday after Begg gave the gelding a jump-out at Cranbourne on Monday. After a trial and a jump-out at Cranbourne last month, Begg felt Maharba needed another… Read More »
The retirement of superstar Anamoe has Godolphin on the lookout for its next weight-for-age horse and James Cummings is banking on Pericles filling the void. The gelding has been carefully managed and took a traditional three-year-old path through the autumn, highlighted by a Group 2 triumph in Melbourne and narrow second to Lindermann in… Read More »
A strong gallop and a smaller than anticipated field convinced trainer Cliff Brown to start La Danseuse Rouge up the straight at Flemington. Success, or a placing in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) on Saturday, will enhance the broodmare value of La Danseuse Rouge. A winner of the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville in July… Read More »
Peter and Paul Snowden have been content to play the long game with class sprinter Mazu and that patience could be rewarded as he begins his second Everest quest this spring. With a slot in the $20 million showpiece locked up, Mazu will kick off his campaign in The Shorts (1100m) at… Read More »
With a long spring campaign still ahead, trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes have taken Mr Brightside back to the Lindsay Park training operation at Euroa to prepare for his next assignment at Flemington. After wins in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes and the Group 1 Memsie Stakes, both 1400m at Caulfield,… Read More »
Two of Gary Portelli s horses have been knocking on the door for a stakes win and with Encap finally breaking through at Rosehill, the trainer is hoping it’s Kimochi’s turn in the Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick. Encap had a string of eye-catching minor placings before posting an emphatic victory in the… Read More »
Lloyd Kennewell undertook a modern way to sell shares in I Am Unstoppable and interest in the son of I Am Invincible has continued long after the Cranbourne trainer put up the ‘sold out’ sign. But the most recent bids have come from clientele different to those who were initially attracted to the… Read More »
Four years after relocating from Adelaide to Newcastle, Mark Minervini will saddle up his first runner in his adopted ‘hometown’ Cup and he is quietly confident Hosier can bring home the major prize. Formerly owned by Lloyd Williams, Hosier was sold to Minervini and a group of stable clients for $100,000 in… Read More »
In her interstate debut, Perth’s gun mare has drawn the extreme outside gate in Saturday’s Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. Amelia’s Jewel drew gate 15, but will come out of gate 14 following the scratching of Tajneed. Despite the wide draw for his four-year-old, Simon Miller is unfazed and… Read More »
Two promising fillies from a pair of leading stables have posted encouraging wins at Canterbury with champion Sydney apprentice Zac Lloyd the common denominator. Lloyd partnered the Hawkes Racing-trained Makarena ($1.80 Boombet fav) to a tough victory in the opening event, the daughter of Snitzel caught three-wide after being beaten for… Read More »
The dream of a Caulfield Guineas start for Prinzerro is alive after the colt broke through for his maiden win at Sandown. Trainer Phillip Stokes said the three-year-old would head to the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday week after taking out the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Plate (1300m) on Wednesday…. Read More »
It will be a case of sink or swim for at least half a dozen Everest hopefuls when they clash in a spectacular renewal of $1 million The Shorts. A field of 12 will contest the Group 2 sprint and of those only Mazu is guaranteed a slot in next month’s… Read More »
Queensland trainer Tony Gollan is looking forward to seeing his Magic Millions winner Skirt The Law race down the Flemington straight. The three-year-old filly will get that chance on Saturday when she lines in the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m). The Cap D’Antibes has brought together a field of 24 fillies, 20 runners with four emergencies, and… Read More »
The Makybe Diva Stakes may not be the Grand Final for trainers in their preparations for the spring, but it is still a pivotal race in determining spring fortunes. The 1600m Group 1 contest at Flemington on Saturday invariably sheds a light on those that are progressing well and those that may need a little more. Saturday’s… Read More »
It might not boast the prestige of a Cox Plate, a Doncaster Mile or an Everest, but the inaugural $1 million 7 Stakes is an appealing addition to the calendar according to champion trainer Chris Waller. Waller will have three runners in Saturday’s Randwick feature, headlined by last start Winx… Read More »
West Australian trainer Simon Miller is no stranger to Melbourne racing. After cutting his teeth in Victoria with a number of stables, Miller moved to Perth 15 years ago to begin his training career and is now one of the leading conditioners. Miller has been back to Melbourne on occasions with the odd runner or two,… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse says Alligator Blood is like a fine cheddar after watching the galloper go through his paces in preparation for the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. The seven-year-old is now in his fourth preparation for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Waterhouse is amazed at how Alligator Blood keeps coming up, campaign after campaign. “Not everything gets better… Read More »
North Star Lass looks like being the next rich lot sold on Inglis Digital with a bid of more than a quarter-of-a-million dollars leading the race for the four-year-old two days out from the auction closing. As of 4pm Monday, the daughter of Zoustar the Snitzel mare Sheila’s Star was up… Read More »
Some of the top horses around will line up on Makybe Diva Stakes day with the G1 such an important Spring guide. In that feature, Amelia’s Jewel ($8) is one of the entries but is also in the mares race on the card where she is more likely to run. But… Read More »
Te Akau Racing will stick to its original plan and remain in Victoria with Imperatriz, but another Group 2-winning mare from Saturday has been engaged for The Everest. Sheraco Stakes winner Sunshine In Paris will represent Queensland stud farm Aquis in the $20 million The Everest at Randwick on October… Read More »
