If luck had fallen the way of I Am Aria, the Mark Walker-trained filly could be entering the Blue Diamond Stakes unbeaten. Instead, I Am Aria has filled a placing in her two lead-ups, running second on debut in the Blue Diamond Preview before finishing third in the Blue Diamond… Read More »
Trainer Mick Price’s chances of collecting a third Blue Diamond Stakes have been enhanced following the barrier draw for Victoria’s premier two-year-old contest. Price, who won the Group 1 contest for two-year-olds with Extreme Choice in 2016 and Samaready in 2012, has two colts heading to Caulfield’s Group 1 contest over 1200m on Saturday. Now… Read More »
Jockey Declan Bates joined Pride Of Jenni in a gallop at Caulfield as the pair shed the kilograms in preparation for teaming in the All-Star Mile. Ciaron Maher took a small but select group of horses to gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning, including Pride Of Jenni who is preparing for a first-up tilt at… Read More »
Unit Five created history winning the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at just his second start and Ciaron Maher is confident the unbeaten colt can break new ground again this weekend at Caulfield. The son of Supido headlines a three-pronged attack on the $2 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes for Maher, who… Read More »
Chris Waller’s Canonbury Stakes quinella of Hidrix and Confederation will again clash this weekend with the pair to continue their Golden Slipper build-up in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill. Hidrix defeated his stablemate by 1-3/4 lengths in the 1100-metre Canonbury, when both were on debut, but Waller is optimistic… Read More »
Autumn Boy is likely to be without blinkers for his first-up assignment in the Hobartville Stakes with champion jockey James McDonald convinced he doesn’t need them. McDonald partnered the three-year-old in a 1000m exhibition gallop between races at Randwick on Saturday, Autumn Boy clocking 1:08.25 for his solo workout and stretching… Read More »
Tropicus and Point Barrow will target the Oakleigh Plate in search of another Group 1 sprint win for Anthony and Sam Freedman. The 1100m sprint on Saturday has been the autumn speed test in Melbourne for the handicappers and like last Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning winner Tentyris, both horses enter the Caulfield the race first-up. Tropicus has not been sighted since running sixth to Giga Kick in the… Read More »
James McDonald won’t yet put Autumn Glow in the same bracket as Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior, but he concedes she is on the way. Turning in a performance that McDonald admitted gave him goosebumps, the mare swept to a 2-1/2 length win over Aeliana in Saturday’s Apollo Stakes (1400m)… Read More »
Sydney colt Sixties used Saturday’s $200,000 C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington to flash his Australian Guineas bona fides, completing a day out for star rider Damian Lane in the process. The Chris Waller-trained colt proved a class above his rivals in the 1400-metre Group 3, overcoming sitting three-wide without… Read More »
Last year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes hinted it and the Black Caviar Lightning confirmed it, with Tentyris stamping himself Australia’s newest sprint star at Flemington on Saturday. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt made it back-to-back Group 1 wins with an explosive display against proven weight-for-age performers in the 1000-metre event. The… Read More »
Chris Waller declared Joliestar was finally the complete package after the mare enhanced her already dynamic first-up record to win the Expressway Stakes at Randwick. When former stablemate Caballus ($4.60) skipped to a commanding lead halfway up the straight, Waller admitted he was unsure if Joliestar ($2.60 fav) could bridge the gap. But… Read More »
Savvy Hallie has caused a minor Light Fingers Stakes upset, outsprinting odds-on favourite Apocalyptic to take out the first three-year-old fillies feature of the Sydney carnival. After dominating the Princess Series in the spring, Apocalyptic was sent out a $1.50 favourite with Savvy Hallie considered her only serious threat as… Read More »
Improving filly Ciaron’s Star has edged closer to a berth in the Golden Slipper after a tough victory in the Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick, although connections are keen to see her reaffirm that form before locking in a start in the $5 million feature. Settling prominently under Tommy Berry,… Read More »
The day after the death of one of the great two-year-olds in Lindsay Park’s storied history, the Hayes family unearthed a juvenile who could be destined to be its next top-liner. All Too Hard gelding Hard Kick launched his career in the best possible fashion, dominating his rivals in the… Read More »
A lacklustre piece of work earlier in the week by a stablemate will see Ole Dancer take on the filly’s version of a Stakes race at Flemington. The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Sheza Alibi had been scheduled to kick off her autumn campaign in the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) on Saturday with Ole… Read More »
Trainer John McArdle has long held Group 1 aspirations for talented filly My Gladiola right from the time she posted her debut victory. But those Group 1 dreams have been shattered twice, once by a poor barrier in the Blue Diamond Stakes and then by drawing an inside barrier in the Coolmore Stud Stakes… Read More »
Gold Spirit is eligible for easier races than the one he will contest at Morphettville this Saturday, but trainer Grant Kluske sees positives associated with stepping the progressive sprinter up in grade. The four-year-old will have his second run for the campaign in the $55,000 Sportsbet Same Race Multi BM72 Handicap over… Read More »
During a spring campaign in which she pushed Via Sistina first-up, beat all bar Mr Brightside second-up, and contested a Cox Plate, Aeliana never quite pleased trainer Chris Waller. While she put in some exciting performances on the track, the champion horseman admitted she never looked the part. “She ate… Read More »
His nerve in adopting audacious tactics and renowned vigour in a close finish mark Nash Rawiller as an outstanding jockey. Trainer Joe Pride says astute judgement of a thoroughbred should also be added to that list. The pair has forged a successful partnership in recent years, most notably through the deeds of… Read More »
Space Rider will be out to build his Australian Guineas credentials when he lines up at Flemington. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr -trained galloper runs in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday as the lead-up to the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington… Read More »
