Trainer Pat Carey won’t commit Gondokoro to a Cups campaign despite her dominant win in the Group One Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Gondokoro ($4.40) responded to a superb tactical ride by jockey Rhys McLeod to win the Oaks by 2-3/4 lengths from Miss Zenella ($9) with Vaquera… Read More »
Jockey Chris Munce capped a week of relief when he rode an inspired race to land a massive betting plunge on Sizzling in the Group Two Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Munce admitted he had been relieved on two fronts when Sizzling ($3.80) scored by a long neck… Read More »
Veteran jockey Robert Thompson can probably count on a few more rides for Tony McEvoy after a perfect start with a driving victory on Prince Of Capers at Rosehill on Saturday. Thompson, who has ridden more winners than any other Australian jockey, had to use all his skills to get… Read More »
Victorian filly Gondokoro confirmed her staying prowess with a clear-cut win in the Group One Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Given a dream run in the Classic by jockey Rhys McLeod, Gondokoro worked her way into the race from the 1000m, put in her bid on turn and… Read More »
Detours ended her racing career with a flourish by winning the Bright Shadow Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Trainer Peter Snowden made the surprise announcement after Detours ($4.60) defeated Sharnee Rose ($10) by a half length with Dystopia ($8) a head away third. “There’s every chance she’ll go to… Read More »
A stunning city debut by Belle De Coeur has young south coast trainer Luke Price dreaming big. Price nominated the Group One Myer Classic at Flemington as the spring target for the filly who took her record to three wins and an unlucky second from four starts when she won… Read More »
A return to Eagle Farm and the poise of jockey Damian Browne proved the catalyst for Fire Up Fifi’s win in the Spear Chief Handicap on Saturday. Browne had Fire Up Fifi, the $2.30 favourite, cruising in third place to the home turn before she produced an impressive turn of… Read More »
An epic battle between Quintessential and Manighar in the weight-for-age Eagle Farm Cup had a dramatic aftermath in the stewards’ room. Ridden by Damian Browne, Quintessential ($5.50) fought off a determined challenge from Manighar ($3.20) to win by a short head with Voila Ici ($14) three-quarters-of-a-length away third. But Manighar’s… Read More »
Brilliant Terror could have earned himself a trip to to Brisbane for the final juvenile Group One race of the season with his win at Rosehill on Saturday. The Bjorn Baker-trained two-year-old showed his tenacity to hold on for a half-head win over Estonian Princess in the Bishop Kevin Manning… Read More »
Jockey Michael Cahill believes Sir Moments has earned a shot at a Group One race after his narrow win in The Phoenix at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Sent out favourite, Sir Moments ($2.60) edged past Gypsy Diamond ($5.50) to win by a half-head with Cannyzing ($17) four lengths away third…. Read More »
Saturday’s feature jumps meeting at Sandown has been called off due to heavy rain in Melbourne. After an early morning inspection of the track, stewards said it was not viable to hold the meeting with more rain forecast. Racing Victoria officials are looking at options to reschedule the Australian Hurdle… Read More »
Pago Rock built on his impressive first-up statistics last start but it will be a winning sequence of another kind he’ll be out to extend on Saturday. The David Hayes-trained Pago Rock made it five first-up wins from six attempts with victory at Caulfield on May 11. He has another… Read More »
David Pfieffer insists hidden merit in Cradle Me’s first test at stakes level will be the key to her chances at Rosehill on Saturday. Pfieffer has enjoyed better results in stakes races than the one returned by Cradle Me in the Dark Jewel Classic at Scone. But rather than be… Read More »
Steven Pateman has declared reigning jumper of the year Bashboy is better than last season ahead of his return to the obstacles at Sandown. Pateman partners the Ciaron Maher-trained Bashboy in the Australian Steeplechase on Saturday, with the jockey confident of adding the one feature Australian jumps race to elude… Read More »
New Zealand apprentice Chris Dell has been presented with two gilt-edged chances to make an impression on Sydney racing when he rides at Rosehill on Saturday. In Sydney for two weeks as the winner of an annual scholarship offered by Chris Waller, Dell has two rides for the leading trainer…. Read More »
The transformation in Just As Cosmic has convinced trainer Steven Wilson he made the right call to pay a late entry fee to run her in Saturday’s Queensland Oaks. After Just As Cosmic finished fifth to Dear Demi in The Roses at Doomben on May 18, Wilson recommended the filly’s… Read More »
The winter carnival campaign of Griffon has been changed on the advice of jockey Damian Browne. Originally, the Lightning Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on June 8 was on the radar for Griffon until trainer Robert Heathcote followed Browne’s suggestion to start the gelding in Saturday’s QTC Cup (1300m) at… Read More »
Peter Moody believes the knowledge Brad Rawiller gained from riding Manighar in the Doomben Cup will lead to a better result when they combine again in Saturday’s Eagle Farm Cup. Rawiller rode Manighar for the first time in the Doomben Cup when he finished fourth to Beaten Up after sprinting… Read More »
John O’Shea is no fan of the revamped Sydney spring carnival. He has a better suggestion: move the $1 million Golden Rose from Rosehill to Randwick and run it two weeks later. That way it will be an ideal lead-up to the Caulfield Guineas. Already the richest race of the… Read More »
Jarrod McLean didn’t expect reigning jumps horse of the year Bashboy to be in Saturday’s Australian Steeplechase. And he wishes he wasn’t. McLean prepares Cats Fun who “hasn’t missed a beat” since his Brierly Steeplechase win at Warrnambool, but the trainer admits odds-on favourite Bashboy looks a class above in… Read More »
