Beware of the young guns who have no fear and have nothing to lose. Of course they are up against it when they tackle quality horses trained by top Group 1 winning trainers ridden by some of the best jockeys in the land, but the old adage of ‘if you… Read More »
What do you do when you’ve got a Group 2-winning mare by your own star stallion in one of the most competitive broodmare sales in the world but can’t bring yourself to say goodbye? You assemble a posse and buy her back for $2.4 million. That’s exactly what Widden Stud’s… Read More »
When Port Guillaume first arrived from France in 2020, big things were expected for the stayer who was among the nominations for the Cups. But soon after joining Lindsay Park, the stayer was ruled out of that spring with bone bruising, requiring a stint in the paddock. After a mixture of… Read More »
WA racing will receive its biggest-ever uplift with a three-year financial commitment, which will see an extra $30 million in recurring funding by 2025. Strong revenue growth and careful financial management has allowed Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) to raise funding for all three codes of racing and provide… Read More »
Cranbourne trainer John Price has William Thomas back in his care as he strives to get the sprinter back into winning form. William Thomas lines up in the Martin Collins Polytrack Plate (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday having returned to Price’s stable following a stint with Lindsey Smith at Warrnambool. The rising eight-year-old won… Read More »
If Victorian gelding Ballet Master acquits himself well at Randwick, he will be transferred to a new trainer, and he will do so with the blessing of his current conditioner Chris Hyland. Ballet Master enjoys rain-affected tracks and Hyland figures he is more chance of striking them consistently in Sydney this winter… Read More »
The initial signs suggest the gelding operation performed on Jigsaw has worked but trainer Cindy Alderson wants to see continued improvement from the sprinter. After showing above average potential, Jigsaw was sent for the ‘unkindest cut of all’ at the conclusion of his last campaign, in November. A first-up fifth at… Read More »
The Group 1 Queensland Derby will be the first time Global Ausbred is exposed to stakes racing, but his progression thus far has given trainer Brad Widdup the confidence to aim high. The colt is bred to be a classic contender, being by Maurice, the sire of dual Derby winner Hitotsu, out… Read More »
Sweet Dolly … sweet by name, sweet by the pleasure she gave, sweet by financial return. While the big names runners like Away Game and Tofane, with their big-name players, were hogging the headlines at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale … with those horses changing hands for $4 million… Read More »
There are several possible scenarios at Eagle Farm on Saturday in which certain runners can reimpose their presence in the record books. Zaaki is obviously the prime contender for that as the Annabel Neasham trained star looks to land a second successive Doomben Cup victory. The Robert Heathcote trained Emerald… Read More »
Having bided his time on the provincial and country circuits, promising young apprentice Dylan Gibbons is set to become a familiar face in town over the coming weeks. The 20-year-old has already given an insight into his talents, snaring a Group 3 win aboard Festival Dancer at the feature Hunter meeting on… Read More »
If it was any other mare, Ciaron Maher might be slightly concerned with Away Game’s preparation leading up to this Saturday’s Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm. The iron mare will run in the $700,000 Group 1 just four days after being sold for $4 million at the Magic Millions… Read More »
For some, like the connections of wet track horses and mudlarks, the chance of racing being to their advantage on a heavy Doomben track surface disappeared when the meeting was postponed last Saturday. For others, who had an overall preference to race at Doomben … whenever … because it better… Read More »
Speedy filly Dance Session made the best possible start after a stable change when she led from start to finish and won the Rhonda Worthington Handicap (1000m) at Belmont on Wednesday by a half-length. Dance Session made her first appearance for Mitchell Pateman following a short tenure under Jim Taylor and… Read More »
Three Royal Ascot bound Australian sprinters will have their last serious piece of work in a jump-out at Flemington before their departure for the UK. The Chris Waller-trained pair of Nature Strip and Home Affairs will be joined by the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Artorius in the specially arrange 900m hit-out down the… Read More »
James Mcdonald’s quest to land his 100th Sydney metropolitan win of the season will have to wait for another day after he fell just short at Canterbury. The champion jockey had the milestone in his sights with victory aboard the Chris Waller-trained Tinnie Winnie in the third race on Wednesday,… Read More »
Matthew Dunn has classic aspirations for juvenile filly Veandechance, who has overcome a pre-race hiccup to post her maiden victory at Canterbury. The two-year-old not only lost a shoe on the way to the starting stalls and had to be replated behind the gates, but also hurt part of her… Read More »
Expanding his buying spree of young horses overseas has landed Peter Moody a debut winner at Sale. English-bred three-year-old gelding Insulation took out the Gippsland Times Plate (1717m) on Wednesday to continue Moody’s foray into buying young stock from Europe. In 2016 Moody purchased five youngsters from the Tattersall’s Foal Sale… Read More »
Having convinced trainer Kris Lees he deserved a shot at the Queensland Derby, improving three-year-old Ting Tong will face a fresh challenge after drawing an outside gate. The son of Epaulette booked his passage north with a strong second to Oaks contender Aravene over 2000m at Rosehill on Saturday, showing… Read More »
“Thank God!” That was James McDonald’s response when it was put to him that Zaaki will have firmer footing to race on at Eagle Farm on Saturday in the Doomben Cup than he would have had if the (now postponed) meeting had gone ahead on the heavy surface at Doomben… Read More »
