Bad barrier draws and races that have not been run to suit have plagued Clubhouse’s campaign so far but trainer Marcus Wilson is hoping that luck may change for the gelding at Ipswich on Monday. Clubhouse steps out over 1350-metres this time in a race where a stronger tempo beckons and… Read More »
One of Australia’s highest prize money earners could be Perth bound later in the year for a race during The Pinnacles. The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and JD Hayes has entered Mr Brightside for the $1.5 million Group 3 The Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot on December 13…. Read More »
The Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on the opening day of Melbourne Cup week has evolved into a stallion making race since being granted Group 1 status. Since attaining Group 1 in time for the running of the 2006 edition, colts like Star Witness, Sepoy, Zoustar, Brazen Beau, Flying Artie,… Read More »
Chris Waller could not have described the final Cox Plate on the soon to be rebuilt Moonee Valley racecourse any better. “It was a classic Cox Plate,” Waller said moments after watching Via Sistina hold off stablemate Buckaroo to win the 105th and final Cox Plate before the Moonee Valley… Read More »
Observer’s hold on favouritism for next week’s Victoria Derby became vice-like a week out from the Flemington Classic after the classy colt dominated his rivals in Saturday’s $400,000 Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase. A $3.50 favourite for the 2500-metre Group 1 Derby before the Vase, Observer is now odds-on with… Read More »
Jigsaw has earned a start in a $1 million race on his home track at Cranbourne after he outsped his rivals to score at Moonee Valley. The Cindy Alderson-trained sprinter registered back-to-back wins when taking out the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) on Saturday after returning to winning form in… Read More »
It has taken until his six-year-old season, but Cliff Brown finally thinks he is getting somewhere with Von Hauke, who achieved a career highlight at Moonee Valley on Saturday. The Savabeel gelding broke a 19-month winning drought with victory in the $400,000 Group 2 Crystal Mile under jockey Ethan Brown…. Read More »
A setback had forced Bjorn Baker to reassess the preparation of his Group 1 winning mare Stefi Magnetica ($3.90), but the daughter of All Too Hard showed she was back to her best with a stirring win in the $2 million Group 2 The Invitation. After settling in the back… Read More »
He was dealt a blow with the wide barrier draw through the week, but the Joe Pride-trained Attica ($4) has defied that with aplomb to take out the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes. It was perfectly timed ride by jockey Adam Hyeronimus to overhaul race favourite Shangri La Boy ($3.20F)… Read More »
The Melbourne Cup is the ultimate goal for Onesmoothoperator, who won first-up in Australia for the second year in a row, successful in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on Friday. Trainer Brian Ellison brought the now seven-year-old gelding to Australia last year to win the Group 3… Read More »
The Cox Plate dream of Mitchell Freedman is about to come to fruition. Freedman will saddle Attrition in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday looking to score an upset win. Attrition sits alongside Light Infantry Man as the $34 outsiders in the eight-horse Cox Plate field that… Read More »
Trainer Ciaron Maher says there is plenty of time before Observer is subjected to taking on Australia’s proven weight-for-age stars. Maher and the Godolphin team had considered a start in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday but have instead opted for the Drummond Golf Vase over the… Read More »
Miss Roumbini added another chapter to what has been a frustrating preparation earlier this month, but Mick Price is optimistic connections can land an overdue reward this Saturday. The daughter of Zoustar will chase her first win as a five-year-old in the $2 million The Invitation at Randwick. It will… Read More »
Gary Portelli can often find one or two horses who can fly under the radar. Like Kimochi last spring, Queen Of Clubs and Encap may be the pair who can boost his stable’s presence this carnival with aims to knock over more fancied rivals at double figure prices at Randwick… Read More »
Now Hong Kong-based jockey Hugh Bowman says he feels proud to get the call-up from Chris Waller to ride Aeliana in the final Cox Plate at Moonee Valley before the track undergoes a major redevelopment. Bowman and Waller famously combined with Winx to win the Cox Plate on four occasions,… Read More »
King Charles III might have spent a successful term at school near Geelong over half a century ago and it was thought that the horse who carried his colours may earn a spot in the Melbourne Cup with a win in the Geelong Cup, but it wasn’t to be after… Read More »
After a near-miss last year, Aaron Bain is bullish about victory in his hometown Gawler Cup on Friday with big-ticket tried horse purchase Dual Pressure. Bain, who trains out of the iconic Angaston Park in the Barossa Valley in partnership with Ned Taylor, went within half a length of Cup… Read More »
The Moonee Valley Gold Cup has always played a vital role in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup. While winners of both races in the same year are rare, the Moonee Valley Gold Cup has traditionally provided its victor with a handicap penalty, taking them a step closer to gaining… Read More »
Blake Shinn says you need a champion to win the Cox Plate and is hoping Antino is that horse. The Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday has long been regarded as Australia’s weight-for-age championship and Shinn believes he is on the right horse to give him his first win in… Read More »
Joe Pride is much happier with Attica’s condition than he is with the barrier he drew in this Saturday’s $2 million Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick. The colt was allocated gate 13 when starting positions were determined but will come into 12 if the emergency Pinot Nero fails to gain a… Read More »
