Local trainers are heavily favoured to win this year’s Melbourne Cup, but not with a locally-bred horse. Only 10 of the first 50 horses in the Cup weights released on Tuesday were bred in Australia or New Zealand with 22 of the 40 foreigners now trained here. As a result… Read More »
Guy Walter remains optimistic about Toydini’s chances in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle despite the barrier draw going against him. The four-year-old has drawn gate 15 of 18 but will come in two spots if the emergencies don’t run on Wednesday. The $150,000 Cameron (1500m) is an important lead-up in… Read More »
George Main Stakes entry Sincero could have his spring reshaped to include a start in the Epsom Handicap. Trainer Stephen Farley said he was now open-minded about giving Sincero another chance to complete Sydney’s spring Group One mile double following the release of Epsom weights on Monday. Winner of the… Read More »
Long-time favourite Puissance De Lune will carry 54.5kg in the Melbourne Cup with 2011 winner Dunaden the 58.5kg topweight. Last year’s winner Green Moon has gone up 3kg on the 54.5kg he carried to victory while 2012 runner-up Fiorente has 55kg, a rise of 1.5kg. Green Moon’s Lloyd Williams-owned stablemate… Read More »
Golden Slipper runner-up Sidestep has been ruled out of the Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate. The Peter Snowden stable advised Racing Victoria on Monday that Sidestep, who finished fourth in Saturday’s $1 million Group One Golden Rose (1400m), would be withdrawn from both races. However, the colt has been kept… Read More »
Silent Achiever will be chasing an upset win in Saturday’s Underwood Stakes to continue a recent run of success in the race for New Zealand horses. The Roger James-trained mare couldn’t get clear running when 11th in the Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m), won in dominant fashion by superstar Atlantic… Read More »
Missing a scheduled run in the Chelmsford Stakes could be a blessing for Streama who is among 15 entries for Saturday’s Group One George Main Stakes. Trainer Guy Walter pulled the pin on the Group Two Chelmsford on September 7 after the mare’s hard run in the Warwick Stakes two… Read More »
As expected, five-time Group One winner Shoot Out has been given top weight of 58kg for next month’s $500,000 Epsom Handicap. The Chris Waller-trained gelding, who will look to add to his Group One tally in Saturday’s weight-for-age George Main Stakes, will carry the same Epsom weight as he did… Read More »
Star sprinter Hay List heads to the Group Two Shorts at Randwick in somewhat better condition than his trainer who is nursing a sore head after a trackwork fall on Monday morning. John McNair said the injury-prone gelding was fit and well ahead of Saturday’s race but he was feeling… Read More »
International jockey of the moment Joao Moreira will be the star attraction a this week’s two-day carnival at Newcastle with local trainer Kris Lees snapping up his services. Originally from Brazil, Moreira is mooted to be taking up a Hong Kong contract next month after four years at the top… Read More »
A total ban on anabolic steroids in racehorses in and out of competition in Australia will come into effect next year. The Australian Racing Board (ARB) announced a zero tolerance policy on Monday, saying there would be heavy penalties for any breaches of the new rule. The ARB said the… Read More »
One-time boom filly Politeness is starting to live up to the early hype but faces her first big test of the season in Saturday’s Thousand Guineas Prelude. The Robert Smerdon-trained filly emerged on the scene amid fanfare earlier this year but failed to meet her trainer’s expectations with three unplaced… Read More »
The Underwood Stakes is shaping as a Cox Plate preview with the three market leaders ready to do battle in the Group One race at Caulfield on Saturday. Atlantic Jewel will be nominated for the Underwood (1800m) on the back of what turned out to be little more than a… Read More »
The race for a coveted Caulfield Cup berth is on in earnest in Saturday’s Naturalism Stakes and trainer Mick Price is hoping it is one of his European imports who get the prize. Price will start Pakal and Bit Of Hell in the Group Three Naturalism (2000m) at Caulfield, with… Read More »
Jim Cassidy could ride his 100th Group One winner as early as Saturday with trainer Chris Waller considering the George Main Stakes for progressive stayer Hawkspur. Cassidy brought up No.99 aboard the Waller-trained Zoustar in Saturday’s $1 million Golden Rose. He is on the verge of joining elite company with… Read More »
Respected racing journalist Keith Robbins has died after a brief illness, shortly before his 82nd birthday. The racing editor of the Daily Telegraph for 35 years from the 1960s to 1980s, Robbins came out of retirement in the 1990s for a stint as the racing editor of the Sun Herald…. Read More »
Trainer Joe Pride has called time on the spring campaign of Rain Affair following his lacklustre performance in the Sebring Sprint. Sent out an easing favourite, the speedster took up the running in Saturday’s 1400m race but had no answer when challenged in the straight, wilting to finish a soundly… Read More »
Spirit Of Boom’s grand final this campaign will be in Perth but trainer Tony Gollan expects him to be highly competitive in the Group Two Shorts at Randwick on Saturday. Gollan was impressed with the way Spirit Of Boom finished strongly in the final 400 metres of a Doomben jump-out… Read More »
Chris Munce has described a stewards’ decision to suspend him for a month for improper riding as “outrageous”. Munce left Doomben on Saturday fuming after stewards found him guilty of improper riding, alleging he altered his whip action aboard Platinum Mint and made deliberate contact with Magic In Motion passing… Read More »
A relieved David Vandyke will now look to Melbourne with up-and-coming import Prince Cheri after he scored a narrow win in a drama-packed end to Golden Rose day. Vandyke said pre-race that Prince Cheri needed to win the Group Three Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) to prove he warranted a trip… Read More »
