Word Of Mouth’s last-start third behind Sonntag has taken on extra significance after the latter’s win in the Queensland Derby. But for Word of Mouth’s trainer Leon Corstens, the Derby result was also bittersweet with Pinstripe Lane, trained by his son Troy, beaten a head in Saturday’s Group One race…. Read More »
The enigmatic Phelan Ready is back on track to tackle late winter carnival races after passing a barrier test. Trainer Jason McLachlan has nominated Phelan Ready for both the Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich on Saturday and the W J Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm a week later…. Read More »
Puzzle was a well-named filly when she arrived at Heath Conners’ stable. She had shown talent in barrier trials in Sydney but had not lived up to that promise in three starts for her previous trainer, Heath’s father Clarry Conners. The two-year-old’s owners sent her to the younger Conners whose… Read More »
Craig Carmody has a dilemma over where to race Single this weekend but no such concerns about Tickertape who goes to Canterbury on the back of a wet track win. The prospect of further rain in Sydney has prompted the trainer to enter Single for a 1400m race at Flemington… Read More »
An economic study has found thoroughbred racing could contribute an additional $172 million to the NSW economy if it achieves parity with other states on wagering tax. Racing NSW, which has been lobbying the state government for a reduction of the wagering tax it pays, says $48 million could be… Read More »
Patience staves off the need for hefty vet bills, according to trainer Pat Hyland. Shanghai Warrior bowed a tendon in March last year and the former champion jockey shunned the modern stem cell treatment in favour of traditional methods of treating the horse’s injury. Hyland gave Shanghai Warrior time in… Read More »
The Ramornie Handicap is back on the agenda for Brisbane sprinter Vintage Moss after his return to form at the Gold Coast. Vintage Moss ($5) dispelled the notion he needed to lead to win when he came from off the pace to beat Mr Favulous ($9) by a length in… Read More »
The Ipswich Cup has emerged as a surprise option for veteran stayer Ironstein who is also entered for a 2000m race at Rosehill on Saturday. Trainer Gerald Ryan said at first glance the Queensland feature looked a winnable race for the eight-year-old at his fourth start of a campaign which… Read More »
A week spent acclimatising to the Queensland sun has Victorian filly Griante primed for Saturday’s Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich. Griante will shoot for her first stakes win in the Waterhouse Classic (1350m) after posting three straight wins in Melbourne. Co-trainers David Brideoake and David Feek considered spelling Griante… Read More »
Cox Plate-winning jockey Chad Schofield is almost certain to avoid surgery on neck fractures suffered in a fall at Cranbourne. Schofield fractured his C3 vertebra after falling from Made Of Ice in the Procon Developments Handicap. Made Of Ice was euthanised after crashing into the fallen Donarchie, ridden by apprentice… Read More »
One-time Magic Millions favourite Sheer Style has put on a classy display to leave a group of less experienced two-year-olds in her wake at Randwick. The Garry Frazer-trained filly jumped straight to the front and was never threatened in Monday’s TAB Rewards (1000m), justifying her odds-on starting price on the… Read More »
Robbie Laing has a simple assessment for the progress of smart sprinter Lord Of The Sky. Laing has set the colt for the Group Three Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on July 5 and the three-year-old has thrilled the Cranbourne horseman with his recent work. “Flying, he’s flying,”… Read More »
Former champion Queensland jockey Russell Maddock, who rode for the Queen during his illustrious career, has died aged 96. Maddock was a trail blazer for Australian jockeys in the United Kingdom and France and rode with some of the immortals of the Australian turf such Neville Sellwood, George Moore, Scobie… Read More »
Chad Schofield is being assessed to determine whether he needs surgery on two fractures in his neck suffered in a three-horse fall at Cranbourne on Sunday. Schofield, who won the Queensland Derby aboard Sonntag a day earlier, was one of three jockeys taken to Dandenong Hospital after the fall. Apprentice… Read More »
Group One winning sprinter Snitzerland has been retired from racing and has a possible date with Black Caviar’s half brother All Too Hard in the spring. The four-year-old was pulled up in an exercise gallop on the eve of the BTC Cup in April. Although cleared of serious injury, she… Read More »
Dual Group One winner Norzita is progressing well towards her comeback after missing most of the season with a tendon injury. The four-year-old has returned to the paddock for two weeks after spending three weeks working at Bart and James Cummings’ Randwick stable. The winner of the Flight Stakes and… Read More »
Trainer Trent Pennuto will know if eccentric mare Nordic But Nice is on her game before she leaves the mounting yard at Mornington. Nordic But Nice’s antics have all but forced Pennuto to race her exclusively on her home track, which is the venue of Monday’s Join As A Member… Read More »
Racing Queensland officials will rename a major Queensland feature race after the late race caller Wayne Wilson. Tributes have flowed for the popular Wilson since the cancer he fought for 15 years finally claimed him on Friday night. RQ’s chief executive Darren Condon said there would be no better way… Read More »
David Payne has demonstrated his support for juvenile staying races with half the field in the 1800m event at the Randwick public holiday meeting. Before coming to Australia at the turn of the century, Payne forged a successful training career in South Africa where distance races for two-year-olds were part… Read More »
Trainer Liam Birchley has confirmed recent Doomben winner Underneaththeradar has been sold to Hong Kong and warns others will follow if prize money in Brisbane is not raised. Underneaththeradar won his only Brisbane start when he landed a $12 to $4 plunge on May 28 at Doomben. Birchley was immediately… Read More »
