Apprentice riders had a day out at Sandown on Wednesday winning six of the eight races. Jake Duffy completed the big day for the in-demand junior riders at the winter meeting when he arrived in time aboard the John Salanitri-trained Bitola to take out the Le Pine Funerals Handicap (1400m)…. Read More »
Tony Pattillo will be able to ride Anagold in Saturday’s Caloundra Cup despite being suspended for careless riding at Eagle Farm on Wednesday. Pattillo was outed for seven meetings for causing interference to Primus Maximus (Michael Hellyer) at the 1400-metre mark in the Gallopers Sports Club Plate when he rode… Read More »
Group One-winning jockey Grant Cooksley suffered chest and internal injuries in an Eagle Farm fall on Wednesday. Cooksley was tossed from Stargrill Boy near the 400-metre mark in the Hidden Dragon @ Lyndhurst Stud Handicap when the gelding clipped the heels of Kiss Me Deadly and blundered. Medical staff at… Read More »
A sprint race at Moonee Valley on Saturday could provide a springboard into Melbourne’s final stakes event of the season for Listed winner Octavia. The Mike Moroney-trained three-year-old filly resumes in Saturday’s Simpson Construction Handicap (1200m) for her first start since claiming the Kevin Hayes Stakes at Caulfield in February…. Read More »
Rain continues to play havoc with horse racing in NSW with two provincial thoroughbred meetings the latest hit by wet weather. Racing officials on Wednesday were forced to postpone one race meeting and transfer another after two racecourses failed track inspections. But all is not entirely lost for the industry… Read More »
Damian Browne believes Zennista is the benchmark stayer in the Caloundra Cup. Zennista finished third to Moriarty and Quintessential in the Brisbane Cup which Browne rates as the best form reference for Saturday’s Listed race. Most of Zennista’s rivals raced in either the Ipswich or Tattersall’s Cup in their lead-up… Read More »
The Group One Thousand Guineas is the spring aim for the promising Tango’s Daughter after her win at Sandown on Wednesday. Confirming an inglorious run on debut in January is now all but a distant memory, the Mick Price-trained filly made it back-to-back victories in the Equine Haven Racehorse Spelling… Read More »
An unconventional preparation for a horse with an unconventional name. The Gai Waterhouse-trained Reuben Percival will go into Saturday’s Listed Winter Cup (2400m) on the back of just one official barrier trial and a first-up run over 1400 metres. Despite the gelding’s lack of recent racing, Waterhouse’s stable foreman Mark… Read More »
Victorian racing officials are targeting Sydney stables to try to boost NSW interest in Melbourne’s feature races. Representatives from the Melbourne Racing Club have been in Sydney canvassing leading trainers and drumming up interest in its premier two-year-old race, ahead of next week’s deadline to nominate for the Group One… Read More »
Craig Newitt will not return to England to ride Shamexpress in the Group One July Cup. Newitt partnered the Newmarket Handicap winner to a midfield finish in last week’s Group One King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and was back in Melbourne on Wednesday, riding the first winner at Sandown…. Read More »
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Corey Brown has been rewarded for his impressive Kranji form with another Singapore contract. Brown will ride in Singapore on a mini contract extension until July 14 before he returns for a four-month stay from September 1. In between, the Sydney premiership-winning jockey will ride in France…. Read More »
Bumper nominations for Rosehill on Saturday could result in a 10-event card with the Australian Turf Club poised to divide at least one race. ATC racing and wagering boss Col Tuck said the club would make a final decision on the make-up of the program when final acceptances are taken… Read More »
Scone trainer Greg Bennett is banking on a $200,000 race in Queensland lacking the depth of one in Sydney half its value as he confirms weekend plans for Kaypers. Bennett will run Kaypers in the Caloundra Cup in preference to the $100,000 Winter Cup at Rosehill. “I’m thinking the race… Read More »
They’re not all snipers, but for the most part they are a hit in the wet. And trainer Tracey Bartley is hoping that trend continues at Canterbury on Wednesday when he saddles up Slick Sniper in the Gabby’s Birthday Handicap (1900m). Bartley has put the polish on four horses out… Read More »
Midweek racing in winter is a long way from carnival competition but trainer Peter Moody believes Il Diamante can make the progression. The Moody-trained two-year-old filly Il Diamante heads to town for the first time in Wednesday’s Equine Haven Racehorse Spelling Plate (1000m) on the back of an impressive debut… Read More »
A Racing Victoria panel should have stood down jockey Damien Oliver sooner as it investigated his betting on a rival horse, the state’s racing integrity commissioner says.
Rain has forced the cancellation of Tuesday’s Warwick Farm meeting but officials are hopeful Canterbury can go ahead a day later. Australian Turf Club racecourse manager Lindsay Murphy said he and stewards had inspected Canterbury after calling Warwick Farm off. “Canterbury looks quite good,” Murphy said. “We were more than… Read More »
Disqualified jockey Danny Nikolic has failed in his bid to have misconduct charges thrown out on the basis he was not bound by the Rules of Racing when they were issued. Lawyers for Nikolic argued at a hearing last week before Victoria’s Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board that stewards… Read More »
David Hayes already has high hopes for import Jet Away this spring and is excited to welcome another quality international galloper into his camp. Crackerjack King, a half-brother to last year’s Melbourne Cup placegetter Jakkalberry and also raced by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, is being transferred to Hayes’ stable and the… Read More »
Trainer Robert Smerdon says the track condition at Warrnambool on Sunday will be the key to Black And Bent’s chances of bouncing back to winning form in the Kevin Lafferty Hurdle. Black And Bent failed to extend his Australian record sequence of successive wins over the jumps beyond 10 when… Read More »
