Blake Shinn turned down the mount on Warwick Stakes favourite First Seal to partner Pornichet because he regards the Gai Waterhouse-trained horse as racing’s next potential superstar. Shinn was the regular rider of First Seal throughout her three-year-old season and admits it was a tough call to forego the first-up… Read More »
A runaway barrier trial win has boosted trainer Phillip Stokes’ hopes of Eclair Choice running a big race first-up in the Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley. Eclair Choice sped to a 6-1/2 length win in a trial on a heavy track at Morphettville on August 7, clocking easily the fastest… Read More »
Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh will have their cobalt charges heard by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board commencing on November 30. The pair, along with veterinarian Dr Tom Brennan, faced a directions hearing before the RAD Board on Wednesday where the date was set. The two trainers were charged… Read More »
Impressive Flemington debut winner Most Wanted has finally been sold to Hong Kong. Most Wanted was on the verge of being sold to Hong Kong last month, resulting in the gelding being scratched on two occasions from city meetings. The sale eventually fell through and Most Wanted made his debut… Read More »
Dual Group One winner Trust In A Gust will miss the spring as he undergoes surgery to remove a bone chip. Trainer Darren Weir ordered extensive tests on the five-year-old after his disappointing first-up seventh in the Aurie’s Star Handicap on August 8. X-rays found a chip in a stifle… Read More »
Trainer Garry Frazer believes his consistent mare Campania deserves a win in Listed company. The Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury on Thursday at her home track will be the 10th start of the mare’s preparation which kicked off way back in February. “She’s very tough, very honest and puts in all… Read More »
A softly, softly approach with star galloper Teronado will get its first major test at Doomben. Much of the interest at Saturday’s Doomben meeting will centre on the return of stakes-winning gallopers Rudy and Kingdoms. But just as important will be the performance of Group One-placed Teronado, who will be… Read More »
Dual Group One winner Trust In A Gust will miss the spring to undergo surgery to have a bone chip removed. Trainer Darren Weir ordered tests on the five-year-old after his disappointing seventh in the Aurie’s Star Handicap earlier this month. “Sadly injury has sidelined Trust In A Gust for… Read More »
Trainers Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh face two sittings before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Wednesday. The RAD Board will firstly hold a directions hearing into cobalt charges laid by Racing Victoria stewards against the pair. The board will also hear an appeal by the trainers over the… Read More »
A positive test to cocaine has landed apprentice jockey Tom Sadler a four-month suspension. Sadler tested positive to the banned substance at the Swan Hill meeting on July 27 and again after Caulfield trackwork the following morning. Apprenticed to his father John, Sadler pleaded guilty to two charges of having… Read More »
Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist will kick off his assault on the spring carnival when he resumes in the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick next month. Trainer Kris Lees gave the six-year-old an exhibition gallop at Newcastle on Tuesday, in which he was never fully tested. 2014 Cup-winner Protectionist struggled… Read More »
The connections of Highland Reel have been extended an invitation to run the three-year-old in the Cox Plate. An original nomination for the Group One race at Moonee Valley on October 24, Highland Reel earned his owners an official invite for the weight-for-age contest after his win in the Secretariat… Read More »
Shawn Mathrick is counting on a less strenuous start to the campaign of sprinter Our Nkwazi giving the gelding a black type win at Moonee Valley. The recently turned nine-year-old is one of 20 horses nominated to contest the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) on Saturday. A last start winner over… Read More »
The 18-carat gold $175,000 trophy for the race that stops a nation, has stopped traffic in Sydney’s CBD. Hundreds of people flocked to get a glimpse of the Melbourne Cup, which was accompanied by 2000 cup winner Brew and former winning jockeys Darren Beadman and Blake Shinn at Martin Place… Read More »
Group One-winning mare First Seal is likely to kick off her spring campaign in the Warwick Stakes before heading towards the Epsom Handicap. Trainer John Thompson rates her as a strong chance in the race, where she is among 13 Group One winners entered in Saturday’s Group Two weight-for-age feature… Read More »
The Victorian Horse of the Year field has been narrowed to five with the winner to be announced on Sunday night. Adelaide, Brazen Beau, Dissident, Lankan Rupee and Protectionist are in the running for the award judged on performances on Victorian racecourses through the 2014/15 season. The winner will join… Read More »
Just looking at Racy’s record tells Gary Portelli how good she can be and he is hoping she can recapture the form she showed early in her career. The filly is entered for the Thousand Guineas this spring but first she needs to step up in a benchmark 67 at… Read More »
A heavy track prompted Tony McEvoy to delay the return of Manhattan Blues and he will instead run the gelding first-up in a tougher race at Moonee Valley. The Blue Diamond Stakes fourth placegetter was entered to resume in a 1200m race in Adelaide on Saturday but McEvoy decided not… Read More »
Quality sprinting mare Gregers headlines nominations for the Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley while Group One placegetter Odyssey Moon is among 22 entries for the McKenzie Stakes. The two Listed events are the features on Saturday’s Moonee Valley program with the 1000m Carlyon Stakes a set weights plus penalties sprint… Read More »
Group One winning stayer The Offer is equal topweight with 61 kilograms for the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury. The one-time favourite for last year’s Melbourne Cup, the Gai Waterhouse-trained The Offer did not make it to the big race after running unplaced in the Caulfield Cup. Trainer Bjorn Baker put… Read More »
