Napoleonic has scored a timely win at Warwick Farm just a day after Coolmore confirmed the death of his sire, top shuttle stallion Wootton Bassett. Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, Napoleonic accounted for a handy field in Wednesday’s CHC Powering the Chase Handicap (1200m) to back up his maiden… Read More »
Jockey Blake Shinn was struggling to hold his emotions together after guiding Enchanted Jenni home at Sandown to provide his partner Lucy Yeomans with her maiden victory. Yeomans branched out on her own last month after ending her training partnership she had been in with Lloyd Kennewell and Enchanted Jenni was only her… Read More »
The field size may be the same for Tom Kitten’s second run for the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable, but they are expecting an entirely differently run race. Tom Kitten heads to the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley having finished fifth first-up in the Group 1 Makybe… Read More »
Rivellino might be one of the outsiders of the select Golden Rose field but trainer Kris Lees is satisfied the colt has been building nicely towards his major spring targets. The first of those comes at Rosehill on Saturday in the $1 million showpiece where he arrives off a first-up fourth to… Read More »
Co-trainer Troy Corstens has the taste of Group 1 glory and would like to savoir that taste again. Baraqiel, prepared by Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin, won the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 6 and returns to The Valley on Friday night looking… Read More »
Michael Freedman is content with his decision to wait a week to kick off the spring campaign of Golden Slipper winner Marhoona as she prepares to return in the Heritage Stakes at Rosehill. The filly was scratched from The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick last Saturday, taken out impressively by Joliestar, and Freedman… Read More »
Mark Du Plessis will have two rides at Eagle Farm today as he takes another step in his measured return to race riding following an eleven-week, injury enforced layoff. In the immediate aftermath of shocking four horse fall at Ipswich on July 3, it was clear that Mark Du Plessis… Read More »
The race towards the $6 million Cox Plate is heating up, with just 30 horses left in contention following the second acceptance stage on Tuesday. The list has been trimmed from the initial 107 nominations, with several notable withdrawals shaping the complexion of the springâs weight-for-age championship. Notably absent are… Read More »
Lady Shenandoah will make her Melbourne debut under the spotlight of the Group 1 Manikato Stakes, but the Sydney mareâs introduction comes with a hurdle after drawing the widest gate. The Chris Waller-trained star will jump from barrier 10 in the $2 million Moonee Valley feature on Friday night as… Read More »
Sad news has struck the thoroughbred world with the passing of champion stallion Wootton Bassett at Coolmore Australia. The sire suffered from choke and subsequently developed acute pneumonia, which deteriorated rapidly. Despite intensive around-the-clock care from a team of veterinarians led by Dr Nathan Slovis of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute,… Read More »
Trainer Rob Heathcote is hoping September 26 is a happier date for evergreen sprinter Rothfire. The last time Rothfire raced on September 26 was back in 2020 when he broke down with a serious sesamoid injury when leading in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill. A lesser horse… Read More »
Aidan OâBrienâs highly regarded Melbourne Cup contender will not be making the trip to Australia this spring. Racing journalist Michael Felgate revealed on The Verdict podcast that Scandinavia, one of OâBrienâs leading hopes, has been withdrawn from Cup consideration. âItâll become public over the next 24 hours,â Felgate said. The… Read More »
Melbourne Cup hopeful Trav has secured his passage to Australia following a strong showing over 2100m at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Bulls-based gelding, returning to the Auckland track for the first time since capturing the Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) in March, produced a run that echoed his staying qualities…. Read More »
Highly promising filly Tempted is set to use Saturdayâs Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) as a potential audition for Godolphinâs coveted slot in The Everest (1200m). The daughter of Godolphin, now under the guidance of Ciaron Maher, made an eye-catching return with victory in the Group 2 Run To… Read More »
Godolphin filly Tempted will put her credentials on the line for a spot in The Everest when she lines up in the Golden Rose at Rosehill. With the Godolphin slot still up for grabs in the Group 1 The Everest at Randwick on October 18, the racing and breeding giant is… Read More »
Respected country trainer Brett Cavanough has officially entered into a training partnership, with his daughter Georgie joining him at the helm of their Hunter Valley stable. Cavanough, who has prepared close to 1200 winners from his successful Scone operation, will now share the family business under the new partnership banner…. Read More »
Half Yours has strengthened his claim for the $5 million Caulfield Cup, with Racing Victoria issuing the co-favourite a 1.5kg penalty for his emphatic victory in Saturdayâs Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained stayer will now carry 52.5kg in next monthâs feature after producing… Read More »
Superstar Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising, the odds-on favourite for this year’s The Everest, has arrived safely in Sydney. The David Hayes-trained speedster touched down mid-morning on Monday in what was the biggest step in his quest towards the $20 million sprint at Randwick on October 18. The son… Read More »
Star mare Pride Of Jenni will return to The Valley under lights on Friday night, chasing consecutive victories in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes but she will need to topple star mare Treasurethe Moment who has been installed as the $1.50 favourite with online bookies. Ciaron Maherâs front-running eight-year-old hasnât… Read More »
Lady Shenandoah has been acquainted with the stage that will this weekend be the scene of her first start in Melbourne. The Chris Waller-trained star on Monday morning had a low-key familiarisation gallop around the Moonee Valley circuit, which will host the $2 million Manikato Stakes on Friday night. Waller was… Read More »
