In early October trainer Robert Heathcote stated quite emphatically that he had faith in Rothfire and Abounding, his two runners who were targeting interstate assignments. Nine days later Rothfire won the $2 million Group 2, Sydney Stakes at Randwick at double figure odds and Abounding romped home as a well-supported… Read More »
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and Jd Hayes may not have the same Victoria Derby Day firepower as their father once had, but they are looking at hopefully walking away with a major prize that has eluded the stable. In his first year after taking over from his father Colin at… Read More »
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 »
We’re set for a huge Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington, with a strong nine-race undercard to support the race that stops a nation on Tuesday. The opener features 14 youngsters accepted for the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate, won last year by Lindsay Park with Tycoon Star. The Hayes team returns… 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 »
Tony Gollan has confirmed that Antino’s spring preparation has come to an end. The star Queensland galloper was well below his best in last Saturday’s Cox Plate, finishing almost eight lengths from the winner. Gollan released a statement on X to clarify the situation, revealing that Antino has since undergone… Read More »
Yulong has secured a 50 per cent stake in exciting filly Well Written, who will continue to race under the guidance of Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh. The powerhouse racing and breeding operation moved to invest following the Written Tycoon filly’s dominant Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) victory, which followed her… Read More »
They say ‘don’t bet on the weather’ but punters on this years Melbourne Cup will be doing just that with the early weather forecast for heavy rain which is set to determine the winner of this years $10m race. Rain is on the way for Melbourne’s famous first Tuesday in… Read More »
The countdown to the Melbourne Cup has taken another twist, with several key contenders facing fresh veterinary scrutiny in the days leading up to final acceptances. Absurde, Flatten The Curve, Goodie Two Shoes and Interpretation are under a Melbourne Cup cloud following physical examinations on Thursday. The four Cup contenders… Read More »
Joao Moreira, widely regarded as one of the world’s elite jockeys, will return to Flemington on Tuesday in a bid to win the Melbourne Cup at the seventh attempt. The 42-year-old will partner the Chris Waller-trained outsider Land Legend, who has finished last at his past two starts in the… 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 »
Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup (2400m) winner Sayedaty Sadaty now needs just one horse above him in the Melbourne Cup Order of Entry to withdraw or not accept to secure a start in Tuesday’s race at Flemington. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has not received a weight penalty for his one-length Bendigo Cup… 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 »
New Zealand stayer Mark Twain will not take his place in this year’s Melbourne Cup, with connections opting to send the gelding to the paddock following his run in Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup. The Roger James & Roger Wellwood-trained runner performed below expectations in the Group 3 feature, prompting the stable… Read More »
