Tony Gollan went through a full range of emotions before he was able to celebrate a deserved Group One win with Spirit Of Boom at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Spirit Of Boom won the William Reid Stakes (1200m) by a nose over a fast-finishing Fontelina who was held up… Read More »
Trainer Colin Little will turn his attention to the spring with Text’n Hurley after the mare ended her autumn campaign with a Group Two win at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Text’n Hurley’s victory in the Sunline Stakes (1600m) brought up a third win on the night for jockey Craig… Read More »
Marianne has had to survive a protest to claim a breakthrough stakes win at Moonee Valley on Friday night. The Mick Kent-trained three year-old finished a short-half head in front of Suavito in the Listed Alexandra Stakes (1600m) but Suavito’s jockey Damien Oliver fired in an objection alleging interference in… Read More »
NSW south coast trainer Shane Kember has been disqualified for 15 months for the administration of a banned substance to one of his horses and the possession of a device capable of inflicting cruelty. Kember was given sentences of six months and nine months to be served concurrently after being… Read More »
Strict instructions have not narrowed Stephen Theodore’s options with Lady Lakshmi after Saturday’s Sandown assignment. Differing opinions between Lady Lakshmi’s owners and previous trainers led to her transfer to Theodore’s stable before she began her autumn campaign. “The owners were of the opinion she doesn’t stay and her previous camp… Read More »
The consistency that has been a trademark of Catkins’ career could also work against the mare in the Coolmore Classic. Since the middle of last year’s Sydney autumn carnival, Catkins has finished no worse than runner-up in 10 starts, winning five times. And therein lies the reason for trainer Chris… Read More »
A trackwork mishap has ruled jockey Chris Symons out of Friday night’s William Reid Stakes meeting and has him in doubt for Sandown on Saturday. Symons relinquished Moonee Valley rides, including outsider Gig in the William Reid Stakes, after he hurt his shoulder in what he described as a minor… Read More »
Danny O’Brien resisted the temptation of a recent Group One attempt with Adamantium in the hope it can reap a big race reward later in his preparation. With Adamantium’s confidence renewed through a last-start victory at Flemington, O’Brien immediately ruled out backing the sprinter up in the Newmarket Handicap a… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse has put out-of-form import Julienas on notice ahead of the Sky High Stakes at Rosehill. “He might be going down to Warrnambool if he doesn’t run well on Saturday,” Waterhouse said. The country Victorian track is famous for jumps racing and Waterhouse is already building a team for… Read More »
A notoriously bad traveller, Japanese mare Hana’s Goal has surprised her owner Michael Tabart with just how well she has done in Australia. Tabart even makes a case for a wide barrier being a positive as she heads to Saturday’s Group One Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. The only possible downside… Read More »
Two Golden Slipper lead-ups will be run at Rosehill on Saturday but trainer Michael Hawkes is certain only one can reshape betting on the $3.5 million race. Hawkes Racing’s unbeaten filly Mossfun clashes with Darley’s undefeated star Earthquake in the Reisling Stakes in a Slipper qualifier made even more intriguing… Read More »
James Winks knows talent and desire don’t necessarily produce results in racing. The jockey has won Group One races in both Australia and Hong Kong but his season could depend on two rides at Saturday’s Sandown meeting. A lack of opportunities has denied Winks a Melbourne win since November last… Read More »
Country NSW star Kurtley will use a benchmark race in Brisbane as an important stepping stone to two rich Cups in his home state. The winner of the Dubbo Cup and Grafton Guineas last year, Kurtley will be having his second run this campaign in Saturday’s Coca Cola Amatil Benchmark… Read More »
One of jockeys central to the outcome of one of the most anticipated weight-for-age contests of the season wants to downplay his role in the race. As the Sydney autumn carnival officially opens at Rosehill on Saturday with It’s A Dundeel and Fiorente the headline acts, James McDonald is trying… Read More »
Trainer Kevin Kemp has beaten a bout of bronchitis and is sure his promising two-year-old Jack Be Quick can also bounce back from adversity on Saturday. Jack Be Quick will be among the favourites for the PowerAde Two Year Old (1400m) at Eagle Farm after a troubled run in the… Read More »
A rare metropolitan victory by a country-trained horse has underlined one of the challenges of the benchmark handicapping system. The Pat Farrell-trained Fort Sumter had to lump 60kg to post just his second city win in the final race at Warwick Farm on Thursday. Jockey Nash Rawiller said the task… Read More »
Veteran jockey Jim Cassidy has been handed his second suspension in 24 hours, costing him the chance to ride in this year’s Golden Slipper. Warwick Farm stewards outed Cassidy for three meetings on Thursday, a ban which comes on top of a four-meeting suspension out of Wednesday’s Newcastle Newmarket fixture…. Read More »
Brett Scott won’t claim to have successfully rehabilitated Stratcombe until he sees him run at Sandown on Saturday. The Mornington-based horseman has spent the past four months working on Stratcombe’s aerobic capacity after a lung infection stopped his career in March 2013. Clients of Scott bought Stratcombe privately after the… Read More »
The most anticipated period in John O’Shea’s training career is also turning into one of the most testing. O’Shea, who will replace Peter Snowden as head trainer for Darley Australia in May, lost his second potential autumn carnival star in the space of two days when White Sage broke down… Read More »
Chris Waller insists he will present three horses at the peak of their powers in the Ranvet Stakes but knows his efforts might not be enough to win the race for a second time. Waller will run last year’s winner Foreteller, as well as Hawkspur and Moriarty in a weight-for-age… Read More »
