Left with more questions than answers after the Hobartville Stakes, Linebacker’s trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton are focusing on the three-year-old’s pleasing work at home as the best guide to his Randwick Guineas prospects. Following a solid first-up performance in the Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m), Linebacker turned in a head-scratching effort… Read More »
It shapes as a big ask, but Misty Bazeley is not discounting that she can add a Bunbury Cup trophy to her CV and match the exploits of her partner in the trainer’s honour roll. Aaron Bazeley was the toast of the family after Burger Time’s upset victory six years ago,… Read More »
It has been almost a year since Ayrton last raced, but after a long and steady build-up the gelding is set to run at Flemington. Ayrton lines up in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) on Saturday having not raced since finishing seventh in last year’s edition of the All-Star… Read More »
Sterling Alexiou is under no illusions about the task facing Dream Side in the Reisling Stakes at Randwick, but remains adamant the filly is over the odds. Dream Side will be part of a two-pronged Reisling Stakes (1200m) assault for the stable along with Perle De Chocolate, both fillies regarded as… Read More »
The eminent juvenile form lines from Melbourne and Sydney are set to collide when the minor placegetters from the Blue Diamond Stakes and the top three locals in Golden Slipper betting clash at Randwick. Victorians Tentyris and Tycoon Star, who finished second and third respectively in Victoria’s two-year-old showpiece, will take… Read More »
Growing Empire will need to live up to the lofty expectations placed on him by the Ciaron Maher stable if he is to win the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. The three-year-old has been lumbered with 55.5kg in the Group 1 1200m sprint on Saturday, more weight than recent three-year-olds have carried to… Read More »
James Cummings says Broadsiding is “humming” as the brilliant colt seeks to extend his generational dominance in the Group One Randwick Guineas. Already a three-time winner at the highest level, Broadsiding proved he had returned in top order with a scintillating win in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m). Cummings reported the three-year-old had… Read More »
Flying Trapeze may be the rank outsider for the All-Star Mile at Flemington, but for the connections of the gelding it may be their one and only shot at tackling the likes of Mr Brightside and company. Trainer Gary Portelli said there were 40,000 reasons to have a shot at Saturday’s Group 1… Read More »
Poor fertility quickly ended the stud career of Militarize but the experience doesn’t appear to have impacted the horse’s hunger for racing as he prepares to launch his next chapter in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick. The 2023 Golden Rose winner was retired after finishing third in the Doncaster Mile last… Read More »
Jockey Tyler Schiller admits he expected more from Makarena first-up, but he is keeping faith in the classy mare and says she will strip significantly fitter in the Newcastle Stakes. Makarena started an odds-on favourite when she resumed in last month’s Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) and after crossing from a wide gate… Read More »
Australia’s jockey boss Craig Staples has admitted he feels like he has let down the growing group of WA’s star female riders – including his wife Lisa – when he sees the outdated facilities they are crammed into at racing venues around the State. But an election commitment from the… Read More »
A chapter of Western Australian racing history has sadly ended with popular trainer Vernon Brockman calling time on his decorated career, announcing his retirement at the age of 84. A widely respected member of the WA racing community, Vernon Brockman saddled his final starter at Bunbury in February and celebrated his… Read More »
Beaten WA Guineas (1600m) favourite September Born has returned to trainer Neville Parnham’s stable, ahead of a Belmont campaign. The son of Playing God finished eighth to Storyville in last November’s Group 2 event, where stewards subsequently found him to be lame post-race. The unplaced effort ruled him out of… Read More »
Mr Brightside, a nine-time Group 1 winner, will headline a smaller-than-usual field in this Saturday’s Group 1 All-Star Mile. The champion galloper, who will start from barrier five, will be partnered by Craig Williams. Joining him in the field is Another Wil, who has drawn barrier one, with Jamie Melham… Read More »
Jockey Caitlin Jones is eagerly anticipating her journey with Goldrush Guru as he heads to Rosehill for his Sydney campaign. The Group 1 winner, trained by Andrew Gluyas, will target the G1 Rosehill Guineas and G1 ATC Australian Derby, and Jones is excited about the travel opportunities. “It’s going to… Read More »
Father and sons training operation Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes would have felt a little added pressure before the running of a maiden race at Sandown. Girijaala was lining up for her debut in the Sportsbet Racing Form Plate (1300m) on Wednesday, a filly owned by Michael’s wife Clare and Jenny… Read More »
Stefan Vahala has high hopes of landing an interstate double on Saturday when he starts Aztec Ruler in the Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) in Melbourne and Ice Pick Nick in the Bunbury Stakes (1400m). Aztec Ruler, Stefan Vahala’s stable flagbearer, who gave him his first black-type win as a trainer… Read More »
James McDonald and Chris Waller are a lethal force on the track, and the top jockey had good reason to ensure that was again the case at the midweek meeting at Warwick Farm. While it was a long way from the Group 1 arena the pair normally dominate, McDonald was… Read More »
Trainer Michael Trotter headed to Caulfield for the first-up run of Rumbled Again quietly confident the mare would perform well in her return to racing. Rumbled Again went for a break after winning the Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield in November and returned in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m)… Read More »
A slashing return against benchmark colt Broadsiding has jockey Tyler Schiller optimistic that Swiftfalcon is a genuine chance to turn the tables when the pair clash again in the Group One Randwick Guineas. Swiftfalcon settled last from a wide draw in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) but stormed to the line late to get… Read More »
