The lure of a $10 million prize pool has drawn Dominic Sutton to Randwick chasing the Golden Eagle. Not yet two years into his training career, Sutton already has a Group 1 win under the belt courtesy of the success of Feroce in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington. Feroce is the… Read More »
Robert Heathcote admits it’s a trainer’s clichĂ© but says old marvel Rothfire looks better than ever. The eight-year-old gelding will line up in the $3 million Russel Balding Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday having spent a few days down in Melbourne since winning the Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m)… Read More »
Trainer Robbie Griffiths is looking forward to the return bout between those that raced in the Danehill Stakes and the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. The Griffiths-trained Legacy Bound finished fourth in the Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on October 4, behind Mcgaw, My Gladiola and Tentyris who… Read More »
Whether it be on the big stage of Melbourne Cup week or the littler one further afield, luck plays its part wherever the race is and whoever the horses are, too. It is a somewhat frustrating preparation that Beaudesert trainer Michael Morrison hopes can be the buck up one of… Read More »
Don’t expect big celebrations from the team behind Autumn Mystery if the three-year-old wins the Victoria Derby at Flemington. “I’d be happy to go to the pub for a parma and a pot of beer, that would do me,” Autumn Mystery’s trainer Rory Hunter said. “You do have to dream, and he’ll… Read More »
Andrew Gluyas has resisted the temptation to tinker with the headgear of Guru Warrior, despite the last-start wayward tendencies of the emerging middle distance galloper. Guru Warrior is an odd-on favourite to make it three consecutive wins in a heat of the Skybeau Series over 2028m on Saturday and his… Read More »
Champion trainer Chris Waller holds a strong hand in the sole Group 1 race for mares during the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Waller has Fangirl, Lazzura and Leica Lucy engaged in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. Atishu took out Empire Rose Stakes honours for Waller last year while his previous success… Read More »
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes is certainly not complaining about the transfer of the Golden Eagle to Randwick on Saturday. The $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) has been staged at Rosehill since its inaugural running in 2019 but has been transferred to Randwick for… Read More »
Chris Waller is confident Wootton Verni can measure up to Melbourne’s spring features in time, but the champion trainer is in no rush with the developing import. He is therefore pleased to have a race as lucrative as this Saturday’s Rosehill Gold Cup to send him to. The son of Wootton Bassett… Read More »
After his second visit to Werribee this week to hop aboard Melbourne Cup 2025 hope Meydaan, James Mcdonald could not have been happier with the four-year-old’s progress towards the 3200-metre Group 1 feature on Tuesday. While his immediate attention is on steering $2.20 favourite Autumn Glow in the Group 1 Golden… Read More »
Trainer Ciaron Maher is hoping Sayedaty Sadaty can sneak his way into the Melbourne Cup after his victory in the Bendigo Cup. Sayedaty Sadaty sat at number 35 for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup (3200m) ballot prior to Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup (2400m) and while Wednesday’s win is likely to push him up… Read More »
Father-and-son training duo Chris and Corey Munce have endured a frustrating run during the Melbourne Spring Carnival with Payline. Four starts on three of the four Melbourne metropolitan tracks have left the pair lamenting their lack of luck since arriving in Victoria in late August. Payline is back for a… Read More »
War Machine did not run up to expectations in The Everest, but Ben Hayes has urged punters to stick with the explosive gelding. The Group 1 winner gets the chance to get his spring campaign back on track in Saturday’s $3 million Russell Balding Stakes at Randwick. The 1300-metre event will… Read More »
Trainer Grahame Begg will be absent over the four days of Melbourne Cup week following a hip replacement operation, but it won’t stop him being a participant. Begg’s staff are continually in discussions with the Cranbourne-based trainer as he recovers from surgery who is plotting the path of his stable stars…. Read More »
Champion trainer Chris Waller is not buying into the debate whether the Victoria Derby distance should be shortened. Waller has prepared three previous winners of the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington which will be run on Saturday in which he saddles Providence and Savisanta. The annual call to shorten the… Read More »
Mark Zahra is already a two-time Melbourne Cup winner and was suitably impressed with his latest ride Al Riffa after sitting on the stayer for the first time at Werribee. Zahra headed to the Werribee quarantine centre on Wednesday to ride Al Riffa in preparation for the Melbourne Cup (3200m)… Read More »
The decision to move the $10 million Golden Eagle from Rosehill to Randwick was not without its detractors, but Tom Charlton isn’t complaining about it this year. His classy four-year-old Linebacker, who he prepares in partnership with John O’Shea, has achieved his best results at Sydney’s premier track. The Super Seth gelding… Read More »
It’s been a long time between drinks for the Lindsay Park team since their latest win in the Wakeful Stakes on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington. Lolita Star was the last winner for Lindsay Park in 2000 when the late Peter Hayes was in charge of the large training operation…. Read More »
Godolphin three-year-olds have been at the head of affairs in the Group 1 contests this season and Tony and Calvin Mcevoy are hoping it’s their turn at Flemington Saturday. The McEvoy father-and-son team will saddle up Options in the Victoria Derby (2500m) on Saturday, looking to win their second feature of the spring…. Read More »
Undefeated Autumn Glow will be Chris Waller’s main hope in the Golden Eagle at Randwick after considering his other big guns have not had the preparation for the $10 million race. Autumn Glow was one of eight horses Waller had nominated for the Golden Eagle (1500m) on Saturday and will have… Read More »
