Peter Wells has become the first jockey in NSW to fail a breath test on race day, a result he described as bizarre after he was taken off his only ride at Randwick on Monday. Wells was tested at 5.10pm, 27 minutes before he was due to ride Joku in… Read More »
Craig Williams has applied a piece of simple reasoning to his choice of New Zealand two-year-old Ruud Awakening in Saturday’s Golden Slipper ahead of Black Opal winner Criterion – he thinks she can beat the favourite Overreach. “If I didn’t think Ruud Awakening could beat Overreach I wouldn’t be on… Read More »
Talented apprentice Chad Schofield endured one of most harrowing days of his short and chequered career when he was suspended for 27 meetings and fined $1500 at Caulfield on Monday. Schofield also rode a winner on the card, but any joy it may have provided was overshadowed by the heavy… Read More »
The relief was palpable for Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie after Margins rediscovered winning form at Eagle Farm on Monday. Currie has worked hard to manage niggling injuries with Margins since he finished a close and unlucky second to Brambles in last year’s Rough Habit Plate at Doomben. “It’s been a… Read More »
Fiveandahalfstar made a brief visit to the new Randwick parade ring on Monday for a familiarisation tour of the facility. The favourite for Saturday’s BMW at Rosehill, Fiveandahalfstar will back up a week later in the Australian Derby to take on It’s A Dundeel, winner of the Randwick and Rosehill… Read More »
There is still much to be done, but the promise of what will be had racegoers enthusiastic about the future of Randwick. A partial opening of the incomplete facilities on Monday drew a restricted crowd of 3359 with amenities given a test run before the Australian Derby meeting on April… Read More »
Isabella Snowflake has undergone surgery on a severed tendon but her racing days are almost certainly over. The filly suffered the injury to her off hind leg in Saturday’s Group One Galaxy at Rosehill won by Bel Esprit. Her breeder and managing owner Craig McDonald said on Twitter the surgery… Read More »
Chris Waller will send hardened warriors Shoot Out and Danleigh on a difficult mission to topple Pierro in Saturday’s George Ryder Stakes. Danleigh won the Group One race three years ago and showed with his recent third to Shoot Out in the Chipping Norton Stakes he still retained his zest… Read More »
Randwick Racecourse will open its gates for the first time in five months on Monday for a test run of the new amenities ahead of its autumn carnival feature days. About 60 per cent of the facilities will be operating but for some, the chance to race their horses on… Read More »
Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp says Tinto’s laid-back nature is what distinguishes her from most two-year-olds. “She’s got one of the best temperaments of any filly I’ve had anything to do with,” he said. “At the Gold Coast before her first start she walked around the enclosure with her head down… Read More »
Mat Ellerton described Melting Pot as a raw talent after his eye-catching first-up win and the co-trainer will be hoping the gelding goes on with the job at Caulfield on Monday. Three-year-old Melting Pot had his first campaign cut short after his second start in September when he suffered injuries… Read More »
Racing Victoria has appointed two former police officers to its compliance assurance team (CAT) which has been behind a number of high-profile prosecutions over the past six months. Former Victoria Police detectives Tim Robinson and Rhys Melville will join the CAT in May. Robinson, a former member of the Purana… Read More »
Promising three-year-old Pro Consul resumes at Muswellbrook on Monday beginning a campaign aimed at the $400,000 Inglis 3YO Guineas. Pro Consul, with Greg Buckley aboard, tackles the Mangoola Coal Class 1 Hcp over 1000m first-up from a 71-day break. “The 1000 metres is probably a bit short but we’ve got… Read More »
A second stakes win in her past two starts has Arinosa on a Group One mission in Brisbane. The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old took out Saturday’s Group Three Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill two weeks after claiming her first black-type win in the Wenona Girl Quality. As she did last… Read More »
Havana Rey has been a special horse to Bjorn Baker and capped a memorable day for the trainer’s family with victory in the Group Two Ajax Stakes at Rosehill. Havana Rey has been a major player in Baker’s emergence in the Sydney training ranks in the past 18 months and… Read More »
Laughter and tears greeted the win of Bel Sprinter on Saturday after the gelding finally fulfilled his Group One destiny at Rosehill. Trainer Jason Warren thought he was watching a re-run of the 2012 Galaxy (1100m) when Bel Sprinter ($10) bungled the start and came out last. But unlike last… Read More »
Sunshine Coast trainer Natalie McCall believes River Lad is racing pain-free for the first time in his career. Back problems have continually dogged River Lad but McCall said a lot of time and painstaking care was the key to his victory in Saturday’s Bribie Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm. “He… Read More »
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney and next spring’s Caulfield Cup are on the agenda for imported galloper Jet Away after he scored his second Australian win from as many starts in the Easter Cup (2000m. Jet Away burst onto the local scene two weeks ago when he won at… Read More »
Sydney’s autumn triple crown is at the mercy of star colt It’s A Dundeel after he made a one-act affair of the Group One Rosehill Guineas on Saturday. With the Randwick Guineas already in his keeping, It’s A Dundeel was sent out at the prohibitive odds of $1.30 in the… Read More »
He came within a millimetre of ending his career last August but now African Pulse is only a couple of runs away from the stakes win he deserves. African Pulse stamped his class and authority on the Bert Bryant Handicap in his return to racing at Caulfield on Saturday, winning… Read More »
