South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott is making the trip over the border looking to add another Stakes race to the record of Taunting. Successful in the Listed Hills Railway Stakes (1100m) at Oakbank last month, Taunting is set to run in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on Saturday…. Read More »
Most horses derive natural improvement from their first-up run, but the fitness benefits will be even more pronounced for Conscript when he steps out for his second campaign start at Randwick. The five-year-old was narrowly beaten by a race-fit Astero when resuming on a heavy track at Rosehill in April, an effort… Read More »
A stronger than anticipated Stakes race in Sydney has led Wagga trainer Gary Colvin waiting a week to try his luck in Melbourne. Colvin had Another One down to contest the Listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday but felt that race was a little too strong. Instead, he will make the trip to… Read More »
The horse John O’Shea hoped would be his winter carnival flagbearer is in the spelling paddock, but the top trainer still has some bullets to fire in Brisbane’s major races. O’Shea will start Stroke Of Luck and former New Zealander Andalus in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on… Read More »
Stephanie Bakranich, who will saddle up Playing Marika in Saturdays Group 3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m), admits the mare’s recent form has taken her by surprise. Stephanie Bakranich pinpointed two races for Playing Marika this campaign, but is glad she had a change of heart as it’s panned out better than she could… Read More »
While some things change, some things stay the same. It’s business as usual for veteran trainer Darryn Pateman. As he has done for nearly two decades, Pateman is getting ready for Broome’s season-opening meeting in a fortnight. Pateman is based at Karnup, but each year travels thousands of kilometres to… Read More »
He’s had 80 winners for the racing season, including 30 in town, and popular trainer Bjorn Baker will be looking to add to the win column as he travels far and wide this week. With almost 150 horses registered under the care of Baker, the former Kiwi is always looking to… Read More »
Forbidden Love almost readjusted the record for the highest-priced lot in the history of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when the glittering offering kicked off on the Gold Coast on Tuesday. The three-time Group 1 winner became the latest high-profile member of the Yulong broodmare band when knocked down to… Read More »
The last time Ed Cummings was in Adelaide for a Group 1 race, it was as an assistant trainer to his father Anthony with a horse at the end of its preparation. Fast forward seven years and Cummings is back in town as a successful trainer in his own right, this time… Read More »
Trainer Raquel Williams could not have been more pleased with the trial of Coming Around at Lark Hill on Monday. She says it proved the seven-year-old still possessed a zest and appetite for racing. Coming Around ran second to Fiorucci Mama in a 950m heat and was strong late without… Read More »
Promising sprinter Katsu is likely to feature among acceptances at Sandown, but trainer Grahame Begg says the gelding may not be a starter. Katsu is among the 12 horses entered for the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1000m) on Saturday, but Begg wants to assess all relevant information before committing to a start. “I’ll probably… Read More »
A nomination to Hellbent topped the fundraiser for Dean Holland’s family, which preceded the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast on Tuesday. Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock paid $40,000 for the privilege of a visit to the son of I Am Invincible, which was donated by Yarraman Park. Fourteen… Read More »
Joe Pride says it is now up to Think About It as the gelding is about to embark on his first assault at Group 1 level. Defeated once in eight starts, Think About It is a dual winner in Stakes company but will need to lift the bar on Saturday in the Kingsford Smith… Read More »
Jockey Blake Shinn says a win in the Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership will look good on his record, but at the same time it is not something he has put a lot of thought into. After a double at Flemington last Saturday and another winner at Sandown on Sunday, Shinn is within 11… Read More »
Former racehorses are teaching children life skills through an equine-assisted learning program called Horse Sense. The initiative, supported by the new Off the Track WA Community Fund, is run by Horse Sense founder Claire Wright, a primary school teacher and equine facilitated learning practitioner who was inspired by her own… Read More »
While some things change, some things stay the same. It’s business as usual for veteran trainer Darryn Pateman. As he has done for nearly two decades, Pateman is getting ready for Broome’s season-opening meeting in a fortnight. Pateman is based at Karnup, but each year travels thousands of kilometres to… Read More »
Michael Kent Jnr knows there is just as much chance of A Case Of You drawing a wide barrier this weekend as there has been in each of his previous Australian runs, but the Cranbourne trainer desperately hopes his run of tricky gates has come to an end. The imported stallion will… Read More »
There are two G1 races at Eagle Farm this Saturday plus many other features on a day which has three $1million contests. The main race of the 3yos over the carnival is the G1 Queensland Derby (2400m) where Kovalica ($1.80) is short odds to back up his excellent run in the… Read More »
Ben Hayes will chase Group 1 success this weekend in Brisbane, but the Lindsay Park co-trainer can’t help but be excited by what will take place in Victoria this week. Stable star Mr Brightside returns to work as he strives to assert himself as Australia’s premier middle-distance performer. The son of Bullbars hasn’t… Read More »
Few will be looking on more anxiously than Annabel Neasham when the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale kicks off on the Gold Coast on Tuesday. The Sydney trainer doesn’t own Sunshine In Paris, but she is particularly eager to see who buys the last-start Group 1 winner. The three-year-old daughter of… Read More »
