Having already presented England’s Royal family with one horse racing trophy from Australia, Chris Waller is hoping he can prepare Chalk Stream to win them another this spring. The champion trainer had the opportunity to meet King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla during his trip to Royal Ascot in June, gifting… Read More »
James Cummings won’t be surprised to see unheralded mare Zapateo spoil the party when she takes on some big-name sprinters in the Concorde Stakes at Randwick. The multiple Group winner has a handy strikerate of seven victories from 18 starts but significantly, is proven over Saturday’s 1000-metre journey, a statistic Cummings says… Read More »
After a lengthy build-up, Karli’s Karma will kick off her campaign in the $100,000 Jolly Beggar Stakes at Belmont on Saturday. The classy six-year-old has not started since finishing unplaced in the G3 The Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot last December. Summer Dickson says the Jolly Beggar Stakes is the first step towards… Read More »
John Sargent is looking to two of his most promising horses to make spring carnival statements when Palmetto and Perfect Thought step out in separate races at Randwick. After making a successful leap from benchmark company to win the $500,000 The Coast last preparation, Palmetto resumes in Saturday’s Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m)… Read More »
Kerry Parker is constantly trying to keep one step ahead of Think It Over as he manages his comeback from a tendon injury, including ensuring the grand campaigner remains mentally and physically fresh for his second-up run in the Chelmsford Stakes. Mindful horses can sprint well off a long break only to race… Read More »
Cranbourne trainers Ken and Kasey Keys can head to their spring goal without the expectation of Scheelite remaining unbeaten. Scheelite won his first two starts before returning from a break to be beaten out of a place in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 19. The colt returns to Caulfield on… Read More »
It has been one of the spellbinding rivalries of Australian racing, but will Nature Strip and Eduardo be going head-to-head for the final time in their Concorde Stakes showdown at Randwick? Now nine and 10-years-old respectively, the top sprinters are in the twilight of their incredible careers, which have crossed paths… Read More »
Still buzzing from her outstanding result in the World All-Star Jockeys’ Series in Japan, Rachel King is keen to keep her momentum rolling into the early-season carnival races in Sydney. King participated in the Series over the weekend and after taking an early lead, she went down by a single point… Read More »
Lindsay Park import The Summit will attempt to enhance his Caulfield Cup credentials in a Stakes race at Caulfield. The Summit snuck into the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) on Saturday with his trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes looking to enhance his rating with a win, or placing, ahead of his next assignment. The Group… Read More »
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are not afraid to throw their horses into the deep end, providing they have the talent. For that reason, the stable has elected to tackle Group 1 company with Amenable when he lines-up against some of the nation’s best in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. After a first-up win at Caulfield on… Read More »
Slow developing Rackemann may be seen in a minor Stakes race during the upcoming Melbourne Spring Carnival if Lindsay Park has their way. Having just his third start at Sandown on Wednesday, the now four-year-old Rackemann took out the Remembering Mikaela Claridge (1300m). Ridden by Craig Williams, the Ben, Will and J d Hayes-trained Rackemann ($4.40) registered a… Read More »
He departed Perth as a promising apprentice with the racing world at his feet and returns home to where it all began as one of Australia’s greatest-ever jockeys. Western Australian-born Damien Oliver has called time on his decorated riding career and will retire following the Ascot Pinnacles carnival in December. Oliver… Read More »
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Veight will commence his spring campaign at Caulfield that the trainers hope will lead to a Caulfield Guineas victory. The three-year-old runs in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, with the aim of being third up into the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 14. Veight showed… Read More »
My Bella Mae will showcase her Winterbottom Stakes credentials when resuming at Belmont, with owner-breeder Nino Tufilli confident she can brush aside a disappointing interstate autumn campaign. Holding a perfect record of two wins from two starts when first-up, My Bella Mae, off a winning trial, will look to rebound… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott gave three of their carnival hopefuls a day out at Warwick Farm with Converge, Hawaii Five Oh and Kibou all stepping out in exhibition gallops. Group 1 winner Converge (Adam Hyeronimus) had the measure of Hawaii Five Oh (James Mcdonald) in their workout, edging him out by a… Read More »
The Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality is the next stop for Ceolwulf after the three-year-old defied his inexperience to score a game win at Warwick Farm. Having just his second start, Ceolwulf ($4.80) ranged up to the leaders and looked set to sail past them before hanging under pressure then lifting… Read More »
A fitter but still underdone Mr Brightside is ready to tackle his first Group 1 assignment of the Melbourne Spring Carnival. The Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday is the spring opener and Mr Brightside will enter the race second-up. He has already collected the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes over Saturday’s course… Read More »
A sizzling first-up run by Kimochi has trainer Gary Portelli optimistic the filly can land a break-through stakes win when she tackles the second leg of the four-race Princess series. The three-year-old settled in the second half of the field from a wide gate and launched down the outside for an eye-catching… Read More »
Champion jockey Damien Oliver thought he was reading his own eulogy when he awoke on Wednesday morning to read the reports of his impending retirement. Oliver announced he will retire from race riding at the conclusion of the Perth Carnival in December after a celebrated 36-year career in the saddle. The champion jockey is one of eight… Read More »
Under-rated mare Hinged will get the chance to step out of the shadow of popular stablemate Fangirl when she headlines trainer Chris Waller’s squad for the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick. The careers of both mares have consistently crossed for the past two seasons, and it has usually been Fangirl who has… Read More »
