A horse David Hayes bought because of comparisons to 2014 Cox Plate winner Adelaide gets his chance to do what three high-profile members of his family could not in Australasia’s premier weight-for-age race. Still a three-year-old to northern hemisphere time, Cape Of Good Hope runs in Saturday’s $5 million Cox… Read More »
The Phillip Stokes-trained Mr Quickie has been passed fit to race on Cox Plate day at The Valley in either the feature race if he gains a start or the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. Mr Quickie had to be re-examined by a Racing Victoria veterinarian on Friday after presenting with… Read More »
Trainer Lauren Abbott is confident she has found the key to Follow Suit as the gelding tries to transfer his good north Queensland form into a metropolitan win at Eagle Farm. Follow Suit is one of several stayers leading North Queensland owner Tom Hedley bought from trainer Chris Waller to… Read More »
The current Moonee Valley Cup favourite and second emergency for the Cox Plate, Mr Quickie has passed a vet examination this morning. Mr Quickie was re-examined by vets this morning after he presented with lameness in his left front yesterday but he is now cleared to line-up in the Cox… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have adopted a slow and steady approach with Faretti and the training partners believe the time is now right for the superbly bred colt to make his mark. A $2 million yearling, the son of top stallion I Am Invincible was kept on ice for… Read More »
Sydney trainer John Thompson is happy to forget Dreamforce’s Epsom Handicap failure and believes the well-performed gelding can bounce back in the Group Two Crystal Mile at The Valley. The seven-year-old was one of the market leaders in the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 5 but… Read More »
Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote aims to continue his good form by making it two wins in a week with two-year-olds raced by boutique breeders Gleeson Thoroughbreds. Heathcote produced promising youngster Rothfire who won on debut at Eagle Farm last Saturday. He bought Rothfire from Gleeson Thoroughbreds in a private sale… Read More »
Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien will saddle his first Australian runner away from Flemington when Downdraft runs at The Valley. O’Brien won the 2017 Melbourne Cup with Rekindling and also saddled US Army Ranger in that race. He returned last year with Latrobe who ran second to Trap For Fools… Read More »
Black Heart Bart has made a remarkable return from retirement to once again make his mark at racing’s elite level as a nine-year-old. His jockey Brad Rawiller has made his own significant comeback, returning to race riding almost five months after suffering injuries including neck fractures in a race fall… Read More »
A maiden boasting form behind some of Sydney’s best three-year-old sprinters will bid to deliver Hawkes Racing its second Brian Crowley Stakes in as many years. Twelve months after winning the Listed 1200-metre race with Diplomatico, trainers John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes will saddle up Dirty Work against six rivals…. Read More »
Jockey James McDonald needs Verry Elleegant to be on her best behaviour when she runs at The Valley for the first time in the Cox Plate. And after galloping her twice at the track, McDonald is confident she is in the right frame of mind. Trainer Chris Waller is chasing… Read More »
With an eye on next year’s autumn carnival, trainer John Thompson has brought promising three-year-old Battenburg from Sydney to Melbourne for a feature race and trip away to help season the colt. Battenburg is the early $2.60 favourite for Saturday’s Group Two Vase at The Valley on the undercard to… Read More »
The daunting prospect of taking on two horses considered worthy of tackling a Cox Plate has persuaded Kris Lees to resist the prize money in Melbourne and keep Attention Run closer to home. The imported mare is a dual acceptor in two states but Lees has confirmed she will line… Read More »
Arcadia Queen will run in the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle unless she gives trainer Chris Waller a reason to pull the pin. After beating only Irish visitor Ten Sovereigns home as the $5 favourite in the $14 million Everest, trainer Chris Waller confirmed the classy mare would head to… Read More »
Veteran sprinter Keen Array has trialled well enough to indicate he is getting back near his Group-winning form as prepares for the Brisbane summer carnival. Keen Array makes his return to racing against an above average off-season sprint field in Saturday’s Tomra Open (1000m) at Eagle Farm. The now seven-year-old… Read More »
Cox Plate-winning jockey Michael Rodd is making a hit-and-run visit to Melbourne to partner a former Singapore Horse of the Year at The Valley. The ex-pat Australian, now in his fifth season riding in Singapore, won the Cox Plate in 2008 on Maldivian and partners Debt Agent in the Group… Read More »
Some owners search their whole lives for a Cox Plate runner. Former Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen has found one with his first racehorse. The rugby league great part-owns Te Akau Shark and will travel down to Melbourne to watch the Jamie Richards-trained New Zealander run in the weight-for-age Group… Read More »
The decision not to pursue a Victoria Derby preparation with Just Thinkin’ could result in a $1 million pay day if he can justify his favouritism and win the inaugural Bondi Stakes. While a Derby shot was entertained by trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, they felt the horse would… Read More »
Mr Quickie is in doubt for a start at The Valley after he was found to be lame in his near foreleg. The Phillip Stokes-trained four-year-old is the second emergency for Saturday’s Cox Plate (2040m) and is also an acceptor in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m). Racing Victoria stewards… Read More »
Craig Williams was already on a weight loss program for the spring when he threw his hand up for the ride on Castelvecchio in the Cox Plate 2019. Castelvecchio is the only three-year-old in Saturday’s $5 million weight-for-age feature and carries 49.5kg. Williams says he feels great having already achieved… Read More »
