Trainer Andrew Williamson has one lingering doubt about the chances of smart galloper Darci Be Good breaking his middle-distance duck on Saturday. Formerly trained by Bede Murray at Kembla Grange, Darci Be Good was a fast-finishing third over 1600m at his first run for Williamson at Eagle Farm two weeks… Read More »
Five years after Kerrin McEvoy delivered Chris Waller his first major in Melbourne, the jockey is hoping to rekindle the pair’s feature-race success. McEvoy won the 2009 Manikato Stakes on Danleigh to give Waller a breakthrough Group One win in Victoria. On Saturday they will combine with Doncaster Mile runner-up… Read More »
Smart galloper Falino will have to prove his first-up win was no fluke before he earns a trip to Sydney. Falino surprised his connections when he came from near-last to win a 1000m open handicap at Eagle Farm on August 9. It was his first start since November when he… Read More »
A winning treble at Sandown on Wednesday promises to be a boost for jockey Dwayne Dunn’s spring carnival ambitions. Dunn spent four months on the sidelines from December after bulging three discs in his neck. He has been managing his race-riding workload since a return to the saddle during the… Read More »
Caloundra galloper You Did What had the honour of winning the last race at Eagle Farm before a $22 million upgrade of Brisbane’s best-known racetrack. You Did What won the Farewell Handicap (1200m) on Wednesday, ending almost 150 years of racing on the Eagle Farm course proper. The track will… Read More »
It was winter racing on a wet track but Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting is set to be a strong form reference deep into the season. The first two winners, Burning Passion and Diamond Valores, are both rated stakes-class horses by their respective trainers, although only Anthony Cummings is likely to test… Read More »
Jockey Mark Zahra has seen enough from Villa Verde to be confident the quality sprinting mare is ready to fire first-up at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Zahra rides the Anthony Cummings-trained mare in a race for the first time but has been on a her back in trackwork ahead of… Read More »
Apprentice Matt McGuren continued his winning streak and helped trainer John Thompson cement a relationship with one of Australia’s biggest syndicators at Eagle Farm on Wednesday. McGuren took his tally of winners to 10 in past month since relocating to Queensland when he scored a double on Thompson’s The Deestructor… Read More »
More wet weather could force Hawkes Racing to abandon Sydney plans for most of its spring carnival stars. Trainer Michael Hawkes confirmed La Amistad, who is among the early fancies in Melbourne Cup betting, won’t resume in the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury on Thursday if the track is heavy. And… Read More »
Glyn Schofield has been released from the Warwick Stakes ride on Boban to partner wet-track specialist Tiger Tees in the weight-for-age race. Trainer Chris Waller confirmed Boban was a likely defection due to the probability of a rain-affected Randwick track and agreed to release Schofield from the mount close to… Read More »
Samartested will not join her high-profile big sister Samaready in trainer Mick Price’s spring carnival plans but the filly managed to secure a valuable city win on Wednesday. Price believes dual Group One winner Samaready is going as well as ever building up to her spring return, while three-year-old Samartested… Read More »
Smart mare Tear it Up could have earned herself another season of racing with her win at Eagle Farm on Wednesday. Sent out favourite, Tear It Up ($1.90) had too much class for a field of restricted-class mares when she won the Hamilton Hotel Handicap (1000m). Trainer Tony Gollan said… Read More »
The respect Rowley Mile bookmakers are showing for Mr Chard has been more than matched by trainer Tony McEvoy’s regard for the comeback galloper. Mr Chard will be having his third run after being off the scene for more than 70 weeks because of a suspensory injury when he lines… Read More »
Imported stayer Tres Blue will not be a part of Gai Waterhouse’s bid to win the Melbourne Cup for the second time in as many years. A starter in last year’s Melbourne Cup won by retired stablemate Fiorente, Tres Blue is out of the spring because of minor fractures in… Read More »
Claiming apprentice Rikki Jamieson has received a vote of confidence from connections by retaining the ride on spring carnival-bound Lucky Tom at Doomben. Lucky Tom will take the first step towards the Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate in the Australian Open Polo Doomben Handicap (1200m) on Saturday. Jamieson resumed riding… Read More »
Three days after winning the Vain Stakes in Melbourne, Adelaide jockey Joe Bowditch has broken his leg in a trackwork accident. Trainer Lloyd Kennewell said Bowditch broke both the tibia and fibula when a horse he was schooling at Morphettville for another trainer ducked left after clearing a jump and… Read More »
Wet-track specialist Destiny’s Kiss is an early favourite to add the Rowley Mile to his collection of feature-race wins. A winner of the Stayers Cup over 3200m two starts ago, Destiny’s Kiss ($3.60) heads first TAB markets on the Hawkesbury Listed race from Victorian galloper Mr Chard ($4.60). Hawkesbury was… Read More »
Peter Morgan is considering an interstate option for stakes-winning filly Eloping’s race return after the three-year-old pleased in a trial win at Cranbourne. Eloping won four of her eight starts during her juvenile season which comprised races in three states. The filly stepped out in an 800-metre heat at Cranbourne… Read More »
A revised weather forecast will almost certainly ensure a heavy surface for the official start to the Sydney spring carnival at Randwick on Saturday. While the Randwick course proper showed marginal improvement on Tuesday morning, Australian Turf Club officials are resigned to the Warwick Stakes meeting being one for the… Read More »
A pleasing gallop at Moonee Valley from Kencella has the talented sprinter on target for his first-up assignment in the Carlyon Stakes. The former John O’Shea-trained speedster makes his debut for the Chris Waller stable in Saturday’s 1000-metre Listed race where his opposition is set to include classy sprinter Villa… Read More »
