A heart-stopping ride, a mystifying protest and the end of several spring carnival dreams – Saturday’s Metropolitan at Randwick had it all. Chris Waller emulated his earlier dominance in the Epsom Handicap producing the quinella in the Metropolitan when Junoob held off stablemate Opinion by a half length. The race… Read More »
While delighted at winning a Group Two race at Flemington on Saturday, jockey Vlad Duric was just as happy seeing Joao Moreira land a treble in Sydney. While the pair were rivals in Singapore, Duric had great admiration for Moreira who broke all records before his move to Hong Kong…. Read More »
Lucia Valentina has overcome a less-than-ideal lead into the Turnbull Stakes to win the Group One race at Flemington and cement Caulfield Cup favouritism. Aided by a top ride from Kerrin McEvoy, Lucia Valentina sprinted strongly from a midfield position in Saturday’s 2000m feature to add a second Group One… Read More »
Junoob has completed Group One doubles for trainer Chris Waller and jockey Blake Shinn with a brave win in the $400,000 Metropolitan at Randwick. Replicating his Epsom Handicap quinella result, Waller also trained a one-two finish in the Metropolitan as Opinion tried hard to wear down his stablemate. The winner… Read More »
For trainer John Thompson, First Seal’s domination of the Flight Stakes is worth so much more than just a Group One win. The filly represents a new beginning for Thompson after his tenure as Nathan Tinkler’s private trainer officially ended last week with the sale of Patinack Farm. The controversial… Read More »
Fontein Ruby could back up in next week’s Group One Thousand Guineas after a fighting win at Flemington on Saturday. Ridden by Mark Zahra, Fontein Ruby ($6) scored by a head in the Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) from the heavily backed $2.80 favourite Maastricht with Crafty ($11) rattling home for… Read More »
There was nothing new about Chris Waller dominating the finish of a feature race but the win by He’s Your Man in the Epsom Handicap did produce a first for star jockey Joao Moreira. The globetrotting rider dubbed `The Magic Man’ for his remarkable talents finally notched the Australian Group… Read More »
An explosive sprint in the Flight Stakes has propelled First Seal to the top of Australia’s three-year-old fillies’ ranks. Leaving her rivals without excuse, First Seal defeated Winx by three lengths in the 1600-metre Group One race at Randwick. “She showed us from day one she was very good,” trainer… Read More »
Lucia Valentina has confirmed her Caulfield Cup favouritism after winning the Group One Turnbull at Flemington. Sent out at $8.50, Lucia Valentina saved ground through the turn before joining in at the 200m towards the centre of the track. She put the race beyond doubt soon after to beat Lidari… Read More »
Chautauqua has emerged as a potential star and could clash with the country’s best sprinters in the Darley Classic after a scintillating win at Flemington. The four-year-old gelding backed up his dominant Bobbie Lewis Quality win first-up with an even more impressive performance in Saturday’s Group Two Gilgai Stakes over… Read More »
Chris Waller has trained the quinella in the Epsom Handicap, with He’s Your Man beating Royal Descent in a Group One thriller at Randwick. Giving top international jockey Joao Moreira his first Australian Group One win, He’s Your Man left it until the final stride to nab his stablemate. “We… Read More »
A tough Premiere Stakes victory against his normal pattern of racing has convinced trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith Famous Seamus can mix it with the best sprinters in the land. He will get his chance against Lankan Rupee, Buffering and co later this month in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley. The… Read More »
Arch-rivals Volkhere and Hi Son revived memories of two greats of Queensland racing after they again ran a quinella at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Volkhere ($3.20) beat Hi Son ($3.30) by 1-3/4 lengths in the Therock At Bombora Handicap (2200m) – the fifth time they have run first and… Read More »
Moriarty has claimed the scalp of Caulfield Cup fancy Rising Romance in the Craven Plate and in doing so might have catapulted himself into contention for the Melbourne race. The horse’s narrow win in Saturday’s Randwick weight-for-age race puts him on the borderline of gaining a Caulfield Cup start. Trainer… Read More »
Stratum Star handled the rise to Listed company when scoring in the Yellowglen Vintage Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday. Formerly prepared by Rick Hore-Lacy, Stratum Star joined last season’s premiership winning trainer Darren Weir at Ballarat. Given a ‘kill’ in a Swan Hill maiden two starts back, Stratum Star… Read More »
Brazen Beau’s spring campaign is back on track with the colt dominating the Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick and earning high praise from international jockey Joao Moreira. The Chris Waller-trained Brazen Beau finished fifth as favourite in the Danehill Stakes at Flemington last start after an interrupted campaign. Runner-up to… Read More »
Damian Lane says he will not appeal a suspension which rules him out of the ride on Solicit in the Group One Toorak Handicap. Lane was suspended for 10 meetings after pleading guilty to careless riding in the last race at Moonee Valley on Friday night. He said he had… Read More »
The Mark Kavanagh trained Magicool emerged as one of the leading Victoria Derby hopes with victory at Flemington on Saturday. Ridden by Glen Boss, Magicool ($10) showed plenty of fight in scoring a neck victory over Atmosphere (Damien Oliver, $9) with War Point (Craig Newitt, $6.50) a long neck away… Read More »
Globetrotting jockey Joao Moreira wasted little time making an impact on Epsom Handicap day at Randwick with a stakes victory aboard Hampton Court at just his second ride. It wasn’t Moreira’s prettiest effort but the Hong Kong premiership leader got the job done, urging Hampton Court through a split late… Read More »
Brilliant filly Frequendly lived up to her form line through Group One horse Buffering when she scored an impressive win at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Trainer Les Ross revealed Frequendly had run virtually the same time as four times Group One winner Buffering when they both won jump outs… Read More »
