Five months after More Joyous ran her last race, the controversy over her unplaced performance in the All Aged Stakes continued in Sydney on Friday. Trainer Gai Waterhouse appeared before the Racing NSW Appeal Panel to fight her convictions and fines for failing to report a condition which could affect… Read More »
Savvy Nature’s rating as the main danger to his colt Drago has only heightened trainer Anthony Cummings’s expectations going into the $200,000 Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. While Cummings respects the Spring Stakes as a lead-up race to the Gloaming, he’s hardly overwhelmed by the result. His filly Wordplay… Read More »
Less Is More needs to win the last lead-in to the Metropolitan for David Vandyke to at least consider starting the import in biggest staying race of the Sydney spring. Less Is More is vying for favouritism in the Colin Stephen Quality – a traditional warm-up race for the Group… Read More »
Speediness is coming into the best form of his career as he enters the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes on Sunday, says trainer Colin Scott. Scott admits it’s a big step up in class for the six-year-old gelding he bought as a yearling but says there is enough form… Read More »
More foreign horses will land in Melbourne on Saturday for the spring racing carnival. Cox Plate hopefuls Side Glance and Mull of Killough along with Melbourne Cup chance Simenon are among eight internationally trained horse who will arrive on Saturday. Marco Botti’s Australian-owned stayer Dandino, the Group One American St… Read More »
Trainer Matthew Dunn fears a lack of speed more than a wide barrier for Qfighter at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Qfighter has drawn the outside alley in the Channel Seven Handicap (1200m) but Dunn is more concerned by an apparent lack of pace in the race. “On paper there doesn’t… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse’s lawyers have challenged the interpretation of a rule under which the horse trainer was convicted and fined for not notifying stewards of a condition affecting the champion racemare More Joyous. Under the rule, a trainer is obligated to report a condition in the lead-up to a race which… Read More »
The 1200 metre AJ Moir Stakes is a highly anticipated Group 1 race held each year at the start of the Spring racing season. Due to its position on the Melbourne racing calendar, the AJ Moir Stakes is often used as a good indicator race for bigger events later in… Read More »
A heavy track at Mornington ahead of Saturday’s Ansett Classic is likely to sway connections of New Zealand horse Weissmuller to steer clear of the Listed race. Weissmuller is entered for the Ansett Classic (2415m) and also the Group Three JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night. “I’m… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse is poised for a big afternoon at Rosehill on Saturday if bookmakers have got it right. The Randwick trainer will saddle up the favourites in the first five races, including Ecuador who at $1.40 is the shortest-priced runner on the program. Aussies Love Sport is at $1.80 to… Read More »
The Epsom Handicap hopes of several Shannon Stakes runners could be extinguished by a horse with no big-race ambitions this spring. Hosting, Ashokan, Our Desert Warrior and possibly Your Honour need to win on Saturday to book their spot in the Group One field. Single, a horse laden with talent… Read More »
David Hayes has flagged a possible switch with import Jet Away after an exhibition gallop at Seymour on Thursday. The one-time Caulfield Cup favourite Jet Away is yet to make his re-appearance this spring and missed the Underwood Stakes last weekend when mucus was found in his throat. The seven-year-old… Read More »
The mantle for best sprinter in the country is up for grabs at Moonee Valley on Friday night and trainer Robert Heathcote believes he has the Moir Stakes defending champion and race favourite Buffering primed to the minute. The six-year-old gelding has yet to win a Group One race despite… Read More »
Fuerza is becoming a cryptic crossword puzzle for punters and trainer Bjorn Baker admits he too is having trouble figuring the horse out. He is hoping Saturday’s Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill goes some way towards resolving the conundrum. Fuerza was runner-up to Guelph in the Group One Champagne Stakes and… Read More »
Anthony Cummings insists his maiden colt Cluster isn’t alone in chasing a Stutt Stakes result that can provide more than a glimmer of Caulfield Guineas hope. Cluster continues his spring campaign in the Group Two race at Moonee Valley on Friday night and is the early favourite to post his… Read More »
Three-year-old Marwood gets the chance to confirm big-race ambitions on Sunday at the corresponding meeting where his mother claimed her biggest success more than a decade ago. Marwood steps up to stakes company for the first time in the Group Three Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) having shown himself to be… Read More »
The race that launched Kelinni’s career 12 months ago will again be used by Chris Waller as a crucial test for three of his imported stayers on Saturday. Kelinni recorded his first stakes victory in last year’s Colin Stephen Quality (2400m), backing up to beat all but Glencadam Gold in… Read More »
A relieved Michelle Payne can continue her association with her favourite horse Yosei in Sunday’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. Payne appealed the severity of an eight-meeting ban from Ballarat last Sunday and needed to have one meeting shaved off by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Thursday… Read More »
Apprentice Anthony Allen’s support role in rejuvenating the sprinting career of Susashi hasn’t gone unnoticed by trainer Steele Ryan. Susashi is undefeated in three starts this campaign, all with Allen in the saddle, and they will attempt to make it four straight wins in Saturday’s Powerade Handicap (1000m) at Eagle… Read More »
Brown Panther is on track for the Melbourne Cup after recovering from a high temperature to run fifth in a Listed race at Goodwood won By Grandeur. With part-owner, former English soccer great Michael Owen present, Brown Panther attempted to burn off his rivals but was conceding weight across the… Read More »
