Weights do not favour Baraqiel in his bid to win one of Australia’s best sprint races, the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Since weights turned metric in 1973, only three horses have carried more than 57.5kg to win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) which is to be run on Saturday. Hay List carried… Read More »
After another successful riding sojourn in Japan, Rachel King is firmly focused on the Sydney autumn carnival, especially her date with lightly raced three-year-old Green Spaces in the Randwick Guineas. Such is King’s regard for the Bjorn Baker-trained gelding, she flew back from Japan just to partner him in a barrier trial… Read More »
Being a natural backmarker means relying on luck in the run, and Bauhinia hasn’t always had a lot of it. Co-trainer Lee Curtis is hoping the mare’s fortunes can finally take a turn for the better this autumn, starting in Saturday’s Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick. “Her work has been… Read More »
A run-of-the-mill benchmark race at Rosehill in July has turned into a sliding doors moment for Dylan Gibbons as he prepares to ride top galloper Linebacker in the Group One Canterbury Stakes. The young jockey had only been back in the saddle for a couple of months following surgery to a shoulder… Read More »
The Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington may not hold as much importance as the day’s earlier features, but it may provide a spotlight to riches later in the year. Ciaron Maher is set to unveil two imported gallopers in the 2000m contest on Saturday – Augustus and Desert Hero. Desert… Read More »
The VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes is the first time the ‘babies’ get to strut their stuff over something of a trip. With Victoria’s most prestigious race, the Blue Diamond Stakes, run and won last month, the speed two-year-olds are now being geared towards the Golden Slipper in Sydney. But Robbie… Read More »
A handy weight claim and a horse ready to win has Jack Bruce keen to see Sir Maurice step out at Ipswich on Friday. At his fifth start this campaign, the five-year-old son of Japanese champion Maurice will take his place in the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) in… Read More »
Deposed Golden Slipper favourite Hidrix will have two significant changes for his Todman Stakes assignment at Randwick – the addition of blinkers and the services of champion jockey James Mcdonald. McDonald partnered stablemate Confederation in both the Canonbury Stakes (1100m), won by Hidrix, and the Silver Slipper (1100m), but despite the presence… Read More »
Richard Litt might be at the smaller end of the scale in terms of horse numbers, but he’s had a couple of decent measuring sticks when it comes to identifying a good one. The trainer of dual Group 1 winner Castelvecchio and 2021 Spring Champion Stakes victor Profondo, the Warwick Farm-based… Read More »
Champion trainer Chris Waller is onboard with the All-Star Mile concept following the race being upgrading to Group 1 level. First run in 2019, the All-Star Mile was initially rotated around the three metropolitan races in Melbourne and was framed around Japan’s Arima Kinen where the public got to vote on their favourite horse. Tweaks were made in… Read More »
Jockey Mark Zahra does not believe the weight handed Tentyris will stop the colt from landing the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Tentyris will need to equal the weight carrying record of Ajax in 1938 if he is to take out the Group 1 1200m handicap at Flemington on Saturday. The 57kg is the same… Read More »
Michael Freedman is banking on Ninja’s ability to put himself on the speed as a key ingredient to his chances in the Group One Randwick Guineas. While two of his main rivals, Autumn Boy and Attica, usually settle back in the field, Ninja proved his versatility in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) when… Read More »
Coal Crusher can get Joe Pride’s weekend off to a perfect start if the seasoned campaigner can continue his affinity for the Newcastle circuit on one of the region’s major race days of the year. The gelding will be on a six-day back-up from his unplaced run in the Liverpool City Cup… Read More »
As Ciaron Maher prepares for the return of Gringotts in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, a rival jockey has inadvertently given a major push for one of the race’s key players. Nash Rawiller developed a strong partnership with Gringotts at the tail end of his most recent campaign, collecting back-to-back victories in the Big… Read More »
No three-year-old has won the Canterbury Stakes in a decade, but co-trainer Tom Charlton believes Napoleonic is at the right stage of his preparation to attempt to break the drought. The last member of his age group to topple the older sprinters was Holler in 2016, who interestingly was prepared by Charlton’s… Read More »
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable has taken the unusual step of giving On Display an exhibition gallop at Caulfield Heath in preparation for her return run. On Display is down to have her first-up outing in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday. Price said it was not unusual to gallop… Read More »
The Golden Slipper might come around too soon, but Newcastle filly She’s Extra could still feature over the carnival after making it two wins from as many starts with a stylish performance at Warwick Farm. The daughter of Exceedance backed up a four-length romp at her home track on February 14… Read More »
Joe Pride believes early markets have got it wrong and the Randwick Guineas is a race between his Group One winner Attica and Caulfield Guineas victor Autumn Boy. The pair turned in similar efforts in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) first-up when they paired off at the back of the field,… Read More »
A field of 15 is set to do battle down the famous Flemington straight six in the Newmarket Handicap. In what was a ‘who will be there and who won’t’ discussion in the days leading up to Wednesday’s acceptances, the highly rated three-year-old Tentyris is among the 15 chasing Group 1 glory and join… Read More »
The career of Pride Of Jenni was at the crossroads 18 months ago but at Flemington on Saturday she can become the first two-time winner of the All-Star Mile. Pride Of Jenni suffered a bleeding attack when finishing last in the Champions Mile at Flemington in November 2024 prompting owner Tony Ottobre to announce her retirement. The now eight-year-old returned the following March… Read More »
