No action is to taken against any jockey who rode in a race that led to claims of widespread corruption in Victorian racing. Victoria Police investigated the race run in August, 2011 at Cranbourne, handing over their findings to the state’s public prosecutor who is not taking the matter any… Read More »
His skull cap was decorated with a bright, shiny cover as were his indiscretions. Damien Oliver, dual Melbourne Cup winner, Hall of Fame jockey and one-time punter returned to riding after an enforced eight-month absence on Monday, bouncing back as though he’d hardly been away. One of the first horses… Read More »
One of the most celebrated comebacks in Australian racing got under way on Monday when Damien Oliver sat on a horse for the first time in eight months. Oliver’s eight-month disqualification for betting $10,000 on a horse in a race in which he rode ended at the weekend. He still… Read More »
A trip from Sydney to Melbourne for one ride on a cold, wet Sunday at Sandown always looked like a questionable gamble for Sydney jockey Blake Shinn. It turned out to be a disaster. Shinn, who copped two suspensions amounting to 27 meetings at Warwick Farm on Saturday, rode first-starter… Read More »
Snitzerland returns to Gerald Ryan’s stable on Monday to be prepared for a campaign aimed at an elusive Group One victory and an invitation to Royal Ascot. The filly has been runner-up twice at Group One level in the 2012 Golden Slipper and the Galaxy earlier this year. Black Caviar’s… Read More »
The best two horses in the game, the best jockey and two of Australia’s finest trainers shared the triumphs at Sandown on Sunday as the positive side of jumps racing scored a victory over the negative. For sustained power the day belonged to Crisp Steeplechase winner Bashboy; for courage and… Read More »
Londehero returns to training with Matt Dunn this week with the $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill in September an ambitious target. His return coincides with another setback for stablemate The White Hope, a horse Dunn rates as among the most talented he has trained but also one of the… Read More »
A race lost on protest could prove crucial to Nash Rawiller’s late bid for the Sydney jockeys’ premiership. In the past couple of weeks, Rawiller has made the most of Hugh Bowman’s annual holiday in Ireland, and has whittled the lead back to 5-1/2 with five meetings remaining. A treble… Read More »
An international campaign could be ahead of Crisp Steeplechase winner Bashboy who proved himself Australia’s supreme jumps horse with another dominant victory. With his opportunities limited and with prohibitive weights now assured for Bashboy, trainer Ciaron Maher said would “have a think” about overseas alternatives after the Grand National Steeplechase… Read More »
Connections of Sky Lantern are considering appealing the result of the Falmouth Stakes. The Richard Hannon-trained filly, winner of the 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes, was beaten a neck by Elusive Kate at Newmarket on Friday but was carried across the track as the winner hung left in the hands… Read More »
Australia’s Shamexpress has finished out of the money in the July Cup won by Lethal Force at Newmarket but trainer Danny O’Brien says he has no regrets about taking the colt to England. Shamexpress, who was also unplaced in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, will return to Australia… Read More »
Multiple Group One-winning Australian mare Sea Siren has her sights lowered as she makes her first appearance for Aidan O’Brien at Fairyhouse on Sunday. The five-year-old struck three times at the highest level for Australian trainer John O’Shea and was snapped up by the Coolmore triumvirate of John Magnier, Michael… Read More »
Blake Shinn’s winning streak has come to an end with a one-month suspension for two separate offences at Warwick Farm on Saturday. Shinn has ridden seven winners in the past week including Mr O’Ceirin in Thursday’s Grafton Cup and three at Goulburn on Friday. He will be out after Wednesday’s… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse made a triumphant return to Sydney racing after her annual European holiday to serve notice she was still a force to be reckoned with. In her absence, premier trainer Chris Waller passed the Sydney record for the number of wins in a season, previously held jointly by Waterhouse… Read More »
An anonymous tip regarding the bona fides of the training of Al Dhafra prompted the scratching of the galloper from a race at Warwick Farm on Saturday. The six-year-old is registered as being trained by Wayne Hudd at Goulburn but stewards were alerted he was in fact being prepared on… Read More »
Brad Stewart’s tale of woe aboard Lucky Hussler in the Tattersall’s Mile continued in the stewards room when he was suspended and fined. Stewart pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge and was suspended for seven meetings for allowing Lucky Hussler to shift in on the home turn, causing Firebolt… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse made a triumphant return to Sydney racing after her annual European holiday to serve notice she was still a force to be reckoned with. In her absence, premier trainer Chris Waller passed the Sydney record for the number of wins in a season, previously held jointly by Waterhouse… Read More »
The Villiers Stakes is the long-term goal for Loaded after his runaway win in Saturday’s Tattersall’s Mile at Doomben. Loaded ($3.10), who won at Eagle Farm last week, handled the seven day back-up with ease when he scored by 1-1/4 lengths from Pepperwood ($41) with Boogie Shoes ($31) a short… Read More »
Pillar of Creation saved the day for co-trainers Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra when he lived up to recent form in making it three wins from his last five starts at Caulfield. The three-year-old gelding, backed from $11 to $7.50 in the Richmond FC 60K Member Handicap on Saturday, overcame… Read More »
By his own admission, David Hayes was wondering 12 months ago what it was like to train a winner. But as the stable celebrated its 150th success of the season at Caulfield on Saturday, Melbourne’s seven-time champion trainer had became so familiar with the old feeling he could afford to… Read More »
