A colt trainer Shane Nichols found hard to sell has emerged as a contender for the Magic Millions Classic at Flemington. I Am The General, bought for $35,000 as a yearling, booked his ticket north for next month’s Magic Millions with his all-the-way success over odds-on favourite Chivalry in Saturday’s… Read More »
Chief executive of the embattled BC3 Thoroughbreds, Craig Cameron, says he hopes the company can be salvaged. BC3 Thoroughbreds is now in voluntary administration after a dramatic week in which chairman Bill Vlahos resigned his position amid court action over money missing from a collapsed punters’ club. Vlahos was reported… Read More »
International thoroughbred studs Coolmore and Darley have welcomed a recommendation the Drayton South coal mine should not be approved. The proposed mine site in the Hunter Valley is on the doorstep of Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud and close to the Irish-owned Coolmore with both operations saying they would have to… Read More »
The scratching of second favourite Club Command has given Jacquinot Bay a start in the Razor Sharp Handicap but trainer Guy Walter is cautious about his chances in the shortened sprint. The Listed race has been reduced from 1200 to 1150 metres due to the switch from the course proper… Read More »
The rich Magic Millions carnival is the goal for Anna Lizzie this campaign but the path she takes will be clearer after she races at Doomben. Trainer Craig Tyrrell is weighing up options for the mare who runs in Saturday’s Just Now Handicap (1350m) at Doomben. His original plan was… Read More »
Hoylonny’s best run of form for 12 months has trainer Chris Waller thinking he is ready to make into a proper stayer. The five-year-old is one of three runners Waller will saddle up in a field reduced to five runners for the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday…. Read More »
Michelle Payne’s excitement about Prince Of Penzance’s return to racing at Flemington will come at a cost. The popular jockey has to give up the ride on Sistine Demon, a horse tipped to go places. Payne has been aboard the Darren Weir-trained Prince Of Penzance in all five starts for… Read More »
Consistent grey Freshwater Storm will top off his latest preparation at Flemington with trainer Tony Parker eyeing a major country Cup in the new year. The only blip on the gelding’s spring carnival was in the Subzero Challenge on November 7, the final in a three-race series restricted to grey… Read More »
Home sickness cruelled the Melbourne spring campaign of Taxmeifyoucan but he could find summer redemption in Sydney with a victory in Saturday’s Group Two Villiers Stakes. A first-up fourth in the Theo Marks Stakes earned Taxmeifyoucan a trip south but he didn’t cope with the travel and finished last at… Read More »
Flamberge’s return to straight-track racing at Flemington will determine whether he steps up to one of Melbourne’s main off-season sprints. The Peter Moody-trained sprinter scored first-up over 1100m at Caulfield and is being aimed at the Group Three Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day. The four-year-old is… Read More »
Tommy Berry is hoping to find out next week whether he is successful in fighting the severity of a 10-meeting riding ban out of the Hong Kong International meeting. The top jockey has been granted permission by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to appeal the penalty from Australia and plans… Read More »
While the Magic Millions Classic favourite puts her talent on show in Brisbane on Saturday there will be other Gold Coast hopefuls trying to stake a claim at Flemington. Debut Flemington winner Oakleigh Girl is the favourite for next month’s $2 million juvenile race and she steps out for the… Read More »
Twelve months after producing the quinella in the rich Inglis Nursery, Bjorn Baker has the numbers to go one better at Randwick on Saturday. The Warwick Farm trainer won the $250,000 race last year with Twilight Royale who narrowly staved off stablemate Fuerza. This time around Baker will attempt to… Read More »
Trainer Damien Williams is keeping faith in Morant’s ability to deliver on his early-career promise despite a winless run in Melbourne. The seven-year-old began his career in Perth where he won a Listed race and was close-up despite finishing eighth in the 2011 Winterbottom Stakes won by Ortensia. Morant is… Read More »
Weather has played its part in Stephen Theodore’s decision to target a Flemington race over an easier midweek option for Kiss Me Ketut. But the trainer insists he will present the filly as a strong chance to continue her winning form despite an obvious jump in class. Kiss Me Ketut… Read More »
A versatility test looms for the fleet-footed Zaratone on Saturday as he tries to prove he is not a one-track wonder. The gelding has shown a remarkable affinity for Rosehill during the latter half of his career, posting his past six wins at the western Sydney racetrack. On Saturday he… Read More »
A change in the Villiers Stakes distance could work to leading trainer Chris Waller’s advantage for a second time on Saturday. Waller will start topweight Coup Ay Tee as well as Said Com in the $175,000 Group Two that has been shortened from 1600m to 1550m because racing has been… Read More »
It didn’t take long for Michael Cahill to join the Oakleigh Girl fan club. Cahill rode Oakleigh Girl for the first time in a trackwork hit-out on Tuesday and was left in no doubt she is a worthy favourite for the Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on… Read More »
Country Cups specialist Gottino is continuing to try his luck in the big smoke with new trainer Dan O’Sullivan convinced the six-year-old is up to a metropolitan level of racing. Under the guidance of part-owner and trainer Ken Moore, Gottino has cut a swathe through country Victoria races during the… Read More »
Chad Schofield wasted no time returning to the winner’s circle after an enforced holiday with a victory aboard Blue Diamond hopeful Wawail at Caulfield. Schofield had spent three weeks on the sidelines due to back-to-back careless riding suspensions but got on the board in the opening race on Wednesday. The… Read More »
