Robert Heathcote can train his 80th stakes winner on Saturday and it would be apt if it was in the Listed Brisbane Handicap. Heathcote will have three runners in the Brisbane Handicap field – Zafonic Dancer, Kubis and Cool Chap – in the $125,000, race over 1600m at Doomben. In… Read More »
Trainer Matt Cumani has opted for the longer of two options with staying mare Etah James, who will take her place in the Pakenham Cup. Besides Saturday’s Listed race over 2500m, Cumani also has the mare nominated in the 2000m Werribee Cup on Sunday. After finishing sixth over 2800m at… Read More »
Queensland’s integrity chief Ross Barnett says he is disappointed by the number of positive results from random drug and alcohol testing at tracks throughout the state. Barnett says while it is encouraging that 95 per cent of participants have been doing the right thing, some continue to break the rules…. Read More »
James Cummings and Godolphin have two final chances of leaving Perth with a Group One in the Kingston Town Classic at Ascot. Six Godolphin horses travelled to Perth for the the summer carnival but so far they have yet to trouble the scorer. They had three unplaced runners in last… Read More »
The cut-off point to qualify for the 2020 Magic Millions Classic looks likely to be at least $50,000 after the first order of entry was released this week. The 16th qualifier on the list has $29,600 but 14 of the two-year-olds already have $49,000 or more. Nearly 20 two-year-old races… Read More »
Eagle Farm trainer Barry Baldwin hopes to avoid surgery on a broken right ankle he injured at a recent trials day. Baldwin was leading a horse at the Doomben trials two weeks ago when he went over on the ankle. “I gave it a knock but didn’t think much of… Read More »
Damian Lane will be reunited with Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux when she has her last race in the Arima Kinen in Japan. Although short-term licences have been issued for 2019, the JRA has made an exception for Lane who spent some time riding in Japan earlier this year. Ten… Read More »
Leading South African trainer Mike de Kock plans to export two of the country’s best horses to Australia ahead of opening a stable in Victoria. Soqrat and Hawwaam are in the top five horses in South Africa and are set to leave next month to come to Australia via England…. Read More »
Tough Brisbane stayer Fighting Teo is headed to Sydney for the Christmas Cup after his brave third at Doomben. Fighting Teo led for most of Saturday’s race before being run down in the final 50m by Man To Match and Dawson Diva in the Hamilton Hotel Handicap (2030m). Trainer Kevin… Read More »
Trainer Mike Moroney has decided to extend Chapada’s campaign to take in the Listed Pakenham Cup and possibly more. The four-year-old has won one race from his 14 starts, a Wangaratta maiden, and needs to increase his profile if he is to get into bigger races in the autumn and… Read More »
South Australian stewards have cleared in-form jockey Barend Vorster of any wrong doing following a complaint from an owner alleging a ride was incompetent, highly questionable or corrupt. Stewards held an inquiry following contact from Mark Hoare, the managing owner of the Paul Preusker-trained Marcel From Madrid, expressing concern over… Read More »
Trainer Matthew Smith hopes he can transfer the good vibes from his stellar spring to the summer with his eye on the $2 million Magic Millions Classic with Kerrisdale. The Smith-trained Fierce Impact won two Group One races in Melbourne within three weeks, the Toorak Handicap on October 16 and… Read More »
There is no such thing as a good thing in racing as trainer Grahame Begg knows only too well. Begg took three-year-old Busby to Benalla for a maiden on November 22, expecting the return journey to be a joyous one. Busby was backed as if unbeatable, firming from $2.30 to… Read More »
Disqualified trainer Ben Currie is listed to appear in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal where he will seek to overturn two convictions for bringing racing into disrepute. He originally faced more than 40 charges, half of which have been resolved with many the subject of appeals. Twenty one of… Read More »
Winx will be celebrated with another race in her name with the Group Three Sunshine Coast Guineas to honour the champion who began her sequence of 33 wins in the Group Three race. The now-retired Winx won the 2015 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m), producing a devastating burst of speed from… Read More »
A field of 16 has been accepted for the final Group One race of the year, the Kingston Town Stakes at Ascot. Of the 16 horses in Saturday’s $1 million, 1800m Kingston Town Classic in Perth, four are trained in the eastern states. Tally and Best Of Days represent Godolphin… Read More »
Jack Laing will need a bigger property if he is to train the majority of horses formerly in the care of his father Robbie. The Racing Victoria Board last week did not approve Robbie Laing’s trainers’ licence because of financial difficulties he is currently facing, forcing him to transfer horses… Read More »
Australia’s lone representative at the annual International meeting in Hong Kong, In Her Time, has arrived safely ahead of her bid to win the Sprint. Sunday’s meeting has attracted a strong line-up of international runners but will be without Japanese star Almond Eye who spiked a temperature and did not… Read More »
Queensland’s drought-stricken communities will receive more than $50,000 after a fund-raising initiative by Racing Queensland at the weekend. With the help of four corporate bookmakers, RQ raised $52,600 which will be donated to the QCWA’s Public Rural Crisis Fund. The initiative, dubbed “1 For The Bush” involved $1000 being donated… Read More »
Lindsay Park senior trainer David Hayes says it would be nice to win a Pakenham Cup from his new base before he departs for Hong Kong. Hayes returns to Hong Kong in the middle of next year and will leave the current Lindsay Park training operation in the hands of… Read More »
