Trainer Liam Birchley is confident he will be proved correct on two fronts with his Magic Millions hopefuls Missy Longstocking and Sagatona at Doomben on Saturday. Missy Longstocking has her final hitout before the Magic Millions Guineas in the Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) while Sagatona will be trying to force… Read More »
Despite being less than halfway through the current season, Phillip Stokes is three wins shy of equalling last term’s Adelaide trainers’ premiership-winning tally. Tony McEvoy prepared 34 winners to claim the 2012/13 Adelaide trainers’ title but Stokes’s treble at last Saturday’s Morphettville meeting brought him to within three of that… Read More »
Not much went right for Lucky Lucky Lucky in Brisbane during the middle of the year. But trainer Steve Englebrecht is convinced the winter carnival campaign has served its purpose and he is hoping the horse can repay him for the second time this preparation at Randwick on Thursday. After… Read More »
All-conquering trainer Chris Waller will turn his talents to resurrecting the career of import Brigantin who makes his Sydney debut at Canterbury on Saturday. The former French galloper has been out of luck since his arrival in Australia in the spring of last year. His third in the 2012 Geelong… Read More »
Resuming in Thursday’s Equiano Speed Yearlings Heat is the second step on a possible Caulfield Cup journey for the Chris Hyland-trained Bombalatomba. Bombalatomba posted respectable finishes in Group One races as a three and four-year-old before a throat issue cut short his spring five-year-old campaign. Hyland said Bombalatomba’s progress from… Read More »
Tommy Berry might be sidelined because of suspension but Tulloch Lodge’s No.1 jockey still promises to have an influence in the outcome of the Summer Cup. The Gai Waterhouse-trained Travolta was in contention for a Perth Cup start but Berry recommended the horse stay at 2000m after an all-the-way win… Read More »
Injury curtailed the racing career of Dream Ballad and the half-brother to Tie The Knot has had limited opportunities at stud. But his progeny have a fan in Guy Walter who prepared Tie The Knot to 13 Group One wins and also trained Dream Ballad to win the Listed Dulcify… Read More »
Morphettville trainer Richard Jolly says it was always his intention to run handy sprinter Karacatis in the Listed Christmas Stakes at Caulfield rather than an assignment on his home track. Jolly also accepted to run Karacatis in a $50,000 race in Adelaide on Boxing Day but drawing barrier two in… Read More »
Premier trainer Robert Heathcote believes Saturday’s B J McLachlan Stakes is a mini Magic Millions which could make or break some supposed stars. Heathcote has the unbeaten Pinch River in the McLachlan (1200m) at Doomben but he is opposed to the three horses at the top of the Magic Millions… Read More »
Magic Millions Classic hopes will go on the line at Canterbury when several youngsters bid to earn a spot in the $2 million race. Of the 10 runners in Saturday’s TAB Ipad App Plate (1200m), seven are entered for the Gold Coast feature. Victorian colt Nordic Empire is the most… Read More »
Rain could upset a few trainers targeting black-type races at Ellerslie on Thursday, but John Bary is rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect. The Hastings trainer has Survived in the Group One Zabeel Classic, Recite in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic and The Hombre in the Listed… Read More »
There will be no over-indulgence for Glyn Schofield this Christmas as he prepares to add to his Summer Cup record at Randwick on Boxing Day. Schofield has rides in five of the eight races, two of them on the 54kg minimum. As a result, Christmas Day will be more about… Read More »
Loveyamadly has to win the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield on Thursday to continue her summer campaign in next month’s Australia Stakes. Price said Loveyamadly, one of the favourites for the Boxing Day feature, had pulled up well after her second place in the Doveton Stakes over 1000m behind Vatican on… Read More »
A rousing jump-out has trainer Tony Gollan convinced Vienna Royale is back in the hunt for the Magic Millions Classic. Vienna Royale was among the early favourites for the $2 million race on January 11 after a brilliant first-up win in October. However, at his next start at Doomben two… Read More »
With some great prospects racing, New Zealand fans looked forward with excitement to 2013. In the end, though, the year would be one where the promise was left frustratingly unfulfilled. Ocean Park and It’s A Dundeel in particular looked like they could build on their achievements and go close to… Read More »
Hugh Bowman has been cleared over the defeat of a beaten favourite in a Canterbury race. An inquiry into Bowman’s ride on Fulminate resumed on Monday after the David Vandyke-trained mare finished second to Darci Drama on December 13. In spite of Vandyke’s instructions to have Fulminate race near the… Read More »
Injury-prone Chase The Rainbow is fighting fit for his return to racing at Caulfield after more than 12 months away from the track. His trainer Rick Hore-Lacy is confident he has the five-year-old on target for a big first-up showing ahead of an ambitious campaign. A son of Dash For… Read More »
Separate barrier trials have provided trainer David Vandkye with contrasting guides to the future as he makes holiday-season racing plans for his stable. Vandyke had one eye on the autumn carnival when well-bred three-year-old Ike’s Legacy scored with authority in a Warwick Farm trial on Monday. “He’s come back in… Read More »
Text’n Hurley returns to racing on Thursday with trainer Colin Little making middle-distance plans for the mare. The four-year-old, who disappointed with her 12th behind Commanding Jewel in the Group Two Let’s Elope Stakes on September 7, resumes in the Allan Wicks Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield. She trialled at Pakenham… Read More »
Sysmo has yet to win beyond 1600 metres but his trainer Tony McEvoy is convinced that’s when he will be seen at his best. On that basis, McEvoy expects a big showing in Thursday’s Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick from the five-year-old who will be ridden by Robert Thompson. Sysmo… Read More »
