Muchea trainer Justine Erkelens has her eyes on Saturday week’s Bunbury Cup (2000m) with Own The Queen, hoping the glamour mare can find the winner’s list once again. After she blitzed the three-year-old features a year ago, snaring the Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m), Natasha Stakes (2200m) and WA Oaks (2400m)… Read More »
Ciaron Maher will chase a third Australian Guineas win in the past four years when Another Prophet heads to the Group 1 race at Flemington. Maher, along with David Eustace, took the 2022 Guineas with Hitotsu while Southport Tycoon saluted for Maher and Jamie Melham last year. Another Prophet is one of three… Read More »
Glenn Stevenson holds the key to local hopes in Wednesday’s Launceston Cup and the Wesley Vale horseman is optimistic his two chances will acquit themselves well against a powerful Victorian contingent. The Stevenson-trained Asva booked his spot in the $250,000 Group 3 with his last-start win in the Sydeston Cup, while Devonport… Read More »
Jockey Luke Cartwright is ready to make his comeback after a three-month recovery from neck and spinal fractures sustained in a fall last November. “Got the all-clear last Thursday, it was great to get the clearance,” Cartwright said. He eased back into work, starting with slow riding and galloping, and… Read More »
Asfoora is on track to return to full work after a setback delayed her autumn campaign. The six-year-old mare had originally been set to target the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. However, trainer Henry Dwyer had to adjust his plans after Asfoora sustained a muscle injury. “She’s been… Read More »
After an impressive second-place finish in the Blue Diamond Stakes, Tentyris is set to continue his promising juvenile campaign, with plans to race in Sydney next month in search of more success. Co-trainer Sam Freedman confirmed on Monday that the Godolphin-owned son of Street Boss will next race in the… Read More »
Champion trainer Chris Waller has revealed his plans for his stable stars this autumn, with the classy mare Atishu set to contest the $2.5 million All-Star Mile at Flemington next month. Meanwhile, fellow Group 1 winners Via Sistina and Fangirl will remain in Sydney for their campaigns. Waller confirmed that… Read More »
Nick Smith travelling to Australia to try and recruit horses to compete in England is nothing new, but Ascot’s Director of Racing and Public Affairs has tweaked his travel schedule for 2025. Smith will visit both Melbourne and Sydney late next month to spread the word on new incentives being… Read More »
It was thought London’s Image had come to the end of a long and successful campaign, stretching six months, after last Saturday week’s Magic Millions 3YO Trophy, but Hill had a change of heart. “That was the plan, give her a good break after being up for so long, but… Read More »
Autumn Glow gave Chris Waller something to think about with an impressive trial at Randwick on Monday morning. The unbeaten filly ambled into third placing, beaten 2-1/2 lengths by dual Group 2 winner Schwarz, but was not urged at any point by jockey Zac Lloyd in the 1050-metre trial. The daughter of The… Read More »
Ciaron Maher provided the quinella in the first of Tasmania’s two big summer Cups and the champion Victorian trainer is confident he can claim the second leg, Wednesday’s Launceston Cup. Strawberry Rock and Promises Kept, who fought out the $250,000 Group 3 Hobart Cup on February 9, head the field for the… Read More »
Australian claimed jockey Rachel King made history once again in Tokyo on Sunday, becoming the first female rider to claim victory in a Grade 1 race in Japan. King steered Costa Nova to an impressive win in the February Stakes for trainer Tetsuya Kimura, marking another milestone in her career…. Read More »
South Australian staying star The Map has been retired following a disappointing performance in the Lord Reims Stakes (G3, 2600m) at Morphettville on Saturday. Trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray made the tough call after the mare failed to produce her usual finishing burst and didn’t pull up at her… Read More »
While the three-year-olds didn’t dominate the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (Group 1, 1000m) as many had anticipated, trainer James Cummings is confident his colt, Traffic Warden, will be a serious contender in next Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap (G1, 1200m). The Street Boss colt ran fifth behind Skybird in the Lightning, but… Read More »
Sunday was an emotional day at Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stables as co-trainer Sam Bergerson bid farewell to Skew Wiff, marking the end of her racing career. The Waikato Stud-bred and raced mare provided Bergerson with his first Group 1 triumph as a trainer when she secured victory in the… Read More »
Trainer Grahame Begg does not want to see a repeat of the atrocious weather conditions that fell on Flemington just over a week ago. While successful with Cilacap late in the program, Begg had Royal Insignia flop on the wet track in the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) on February… Read More »
Mick Price isn’t quite sure of the Autumn campaign for Zoustar colt Space Rider, who missed a run in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic when first emergency and early favourite. A 3.3 length winner on debut at Eagle Farm, Space Rider was then beaten at $1.14 with betting apps next time… Read More »
Read the latest on the racing at Ascot on Saturday which was headlined by the Listed Challenge Stakes. TRAINER Grant Williams was lavish in his praise of Axeman’s Jazz. It wasn’t pretty, but highly effective when coming from a long way back. After being sidelined for 510 days, the Dundeel gelding… Read More »
Even Rachel King finds it exciting to believe that her globe-crossing riding Odessey has taken her from one end of the world to the other a number of times since last winter as her two-month stint in Japan rounds out next weekend. From Australia to Royal Ascot, plus Hong Kong, USA,… Read More »
Nick Ryan threw in an ambitious nomination for the Oakleigh Plate before settling on the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1100m) with stylish winner Winnasedge. An unlucky first-up sixth at Sandown, Winnasedge relished being ridden forward before scoring narrowly on Saturday. Ryan said Winnasedge was likely to return to Caulfield for… Read More »
