Gary Portelli can often find one or two horses who can fly under the radar. Like Kimochi last spring, Queen Of Clubs and Encap may be the pair who can boost his stable’s presence this carnival with aims to knock over more fancied rivals at double figure prices at Randwick… Read More »
Now Hong Kong-based jockey Hugh Bowman says he feels proud to get the call-up from Chris Waller to ride Aeliana in the final Cox Plate at Moonee Valley before the track undergoes a major redevelopment. Bowman and Waller famously combined with Winx to win the Cox Plate on four occasions,… Read More »
Co-trainer Mick Price has thrown his full support behind the decision to withdraw Globe from Saturday’s Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, describing it as “absolutely the correct call.” The talented gelding failed a mandatory trot-up before Racing Victoria veterinarians on Thursday, where he was being assessed for a known fetlock… Read More »
King Charles III might have spent a successful term at school near Geelong over half a century ago and it was thought that the horse who carried his colours may earn a spot in the Melbourne Cup with a win in the Geelong Cup, but it wasn’t to be after… Read More »
The Mark Walker trained Azazel is on his way to the Victoria Derby after jockey Michael Dee helped carry the son of Shocking to a narrow victory in the Listed Geelong Classic. In retrospect, the Azazel connections will have no gripes about the way the race unfolded … a win… Read More »
Zac Purton has responded to comments made by Maureen Haggas, wife of trainer of William Haggas, regarding the quality of Purton’s ride on Lake Forest in the King Charles 111 Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, in which the well supported second favourite finished last in the twelve-horse field. Haggas was… Read More »
After a near-miss last year, Aaron Bain is bullish about victory in his hometown Gawler Cup on Friday with big-ticket tried horse purchase Dual Pressure. Bain, who trains out of the iconic Angaston Park in the Barossa Valley in partnership with Ned Taylor, went within half a length of Cup… Read More »
Champion jockey James McDonald has confirmed his ride for this year’s Melbourne Cup, with the superstar hoop set to partner Meydaan in the famous Flemington two-mile feature. The news was first reported by racing broadcaster Gareth Hall on X, confirming that McDonald has been booked for the prized ride in… Read More »
The Moonee Valley Gold Cup has always played a vital role in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup. While winners of both races in the same year are rare, the Moonee Valley Gold Cup has traditionally provided its victor with a handicap penalty, taking them a step closer to gaining… Read More »
Blake Shinn says you need a champion to win the Cox Plate and is hoping Antino is that horse. The Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday has long been regarded as Australia’s weight-for-age championship and Shinn believes he is on the right horse to give him his first win in… Read More »
Last year’s Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator will no longer target back-to-back wins in the race. Following the postponement of the bulk of the Geelong Cup meeting yesterday (now rescheduled for today), trainer Brian Ellison has opted to scratch Onesmoothoperator from the Geelong Cup and switch the target to the Moonee… Read More »
Joe Pride is much happier with Attica’s condition than he is with the barrier he drew in this Saturday’s $2 million Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick. The colt was allocated gate 13 when starting positions were determined but will come into 12 if the emergency Pinot Nero fails to gain a… Read More »
Caulfield Cup winning father-and-son training duo Tony and Calvin McEvoy have their eyes on a few more Group 1 prizes before the end of the spring carnival. Half Yours provided the McEvoy’s with their maiden Caulfield Cup victory and is heading to the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4…. Read More »
The Cox Plate field is down to eight following the scratching of Globe on veterinary advice. The Mick Price and Michael Kent-trained galloper had been under a fitness cloud of running in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday following a Sleip Test on Monday. A Sleip Test uses… Read More »
Lindermann would not be out of place in Saturday’s $6 million Group 1 Cox Plate, but Chris Waller has no regrets about keeping Lindermann in Sydney this campaign. The six-year-old will be out to continue his spring resurgence when he chases a second-straight win in the $750,000 Group 3 Craven Plate (1800m)… Read More »
High winds have called an end to the Geelong Cup meeting with the remaining races to be conducted on Thursday. Racing was halted on Wednesday after three races, initially with an indefinite delay, before the meeting was postponed just after 3pm. Racing Victoria, in consultation with the Geelong Racing, Sky… Read More »
Wednesday’s Geelong Cup meeting has been abandoned due to dangerous wind conditions. The popular regional event had been set for a nine-race card, but worsening weather conditions made it unsafe to continue. Stewards made the call to stop proceedings following escalating wind gusts that exceeded safe limits for both riders… Read More »
Trainer Michael Freedman is convinced San Giovanni will relish the rise in distance when he steps out in a Group 1 contest at Randwick. The Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) on Saturday will be San Giovanni’s fourth start of his campaign, and potentially last, with an autumn campaign in mind. A late comer… Read More »
Ciaron Maher concedes Light Infantry Man needs to lift to win the Cox Plate. However, the last time the gelding raced in Victoria, Light Infantry Man collected the Group 1 Australian Cup in a tough run 2000m at Flemington in March. That is what Maher is hoping for again on Saturday when… Read More »
Sir Delius will not contest this Saturday’s Craven Plate at Randwick, with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott electing to spell the imported stallion. The five-year-old son of Frankel was nominated for the $750,000 Group 3 contest after he was last week sensationally ruled out of the Victorian Spring Carnival by… Read More »
