Chris Waller made a clean-sweep of Australia’s four Group One races on Saturday when Come Play With Me claimed the $750,000 Metropolitan at Randwick. Come Play With Me prevailed in a driving finish to the 2400m staying test, beating Gallic Chieftain and Sir Charles Road. Waller had earlier trained Funstar… Read More »
Kolding beat off a late charge from Te Akau Shark to win the $1m G1 TAB Epsom (1600m) with three lengths back to the third placed Star Of The Seas. Glen Boss (Kolding): “You always have plans, there is A, B and C, but it’s just about trusting the animal really…. Read More »
Melody Belle has become the first horse to win New Zealand’s spring triple crown at Hastings and staked her claim for the Cox Plate. The mare ran out an easy winner of Saturday’s Livamol Classic over 2040 metres, the same distance as Australasia’s weight-for-age championship in three weeks. Her jockey… Read More »
Verry Elleegant has returned to winning form with a last-gasp victory in the Hill Stakes at Randwick, putting herself back in the frame for the major spring races. Trainer Chris Waller said the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup were back on the table after the mare nailed Samadoubt in the… Read More »
The addition of blinkers has brought out the best in Warning with the gelding breaking through for his maiden win at Flemington. Success in Saturday’s Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) resulted in Warning having his price slashed from $51 to $11 for the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November… Read More »
The Everest picture has changed significantly with Brutal now a leading market contender despite Hawkes Racing refusing to count him in the mix after his Premiere Stakes win at Randwick. The Doncaster Mile winner made his return and a big impression in Saturday’s Group Two race over the 1200m of… Read More »
Funstar has managed a feat that Winx could not and delivered trainer Chris Waller his first Group One Flight Stakes victory at Randwick. The filly made a one-act affair of a race that had been billed as a two-horse joust between Funstar and Probabeel but the winner had the New… Read More »
After struggling to fully adapt to racing in the anti-clockwise direction in her first two Melbourne appearances, talented mare Haut Brion Her has bounced back to winning ways and shown her class with a dominant performance in the Blazer Stakes at Flemington. Haut Brion Her stamped herself as a horse… Read More »
Taraayef has returned to winning form with a hard-fought narrow victory over the straight course at Flemington. Saturday’s victory in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) was the filly’s first start at Flemington after earlier victories at Sandown and Moonee Valley. Ridden by Jye McNeil, Taraayef ($7) scored by a head… Read More »
The Chris Waller-trained Dealmaker has landed a consolation win after the gelding failed to qualify for the Epsom Handicap. The four-year-old had his 18th start at Randwick on Saturday where he placed first for only the second time – 481 days after his first win. Starting favourite at $3.50, Dealmaker… Read More »
Trainer Shawn Mathrick’s confidence in Rich Itch has been rewarded in the Listed Paris Lane Stakes at Flemington. Stepping up to 1400m for the first time in Saturday’s race, four-year-old gelding Rich Itch ($15) settled midfield under Dwayne Dunn before reeling in leader Romancer ($5.50) to win by a half-length…. Read More »
Chris Waller is more renowned for his patience with horses than as a trainer of two-year-olds but he is not immune to the instant gratification of winning juvenile races. Global Quest gave the premier trainer just his second win in the Listed Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday, two… Read More »
Baccarat Baby booked a ticket to Melbourne for the spring carnival after her first-up win in the Gallopers Sports Club Handicap at Eagle Farm. Trainer David Vandyke said the $1 million Group One Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares at Flemington on Derby Day will be her ultimate… Read More »
Trainer Grahame Begg has no doubt experience racing up the Flemington straight was a key ingredient to Mildred maintaining her unbeaten record at Flemington. A debut winner over 900m at Flemington on September 25, Mildred added the Listed Maribyrnong Stakes (1000m) to her record on Saturday. Her task was made… Read More »
Classy filly Gotta Kiss lived up to the hype and emerged as a genuine Magic Millions 2YO Classic contender after a dominant Eagle Farm win. Bought for $150,000 at this year’s Magic Millions sales, Gotta Kiss, the $3 favourite, won the TAB 2YO Fillies Plate (1000m) by 2-1/2 lengths. Trainer… Read More »
Popular Gundagai racing identity and former mayor Len Tozer has been honoured with the Simon Nivison Special Achievement Award at the annual presentations recognising excellence in NSW country and provincial racing. Tozer has been the secretary/manager of the Gundagai Race Club for 50 years. The Jenny Graham-trained Victorem, one of… Read More »
The path to another Melbourne Cup attempt continues for import Finche when the current favourite for this year’s $8 million race returns to Flemington for the Turnbull Stakes. The Chris Waller-trained Finche ran fourth in last year’s Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington at just his second Australian start and the… Read More »
Ahead of Surprise Baby’s bid to secure a Melbourne Cup berth, the TAB has taken a big bet on the lightly raced local stayer to win Australia’s most famous race. The Paul Preusker-trained gelding is in to $18 for the 2019 Melbourne Cup, with the TAB reporting one punter placed… Read More »
Doncaster Mile winner Brutal makes his highly anticipated spring return in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick and he is not there to make up the numbers. The Hawkes Racing four-year-old takes on Classique Legend, one of the top fancies for the $14 million Everest, and Osborne Bulls who will be… Read More »
A change in plans for two Everest contenders has led to the Group Two Gilgai Stakes at Flemington shaping as an important pointer to the $14 million sprint in Sydney. Heavy rain in the lead-up to The Shorts at Randwick two weeks ago prompted connections of both Santa Ana Lane… Read More »
