The saying to ‘kill two birds with one stone’ has never encapsulated a horse race more than the feat achieved by Cooma trainer David Kelley and his son Matthew on Friday at Canberra. Kelley’s stablemates Super View ($31) and Lady Animalia ($61) were friendless in the market when lining up in the 1300m maiden… Read More »
Here we go … it could be a big summer season on the Polytrack at the Sunshine Coast. A second meeting in six days has been switched from its originally scheduled track to the Sunshine Coast Polytrack with the announcement that tomorrow’s meeting at Doomben has also fallen victim to… Read More »
Fiorente gelding Wise Dragon has been a very consistent conveyance since joining the Mitch Beer stables only missing the top four once in nine starts, and he feels there’s no better time than now to tackle the riches that the Highway handicap offers. The four-year-old has a win and four… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace stable is undecided whether last start Cranbourne winner Mankayan will head to the Listed Pakenham Cup. Mankayan was posted the $3.50 favourite with TAB after entries closed for the $300,000 race over 2500m on Saturday. Final acceptances are taken on Wednesday ahead of the barrier draw. Mankayan was successful over 2550m on November 13 in… Read More »
There have been a rash of retirements from the jockey ranks in the past week. Robert Thompson and Glen Boss have called time on their respective riding careers on their own terms, deciding their own future at a time and in a manner convenient to themselves … but Raquel Clark’s… Read More »
Glen Boss may not have had the fairytale finish to his riding career in Melbourne, but the three-time Melbourne Cup winner will get another chance in the New Year. Boss has accepted an invitation to ride in an International Jockeys’ Challenge at the rich Saudi Cup meeting at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh on… Read More »
It is indeed a tribute to Robert Thompson that, although he has won more races than any other jockey in Australia, his elevated standing in the sport has as much to do about the type of person he is than it has to do with his achievements on the track…. Read More »
The racing world was rife last week of rumours that co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams and leading owner-breeder Bob Peters were set to split after the Ascot Masters. Peters and the Williams’ are on the verge of creating an historic treble on Saturday with Western Empire the raging favourite to… Read More »
With wet weather predicted to sweep across Sydney’s west, last Saturday’s bottomless Heavy 10 Rosehill surface looks bound to re-emerge. The expected downpour has impacted total nominations (149) with the deadline being extended to Tuesday, 11am. While there is no stakes racing on offer at Rosehill on Saturday, the competitive… Read More »
The Kurt Goldman-trained Hokahey has only missed a drum once in seven starts to date, including winning her past two, and the Goulburn-based trainer is asking her to take the next step when she tackles the Highway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday. After shedding the maiden tag over the mile… Read More »
Even as they count down the days to what would be an historic victory if Western Empire wins the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic in Perth on Saturday, it has been announced that the current, all-conquering relationship between trainers Grant and Alana Williams and millionaire owner Bob Peters will change… Read More »
Tiffani Brooker just laughs when she is referred to as the leading Polytrack rider in Queensland … with good reason obviously as the first and, to date, only meeting on the Polytrack surface took place at the Sunshine Coast on Friday night. Feedback on the new track, coming from Brooker… Read More »
Melbourne’s fickle weather could determine how many runners Archie Alexander has in the final feature Cup race of the year. Alexander plans on starting Mosh Music in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Saturday and if wet stablemate Pappalino will also be a contender. Pappalino ran seventh in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on November 20 in a… Read More »
When he received the news early last week that his application for a riding licence in Singapore for next season had been approved, Jake Bayliss acknowledged that it was such a momentous moment in his life that he cried. Talking nearly a week later, that emotion is still raw and… Read More »
At the start of the month more than a few eyebrows were raised when the name R Fradd appeared in the jockey line-up at the Rockhampton meeting on November 5. There were a couple of reasons why the high profile, highly accomplished, highly competitive metropolitan jockey made the trip north… Read More »
It was always going to happen, of course but, nevertheless, placing those first wins on the board since relocating to Queensland was an important marker for jockey Samantha Collett. Collett brought a glowing resume with her when she arrived in the Sunshine State. With a Jockey’s Premiership title in New… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable has landed their second Jericho Cup with Wil John prevailing in Australia’s longest flat race. Run through the paddocks of Warrnambool racecourse, the scene of Australia’s longest race, the Grand Annual Steeplechase, the Jericho Cup (4600m) was being held for the fourth time on Sunday. Maher and Eustace… Read More »
Still flushed from a trifecta of Group 1 wins during the spring, Annabel Neasham is already turning her thoughts to the next chapter as she mulls autumn plans for Zaaki and Mo’Unga. The pair have provided all five of the young trainer’s elite-level victories, Mo’unga in the Rosehill Guineas and Winx Stakes,… Read More »
A legend bid farewell, a stunning Group l winner at Ascot again and the Golden Eagle form stood up. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’. KEY NEWS: Legend Calls Time Glen Boss, the best big race rider in Australia of… Read More »
The racing industry has not been immune to the challenges presented by the global pandemic but one light it has shined on the sport is the benefit of resting metropolitan racetracks. Officials were forced to shift meetings away from LGAs of concern during the winter and early spring, relocating them… Read More »
