England-based trainer Andrew Balding has fond memories of Flemington and he is hoping his emerging stayer Scampi can set him on a path to Melbourne once again after the Ebor Handicap at York on Saturday. Balding achieved a career highlight in 2013 when be brought Side Glance to Australia in… Read More »
Desert Hero could be the first Royal runner in the Melbourne Cup since Arabian Story finished sixth in 1997. The William Haggas-trained three-year-old has been touted as a possible candidate for the Melbourne Cup, following a run in the UK’s final and oldest Classic, the St Leger at Doncaster on 16… Read More »
New Zealand conditioner Andrew Forsman will get a better gauge as to the spring fortunes of Riproar after the gelding runs at Moonee Valley. A half-brother to Mr Maestro, Riproar runs in the Corporate Membership On Sale Plate (1500m) on Saturday as Forsman looks to lock in a spring campaign for the three-year-old. Mr Maestro ran fourth in… Read More »
Two weeks ago, Gerald Ryan headed to the races optimistic that superbly bred mare Call Di could kick off her campaign with a win â until he saw her in the parade ring. Usually calm and relaxed, the John Singleton-owned daughter of superstars Frankel and Samantha Miss went to pieces, and so… Read More »
Randwick is set to host another key barrier trial session on Friday, headlined by the clash of a quintet of Everest hopefuls. Six horses have accepted for Friday’s opening 850m heat on the Kensington track and five of those â Lost And Running, Alcohol Free, I Am Me, Private Eye and… Read More »
Phanta has given co-trainers Chris and Michael Gangemi plenty to cheer about after collecting back-to-back Listed victories. Phanta claimed his first stakes success in the Bolton Sprint (1200m) and followed up in the Belmont Newmarket (1200m) a fortnight later. Hopes for a feature race hat trick rests in the Idyllic Prince Stakes… Read More »
Trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock are planning a Stakes race at Flemington for Najem Suhail, but first he has a date at Moonee Valley. And that date if successful could lead the sprinter to bigger assignments later in the spring. Najem Suhail heads to the Dr Sheahan Plate (1200m) on… Read More »
Luck and tempo will dictate the chances of Gary Portelli coming away with a Group Three win in the Up And Coming Stakes after both his runners landed wide draws. Last start winner Kintyre came up with barrier 11 of 12, while Encap fared marginally better with gate nine. Portelli says it has… Read More »
Luck and good fortune can play a big part in racing as Annabel Neasham can attest with sprinter Sweet Ride who is aiming for back-to-back wins at Moonee Valley. After being successful over the 1000m journey on August 12, Sweet Ride returns to the same track and trip in the Listed Carlyon Stakes on… Read More »
Co-trainer Adrian Bott is banking on race fitness to give promising colts Introducing and The Instructor a vital edge in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill. The pair tackle the race second-up after filling the placings behind Tiz Invincible over the 1100m circuit in the Rosebud and Bott says both have taken benefit from… Read More »
Street Parade is close to resuming after two sound trials, but there’s a new race in Albany next year that has piqued the interest of trainer Russell Stewart. “I want to set him for that Bluff Knoll,” Russell Stewart told The Races WA. “I want to have a crack at that… Read More »
A feature race on Melbourne Cup day could figure in the plans for in-form gelding Strombus after he took his record to two wins from his past three starts at the midweek Kensington meeting. Starting a $2.70 unibet favourite, the five-year-old finished strongly down the outside to win Wednesday’s PKF Global… Read More »
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable have Oaks ambitions with Autumn Angel after her breakthrough win at Sandown. Success in the Ladbrokes Communities Plate (1300m) on Wednesday was the commencement of a campaign that the trainers hope will lead to the Group 1 Victorian Oaks (2500m) at Flemington in November. Ridden by… Read More »
Cowboys fan John O’Shea might have found himself the Jason Taumalolo of racehorses in strapping colt Cafe Millenium. The still developing three-year-old stands at 16.2 hands and tips the scales at a whopping 570kg, significantly bigger than many fully mature thoroughbreds. In that vein, O’Shea isn’t putting any pressure on CafĂ©… Read More »
Trainer Stefan Vahala has all but ruled out the Ascot Pinnacles carnival for Aztec Ruler, deciding to extend the quality four-year-old’s winter campaign instead. Stefan Vahala has been weighing up his options since Aztec Ruler’s dominant win on Saturday, but says the summer carnival may not be the best option for… Read More »
First-up Vain Stakes winner Cylinder has been touted as Godolphin’s flagship sprinting colt for the spring, but stablemate Corniche might just be the stable’s forgotten horse. The three-year-old will launch his preparation in an intriguing renewal of the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday, the race having attracted… Read More »
Nick Ryan is looking forward to take two with Express Pass at Moonee Valley. The gelding was down to run at Moonee Valley on August 12, but instead will kick off his campaign in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) on Saturday. A bout of cellulitis forced the sprinter’s withdrawal two weeks ago, much to Ryan’s disappointment. “He got… Read More »
Damien Oliver’s decorated riding career has been recognised by Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) with the naming of an award in his honour. To be given annually, the Damien Oliver Award is to acknowledge an up-and-coming Western Australian apprentice who has shown dedication and passion in all aspects of their… Read More »
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Goldman has been given a look at the Moonee Valley track where he will kick off his Melbourne Cup campaign. Goldman is scheduled to make his spring reappearance in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 9. The lightly raced stayer… Read More »
Some of Australia’s best horses stepped out at Rosehill on Tuesday, with Peter & Paul Snowden showing off four of their best, including seasoned sprinters Mazu and King Of Sparta and classy three-year-olds King’s Gambit and Don Corleone. King’s Gambit and Mazu trialled together, finishing third and fourth respectively behind champion sprinter Nature… Read More »
