One Sydney colt has been scratched from the Caulfield Guineas Prelude but another will be out to show why he’s so highly rated when he makes his Melbourne debut. Evacuation tackles Saturday’s 1400m Group Three Prelude at Caulfield, with his co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott convinced the race is… Read More »
When Zero to Ten jumps at Rosehill he will be an outsider, but punters in a NSW town almost 370km away will back him past the post no matter what race it is. With only five horse in the Group Three Colin Stephen Queen’s Cup on Saturday, Gundagai-based Zero To… Read More »
Jade Da Rose almost completed a fairytale start to her new dual career at Mornington. The Cranbourne-based horsewoman finished second aboard Parwan Prince, a horse she also trains for her parents and a few friends on Thursday. Da Rose, along with Michelle Payne and Rhonda Mangan, was last month granted… Read More »
Godolphin’s sparkling start to the Australian racing year could be the first sign they are beginning to peg back the dominance of Chris Waller. Sheikh Mohammed’s big money operation had three elite-level wins last season, lagging behind Sydney’s premier trainer Waller who plundered 15 Group One races. But Godolphin’s early… Read More »
UNDERWOOD STAKES Group One, $500,000, 1800m, weight-for-age HISTORY First run in 1924 when known as Williamstown Stakes. A good lead-up to the Cox Plate. Significant winners include: Whittier (1924/25), Phar Lap (1931), Ajax (1938-39-40), Lord (1958), Rain Lover (1969), So Called (1978), Sovereign Red (1981), Bonecrusher (1986), Jeune (1994), Octagonal… Read More »
Colin Little is a trainer known for his patience. When lightly raced mare Jalan Jalan was showing signs all was not well he decided to back off and wait. The time is now right for Jalan Jalan to make her return in Saturday’s Alfred Hospital Plate at Caulfield. For two… Read More »
As Lucia Valentina gets older her trainer Kris Lees believes he has found a new winning formula. It won the mare a Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in the autumn and it could give her a Cox Plate this spring. An important stepping stone for Lucia Valentina’s Cox Plate bid… Read More »
SIR RUPERT CLARKE STAKES $500,000, Group One, Handicap, 1400m at Caulfield HISTORY Registered name Invitation Stakes and first run in 1951. Significant winners include Matrice (1955), Tauto (1970-71), Cap D’Antibes (1975), Raffindale (1977), Manikato (1978), Magari (1982), Canny Lass (1986), Mannerism (1992), Encosta De Lago (1996), Testa Rossa (1999-2000) and… Read More »
Craig Williams’ first win in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 11 years ago added another chapter to a family history in the race. The jockey has since added another four victories in the 1400m Group One handicap at Caulfield in the past decade and is favourite to win it again… Read More »
Denmagic is the horse that represents rejuvenation for trainer David Pfieffer. Some of the stable’s leading lights including Group Two winner Cradle Me, Atmospherical, who was fifth in last year’s Oakleigh Plate, and Inside Job have been retired or transferred to other trainers in the past year. Denmagic gets the… Read More »
Samara Dancer can emulate an elder sibling by winning a Guineas Prelude at Caulfield, but her trainer Phillip Stokes hopes she can do even better in her Group One finale two weeks later. The premier Adelaide trainer believes Samara Dancer has improved going into Saturday’s Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) after… Read More »
Group-winning colt Good Standing has been scratched from the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and will remain in Sydney to run in the Stan Fox Stakes. The James Cummings-trained colt was a dual acceptor for the 1400m Group Three race at Caulfield and the 1500m Group Two event at Rosehill on Saturday…. Read More »
A second round acceptor for this years Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup has died after suffering an injury at track work. Orbec who ran fourth in last years Metropolitan and was runner up in last years Newcastle Cup was euthanised on the track following an in jury incurred during routine… Read More »
Stradbroke Handicap winner Under The Louvre will miss the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. A wide draw combined with top weight of 58kg in Saturday’s race has forced trainer Robert Smerdon to come up with plan B Under The Louvre will instead head to Sydney on Saturday week for… Read More »
