Michael Freedman believes multiple Group winner Queen Of The Ball is in career-best shape but has cautioned firm tracks remain the key to her spring. The daughter of I Am Invincible will line up in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday after a fighting second to Parisal first-up in… Read More »
Co-trainer Michael Gangemi is hopeful Samizdat’s long losing drought could come to an end in Saturday’s Listed Farnley Stakes (1400m) at Belmont. It’s been two years and 12 starts since Samizdat last tasted success when he charged home to win the Listed Belmont Newmarket (1200m) first-up. Michael Gangemi, who trains in partnership… Read More »
Sydney trainers will have later trackwork start times from February next year in a bid to attract more people to the industry. The Australian Turf Club announced on Wednesday it would be changing trackwork times at all three training centres from February 1 next year, with Randwick and Warwick Farm… Read More »
Dual Group 1 winner Militarize is set to make his seasonal return in The Run To The Rose with trainer Chris Waller increasingly lukewarm on pitting him against the older horses in the Theo Marks Stakes. The colt is an acceptor for both races and while he was originally an emergency for… Read More »
Queensland trainer Tony Gollan concedes his sprinter Zoustyle will have a tough task beating Giga Kick when they meet at Moonee Valley. The Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) on Saturday will see Zoustyle, second in the sprint 12 months ago, tackle Giga Kick and five other rivals, including last year’s nemesis Rothfire. “I don’t know whether… Read More »
Michael Freedman is hoping to learn more about two of his emerging colts when lightly raced pair Moravia and Ducasse contest feature three-year-old races at Rosehill. However, his duo will now be heavily reliant on luck after coming up with difficult draws in their respective assignments. Lining up for just his third start,… Read More »
After a gallop at Moonee Valley, trainer Mitch Freedman is content with how Attrition is tracking in the early stages of the spring. Attrition heads to the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday as Freedman plots a spring path for the four-year-old. Freedman has the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m)… Read More »
Amelia’s Jewel has produced another strong trial at Belmont this morning, as she prepares to head to Melbourne later this week. The Simon Miller-trained mare had just two rivals in the 1000m trial and ran down leader Big Screen in the closing stages. Hear from @LaneDamian and @Simon_Miller_ following Amelia's Jewel's… Read More »
Trainer Mike Moroney says winning the Melbourne Cup is a life changing experience. Brew gave Moroney his solitary Cup win in 2000, ironically on the same date that the 2023 Melbourne Cup will be run – November 7. A year ago, Moroney thought he was going to collect that second trophy in Australia’s greatest race, only… Read More »
The Melbourne Cup picture has become slightly clearer following the closure of entries for the great race in November. A total of 132 nominations were received on Tuesday by the Victoria Racing Club for this year’s renewal, which includes 15 international gallopers, representing at the same stage an increase from 97 last year among which were 10 internationals. Last year’s nominations… Read More »
Holly Watson will go down in history as the maiden winner of the award named after Western Australia’s greatest jockey. Perth’s leading apprentice from the 2022/23 season was on Monday night crowned winner of the Damien Oliver Award, which is presented at Racing and Wagering Western Australia’s apprentice awards. The 24-year-old, who… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable is favouring starting Gold Trip in a benchmark 100 race at Moonee Valley to kick-off the stayer’s spring campaign. Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner is entered for the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) as well as the 2040m benchmark 100 Handicap on Saturday, and after a gallop… Read More »
Hawaii Five Oh was one of the surprise packets of the late Sydney Autumn and Brisbane Winter and looks to have come back just as well, leading all the way in Tuesday’s first trial at Rosehill to defeat a star-studded field. Jumping well from an outside gate under Adam Hyeronimous, Hawaii… Read More »
The horse that put young trainer Clayton Douglas on the map is set to have the first start of his campaign in defence of his Everest title. Giga Kick resumes in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday in what shapes as the sprinters only Melbourne appearance before the $20… Read More »
One of Dan and Ben Pearce’s talented horses is gearing up for a return to the racetrack following an injury-enforced layoff. Ben Pearce, who co-trains in partnership with his brother, Dan, confesses he’s excited about Black Fantasy, who has taken big strides in his recovery. Black Fantasy has not raced… Read More »
Despite his defeat, David Harrison is keeping the faith with Buster Bash, drawing encouragement from champion jockey, Jamie Kah. Jamie Kah rode Buster Bash in last Saturday’s G2 Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield, but the gelding failed to flatter in his interstate debut. Buster Bash led and turned for home in front,… Read More »
After last year’s heartbreak of having what would’ve been his first Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) runner scratched on race day with a bruised heel, Grahame Begg has his sights on redemption with Lunar Flare to be aimed solely at the race that stops a nation. The daughter of 2013 Cup winner… Read More »
Ever since Vintage Crop internationalised the Melbourne Cup in 1993, the Irish St Leger, which will be run at The Curragh this weekend, has had a key impact on Australia’s most famous race. Vintage Crop is the only horse to have won both races, but Oscar Schindler, Vinnie Roe, Yeats and… Read More »
Moonee Valley has some strong group racing this Saturday that will offer racing folks a good guide to the big races to come. The main race is the G2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) with horses who will be aiming at the Cups and/or Cox Plate. The Melbourne Cup winner himself Gold… Read More »
There are so many feature races on Saturday that will impact on the majors through the Spring that it is like an Everest Carnival Preview. The G2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) sees horses who contest the big one in a few weeks as well the Epsom, Invitation and even the… Read More »
