Royal Ascot one day, Royal Randwick the next. Globetrotting trainer Bjorn Baker has capped a memorable week by taking out Saturday’s Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) with up-and-coming gelding Midnight Dynamite. The victory came just days after Overpass finished a game third in the King Charles III Stakes at the famous English course… Read More »
Four years after becoming the first jockey to claim the Ipswich Cup as a trainer, Chris Munce had added another footnote – winning it in partnership with son Corey. Munce took out the Listed staying feature aboard Oompala in 1994, that horse going on to finish third to Jeune in the… Read More »
Ice Kool is still honing his race craft, but there is no doubting the emerging sprinter’s talent after he overcame his inexperience to post another promising win at Randwick. While the three-year-old continues to make his job harder by not anticipating the start and then wanting to get on with proceedings,… Read More »
Not that long ago, Craig Conron had reason to think he’d never be back at Flemington as a trainer, but on Saturday he was welcomed back into the winner’s room. The Geelong horseman made a triumphant return when Vegas Jack continued his winning run in the $150,000 Country Racing It’s Got It… Read More »
Matt Smith has produced some big-priced placegetters of late, but he can’t recall training a Saturday metropolitan winner at longer odds than $101 chance Alice Mae. Given little hope by punters, the mare shouldered her way clear from midfield and made a determined bid down the outside to claim the B&J… Read More »
Any win Ben Brisbourne achieves with Fontein Jewel is a special one, but the two-year-old’s win in the first race at Flemington on Saturday held particular significance. The Lucky Vega colt’s win in the $150,000 TAB We’re On Handicap (1420m) was the young English trainer’s first at the track since being granted… Read More »
Emerging filly Chains Of Love is in line for a return to black-type company after outclassing a more seasoned field of rivals to win the Highway Handicap at Randwick. The superbly bred daughter of I Am Invincible out of 2015 Group 1 Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me is set to… Read More »
He may have plenty on his plate at Royal Ascot as Joliestar prepares for her start on Saturday, but Chris Waller is also keeping an eye on his prospects at home. One of the stable’s better winning chances comes in the form of Hello Captain who lines up in the Kia… Read More »
A lot was expected from I’mateez right from the time he made his debut. I’mateez is the younger half-brother to 10-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz and to date has only two wins from seven starts with three minor placings. In the care of Alex Rae at Cranbourne, I’mateez will be… Read More »
Don’t believe everything you read, some like to say, and in many instances that can carry true. One of those examples applies to Nitro where the stewards report noted that the last start beaten favourite’s ‘manners’ cost a better result in the race. It is easy to interpret one way,… Read More »
Cranbourne-based trainer Lucy Yeomans is thankful for the opportunity to train a horse for some of Australia’s highest profiles owners. Yeomans will saddle former Chris Waller-trained mare Changing Colours in the Bruce Gadsden Handicap (1420m) at Flemington on Saturday. Among the ownership group are Ozzie Kheir and Brae Sokolski who have… Read More »
A final field of 19 was declared for the straight track sprint Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes with the decision made to accept with Overpass after his game third to Mission Central in the King Charles III Stakes on day one of Royal Ascot. Overpass has come through Tuesday’s race… Read More »
Morphettville trainer Paula Trenwith will look to build on her most successful season when she saddles up to four runners on her home track. Trenwith has just six horses in work at Morphettville and could potentially have two-thirds of her team in action on Saturday. Six of Trenwith’s tally of… Read More »
Whether Shangri La Impact ever gets back to Stakes grade remains to be seen, but Tom Charlton is confident he has found the right race for her to continue her progression at Randwick this Saturday. The daughter of Staphanos will contest the $160,000 B&J Guttering & Metal Roofing BM72 Handicap… Read More »
Trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon will need to cool their jets a little longer as they wait for Nihancan to stretch out in trip. The final of the Mahogany Challenge Series (2500m) at Flemington on July 4 is the race Nihancan has been set for, but first the colt… Read More »
Drawing barrier ten from the Ipswich 2150-metre start may not be ideal but Lindsay Gough will rely on Robbie Dolan’s experience bigger Cups to see Cavalry Man successful on Saturday. That ‘bigger’ Cup being the Melbourne Cup but as far as Ipswich is concerned let alone the rest of racing… Read More »
The prospect of a heavy track at Flemington has swayed Michael Kent Jnr to steer Bustling’s racing comeback tour to Sydney on Saturday. The former Perth galloper is third-up this time in after a time away that spanned more than 18 months away from the racetrack. Now a four-year-old, Bustling… Read More »
Ballarat trainer Mitch Freedman says it is a balancing act whether to take Tatakai Uta to Flemington for a straight race or wait for something slightly weaker. Freedman believes Tatakai Uta has the makings of being a city class performer but is concerned he may be taking the three-year-old to town too soon. Tatakai Uta is down to… Read More »
Al Riffa, the horse who was bought to win a Melbourne Cup, gets the chance to prove once and for all he is an elite stayer on Day 3 at Royal Ascot. The six-year-old will be tested over 4014 metres in the week’s signature event, the Group 1 Gold Cup,… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have used the fillies’ maiden at Canterbury’s mid-June meeting with success in the past and on Wednesday they unearthed another youngster seemingly destined for better things. Demerzel broke her maiden at her second start in the $60,000 event over 1250 metres, the first of three… Read More »
