Angela Davies and her bargain-buy horse Through The Cracks are what the Provincial Championships are all about. The small-time trainer went looking for a cheap horse at the Scone sales a few years ago and stumbled upon an immature yearling by unfashionable stallion Warning. She liked the cross of a… Read More »
Grand mare Alizee will attempt to turn back the clock when she goes to the races for the final time. The five-year-old will be retired after Saturday’s Coolmore Legacy Stakes for fillies and mares at Randwick, a race appropriately registered as the Queen of the Turf. A triple Group One… Read More »
Having captured the ATC Australian Derby with Quick Thinker, the Kiwis have set their sights on a Classic clean sweep with class filly Probabeel in the Australian Oaks. New Zealand horses have enjoyed a heady run of success in Sydney’s autumn blue ribands with three of the past six winners… Read More »
There will be a hint of sibling rivalry in the Sydney Cup with English brothers David and Harry Eustace both having chances to win the time-honoured Group One race at Randwick. David Eustace trains in partnership with Ciaron Maher in Australia and they operate one of the largest stables in… Read More »
Top three-year-old stablemates Profit and Ballistic Boy will avoid a clash after trainer Chris Anderson made a close study of the fields at Doomben. Profit and Ballistic Boy, who are both owned by Think Big Stud syndicates, have had preparations disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Both had Sydney trips cancelled… Read More »
For the first time in four years, Happy Clapper won’t have to contend with Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. But trainer Pat Webster can’t decide if that makes Saturday’s renewal of Sydney’s middle-distance, weight-for-age championship easier or harder. While Winx was unbeatable during her four-year winning run, her presence… Read More »
Another bad barrier draw will keep three-year-old Stampe to a race against his own age at Doomben. Trainer Chris Munce accepted with Stampe in the TAB Class 6 Plate (1350m) and the Three-Year-Old Hcp (1350m). “Of course he drew barrier ten in both races. I was leaning to running in… Read More »
Alligator Blood who is in the spelling paddock with his connections still awaiting the results of tests on the B sample taken from the gelding after his Magic Millions Guineas win in January. The first sample was found to contain altrenogest, a substance which can only be used on fillies… Read More »
Trainer David Vandyke is taking the glass half-full approach to the future for Baccarat Baby who resumes at Doomben. Baccarat Baby will be having her first run since the Melbourne spring carnival in Saturday’s Racecourse Village Open Handicap (1200m). In normal times the mare would be on the way to… Read More »
Drawing the widest barrier in a stakes race is not what co-trainer Troy Corstens wanted as he prepares to step Runson up in distance. But Corstens, who trains Runson in partnership with his father Leon, said the draw would not stop the gelding running in the Group Three Elvis Thurgood… Read More »
Ipswich will host a nine-race card at its first meeting in five months following a major track upgrade. Under the new regional racing rules in Queensland amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ipswich is in the metro south zone. It means the club’s meetings are restricted to horses from Ipswich, Gold Coast… Read More »
Godolphin trainer James Cummings is convinced Group One-winning filly Flit can bounce back from two unplaced runs when she drops in distance in the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint at Randwick. A winner of the Group One Thousand Guineas last spring, Flit began her autumn campaign in impressive fashion with a dominant… Read More »
The first foal out of champion filly First Seal has topped the Australian Easter Yearling online sale at $1.8 million. Coolmore’s Tom Magnier was the successful bidder on the colt by three-time champion sire Snitzel colt after a late duel with one other party during Tuesday’s second session. First Seal… Read More »
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has handed lengthy cobalt bans to father-and-daughter training partners Terry and Karina O’Sullivan. The Stawell-based trainers appealed their original one-year sentence handed out by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board and on Wednesday had those disqualifications increased by VCAT, with Terry out for three… Read More »
Having grown up in an era when the Cups, Plates and Classic races were the pinnacle events on the calendar, Mark Newnham remains a racing purist at heart. He had his sights on last weekend’s ATC Australian Derby with Shadow Hero but the horse’s chances were thwarted by a heavy… Read More »
Archie Alexander is hopeful Gallic Chieftain can deliver his first Group One win in the Sydney Cup, even if the Ballarat-based trainer will not be able to be at Randwick to cheer him on. Gallic Chieftain went within a long head of winning the Group One Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick… Read More »
Tony McEvoy has attempted to keep speed in the legs of stayer Secret Blaze in a bid to claim the Group Three Easter Cup at Caulfield. McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his son Calvin, said Secret Blaze was ticking over nicely ahead of his attempt at overturning consecutive second… Read More »
Jamie Richards cannot split stablemates Te Akau Shark and Melody Belle as the star duo prepare to clash in the $2 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes. While stable jockey Opie Bosson has been forced to choose between two of his favourite horses, opting to ride Te Akau Shark, Richards is sitting… Read More »
An altered program because of the coronavirus pandemic that has shut down some state borders has resulted in Seabrook remaining in Melbourne chasing a long overdue win. Mick Price, who trains Seabrook in partnership with Mick Kent Jr, was planning to race Seabrook in Sydney on the way to a… Read More »
The Sunshine Coast meeting was postponed after two races following persistent rain through the morning on Wednesday. The track was rated a heavy eight after 27mm of rain overnight and then further downgraded with another 26mm falling in the morning. Chairman of stewards James Williamson said jockeys had raised concerns… Read More »
