Unequivocal has sparked a Golden Slipper dream for trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith after winning at Rosehill and thrusting visiting Irish jockey Padraig Beggy into the spotlight. The filly finished third on debut in the Inglis Classic two weeks ago but that was not enough to tempt punters who sent her out… Read More »
Top Adelaide apprentice Jamie Kah has made her mark in Melbourne with a breakthrough winner on in-form Sistine Demon at Caulfield. Kah made a big impression in her first full season of riding in Adelaide last season, winning the senior jockeys’ premiership along with the apprentices’ title. The 18-year-old started… Read More »
Vastly experienced jockey Glen Colless has rated three-year-old colt Agitate the fastest horse out of the barriers he’s ever ridden. Colless and Agitate ($1.80) combined to make short work of a field of older sprinters in the Canadian Club Hcp (1020m) at Doomben on Saturday. A son of noted speed… Read More »
The Group One Australasian Oaks is in the sights of trainer Mick Kent after filly Scratchy Bottom proved a class above her rivals in the opener at Caulfield on Saturday. The three-year-old was slow away in the Robert Hunter Handicap (1400m) and trailed the field to the home turn before… Read More »
Blue blooded colt Woodbine has taken another step towards the Randwick Guineas, but not without a scare. The odds-on favourite in Saturday’s Australian Turf Club Hcp (1200m) had to knuckle down to get past Pirandello ($7) who led the field which was reduced to four after Cosmic Cameo played up… Read More »
Until recently Bill Wilde knew very little about racing, but unlike many others, he knew a lot about Jacquinot Bay. The retired Canberra academic was a member of the allied forces at Jacquinot Bay in New Guinea during the Second World War. When Wilde saw there was a horse named… Read More »
Racing will return to Sandown in less than three weeks with the renovated track given the tick of approval after barrier trials on Friday. Sandown was closed in August so the entire course proper surface could be replaced. The track will host its first meeting back on February 19. Racing… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse will have a better idea after Nayeli runs at Caulfield whether she is the filly that can give the trainer the only Group One juvenile prize missing from her trophy cabinet. Waterhouse has never won the Blue Diamond Stakes – one of five Group Ones in Australia for… Read More »
Instead of hitting the Hume Highway to Melbourne this week, Blue Diamond Stakes favourite Rubick has been kept up to the mark in slightly cooler conditions. With temperatures in Melbourne expected to rise to 41 degrees on Sunday and Monday, trainer Gerald Ryan opted to delay the colt’s trip from… Read More »
Fiorente is set to add more star power to Blue Diamond Stakes day at Caulfield with the Melbourne Cup winner slated to make his return in one of two weight-for-age features on February 22. The Gai Waterhouse-trained Fiorente stepped out in a 1300m barrier trial at Randwick on Friday and… Read More »
Respected NSW stipe Sam Woolaston has been named the new senior steward in north Queensland. Woolaston, who will be based in Townsville, has extensive experience in NSW country and Sydney areas. He has been deputy chairman of stewards in the Central and Western Districts and Northern Rivers District of NSW…. Read More »
Peggy Jean gained many admirers with her tenacious victory over Group Three winner Boomwaa in the Inglis Classic but it was only one step towards possible autumn riches. Trainer Gerald Ryan and her owners have all but ruled out the Golden Slipper but there are many other options if she… Read More »
General Truce finds himself in a familiar role in Saturday’s Listed WJ Adams Stakes at Caulfield. The six-year-old is an underdog in the 1000m sprint, but that doesn’t concern trainer Ricky Maund. He noted after General Truce won the Listed Kensington Stakes as a $16 chance two weeks ago that… Read More »
Promising juvenile I Am Boss has Toowoomba trainer Tony Sears confident he will handle the jump to city grade at Doomben on Saturday. I Am Boss comes into the Powerade Hcp (1110m) off a last start win in an Ipswich maiden on January 17. Sears believes the Doomben race wasn’t… Read More »
Cox Plate winner Shamus Award has tuned up for his Group One CF Orr Stakes return with a solid hitout at the Flemington jump-outs on Friday. Stepping out in his second jump-out in as many weeks, Shamus Award sat on the speed in his 800m heat under jockey Craig Williams… Read More »
Premiership leading trainer Matt Dunn hopes jockey Glen Colless can live up to his new nickname of “Joe Cool” aboard talented The White Hope at Doomben on Saturday. The pair have combined for five wins with The White Hope who was slightly disappointing at his last start when ninth to… Read More »
Fiorente headlines a star-studded group of horses set to continue their autumn carnival build-ups in Sydney and Melbourne on Friday. Randwick will host 16 barrier trials with the Melbourne Cup winner to step out in the opening heat. He will be part of a strong team in action for Gai… Read More »
Stephen Baster has already won on a couple of Blue Diamond contenders this season and would not be surprised if another emerges at Caulfield on Saturday. Baster partners the David Hayes-trained Zululand in the Group Three Chairman’s Stakes (1100m), a colt the jockey rode to a debut second at the… Read More »
Irish horse Gordon Lord Byron has become the second international raider confirmed to take part in the inaugural running of The Championships. A dual Group One winner, the gelding will make his Australian debut in the Group One George Ryder Stakes on March 29. Trainer Tom Hogan is then leaning… Read More »
The usually ebullient Gai Waterhouse is taking a measured approach to the autumn with rising star Ecuador. That’s not to say she doesn’t have big plans for the gelding. Ecuador will resume in Saturday’s February Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill following a spring campaign in which he progressed from midweek company… Read More »
