If Mathew Ellerton had his time over again, he probably would have started General Beau in last week’s Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final at his home track. Instead, the four-year-old runs this Saturday at Caulfield, in a $200,000 Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) that has come up stronger… Read More »
Dylan Gibbons is in the box seat to extend his premiership lead over arch-rival Zac Lloyd when the star duo resume their enthralling battle for the Sydney apprentices’ title at Randwick. The former heads into Saturday’s meeting on 65 metropolitan wins, one clear of Lloyd and boasting an outstanding book of 10… Read More »
The chance to qualify for a $2 million race will almost certainly sway connections of Cotehele to bypass a start in the Listed Winter Stakes in favour of the South Grafton Cup. While the latter carries half the prize money of Saturday’s $160,000 Randwick centrepiece, Cotehele could make up for it… Read More »
Bunbury trainer Michael Campbell holds high hopes Bitofmerit can continue his winning momentum when tackling a distance probe at Belmont on Saturday. Michael Campbell flirted with starting Bitofmerit in the Listed Beaufine Stakes (1000m), but opted for the Furphy Handicap (1400m) as a better alternative. Bitofmerit is out to claim his second… Read More »
It only takes one small thing to go wrong to affect a trainer’s plans. Matthew Brown had a plan in place with Prix De Turn who runs in the Neds Punter Assist Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Prix De Turn started his campaign with a pleasing sixth at Flemington over 1620m on June 17… Read More »
An outside draw isn’t expected to be an impediment for in-form gelding King Of Hastings as he bids to build on his strong Randwick record in the Listed Winter Stakes. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained galloper will jump from barrier 14 in Saturday’s feature and stable representative Brad Taylor expects it to… Read More »
Anthony Cummings has been late to the party with his two-year-olds this season, but he will unveil two debutants at Randwick who he hopes can lay important platforms for the spring. Cummings saddled up 20 juvenile runners last season and one of them, She’s Extreme, collected the Group 1 Champagne Stakes,… Read More »
Trainer Michael Grantham says Comes A Time has the ability to overcome a wide barrier when he returns for a winter campaign at Belmont on Saturday. The six-year-old, who has not raced since the Carbine Club Of WA Stakes (1400m) eight months ago, has drawn the widest gate in the… Read More »
Best known as the trainer of dual Group 1 winner turned Arrowfield Stud stallion Castelvecchio, Richard Litt has also carved out somewhat of a niche with cast-offs from the powerful Godolphin operation. While trying to pick out racing’s next star at the yearling sales will always offer appeal, it is high… Read More »
The Peter Moody stable is keen to get a win for Sensical who makes her return at Caulfield. The daughter of Zoustar had three starts during an autumn campaign that resulted in the filly collecting Black Type through her debut placing in the filly’s division of the Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Sandown in January. After a late… Read More »
Trainer Tom Dabernig wants to ascertain whether Flying Mascot still has the zest for racing after a long stint on the sidelines. Flying Mascot has not raced since last October after scintigraphy discovered bone bruising after a long campaign stretching out over 12 months without a serious break. After a spell and a steady build-up, Flying Mascot is… Read More »
He’s keeping his cards close to his chest, but judging by the smile post-race you get the impression veteran trainer Vern Brockman believes Toropa shapes as an Ascot carnival horse. Toropa kicked off her career in the best possible manner with a fighting win on debut in the Book Your Christmas… Read More »
It has been a juvenile season to remember for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and the Tulloch Lodge trainers are banking on that success laying important foundations for the stable’s future. The duo produced their 33rd two-year-old winner of the term at Wednesday’s Randwick-Kensington meeting when stakes placegetter Sicilian broke her maiden… Read More »
Eeyore Wayz resumes racing on Saturday in what trainer Raquel Reid describes as a defining campaign for the six-year-old. Reid is aiming high and hopes the Listed Beaufine Stakes (1000m) is the first big step towards the Ascot Pinnacles carnival later this year. “At this stage I cannot fault him,”… Read More »
Six-year-old Money Matters will showcase his winter credentials at Belmont and the Gangemi brothers think he can make a bright start to his campaign on Saturday. The likelihood of a wet track and the 1000m of the Beaufine Stakes has co-trainers Chris and Michael Gangemi believing Money Matters has the right conditions to… Read More »
Usually the domain of larger stables like Ciaron Maher and David Eustace or Chris Waller, Mornington trainer Pat Carey saddled multiple runners in a race at Sandown on Wednesday. The LockettLED.au Handicap (1200m) saw Carey saddle Starlight Scope, The Sisters and Mvita with the more highly fancied of that trio landing the prize. Ridden by Jye Mcneil, Starlight… Read More »
Terry Robinson hasn’t given up on giving 2021 Kosciuszko winner Art Cadeau another shot at the $2 million feature, pending his performance in the Winter Stakes at Randwick. The gelding has had a mixed preparation, making a solid return when finishing just over two lengths from Mnementh in the Town Plate at Wagga… Read More »
The aptly named Refreshing has given champion jockey Damien Oliver his first winner back since a golfing holiday in the US. Oliver and a group of golfing tragic mates had a two-week break in the US playing some of that country’s best, and exclusive, golf clubs. The champion jockey said it was… Read More »
An extra week between a Stakes race at Flemington and one at Caulfield is expected to play into the hands of lightly raced mare Sigh. The Peter Moody-trained four-year-old was scratched from the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington last week to be saved for the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m)… Read More »
The nation’s capital is set to have its first $1 million race day with the Canberra Racing Club moving to condense its annual carnival into a single showcase meeting, headlined by the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes. The two-year-old feature will be one of four stakes races on a bumper… Read More »
