The best two-year-olds proved too good for Bass Strait this time last year. But the passing of time, the acquisition of some better manners and a Sandown victory on Wednesday have encouraged trainer David Hayes to consider tackling this season’s better three-year-olds. Bass Strait had only two runs in his… Read More »
A trip to town for lightly-raced mare Pineapple has been put on the backburner – for now. The four-year-old is an early scratching from the Cloudy Bay Sprint (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday with new trainer Sean McCormick instead favouring an easier task at Canberra a day earlier. Formerly with… Read More »
A drop in class encouraged the best from the Pat Carey-trained Altonio at Sandown on Wednesday. And the horse’s win in the Premier Signs Handicap (2400m) duly persuaded Carey to have another crack at a better race. Carey had been aiming Altonio at the Listed Bagot Handicap at Flemington on… Read More »
Promising colt Knoydart showed why his trainer rated him close to unbeatable at Warwick Farm on Wednesday with a win that promises to be a springboard to autumn carnival targets. It might have only been a midweek maiden but the Peter Snowden-trained colt put his opposition away by five lengths… Read More »
Jockey Damian Browne believes Missy Longstocking’s versatility will be the key to her Magic Millions Classic prospects. While leading fancies Assail and Clevadude have clearly established on-pace racing patterns, Missy Longstocking has shown she is not one-dimensional according to Browne. “With most two-year-olds you’ll find they either want to lead… Read More »
The major targets in an autumn campaign for Pierro are undecided, the glamour colt’s owner says. Greg Kolivos said all options – with the exception of an Australian Derby start – remained on the table for the Gai Waterhouse-trained star. “We haven’t locked in a specific program yet,” Kolivos told… Read More »
Trainer Danny Williams will split his racing team on Saturday to enhance his chances of landing a two-state double. Barn mates War Charm and Deceiver were both paid up for the same 1200m races at Rosehill and Flemington. In Queensland for the Magic Millions sales, Williams confirmed Deceiver would board… Read More »
Americain will make his 2013 southern hemisphere breeding season debut at Swettenham Stud, the famous thoroughbred nursery which boasts a rich association with modern-day Melbourne Cup winners. The 2010 Melbourne Cup hero and the hardluck tale of the 2011 edition, Americain has already started stallion duties at the famed United… Read More »
Craig Newitt remains steadfast in his belief Clevadude can still win the Magic Millions Classic despite the Melbourne two-year-old falling from favour with bookmakers after the barrier draw for Saturday’s race. Newitt has the task of helping Clevadude overcome a wide alley in the $2 million feature on the Gold… Read More »
A Magic Millions start didn’t eventuate for Dream Forward but the filly could instead put herself in the frame for an autumn carnival campaign at Rosehill on Saturday. Connections of the Wyong Magic Millions third placegetter didn’t accept for Saturday’s Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast because the filly… Read More »
The long-running case mounted by Victorian stewards against Sydney trainer Con Karakatsanis and his father Tony had “radically altered” during its hearing and should be dismissed, the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board has heard. The two men face charges in relation to the discovery of stomach-tubing equipment in the… Read More »
More than six years after last riding at Sandown, veteran jockey Brian Werner will be back on Wednesday looking to give his comeback to the saddle the perfect kick-start. Werner walked away from racing and riding in 2006 after a 29-year career. But with a strong desire to return to… Read More »
Port Macquarie trainer Neil Godbolt doesn’t race horses in Sydney too often. But when you’ve got a horse that’s well-bred and is the winner of its past three starts in the country by a combined total of 17 lengths, a trip to town is hard to resist. Godbolt will be… Read More »
Lessons learnt from an unforgiving introduction to black-type racing could be pivotal to Maroney Avenue’s chances of winning the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on Thursday. Maroney Avenue took an unbeaten record into the Carrington Stakes but inexperience and a minor injury concern conspired against the Rodney Northam-trained sprinter extending… Read More »
Former trainer Tony Karakatsanis has been called on to explain how he could mistake a chaff bag containing two lengths of plastic tubing and a basin, for a bag of hay. Giving evidence in his defence before the Victoria’s Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board, Karakatsanis said he made an… Read More »
Sydney filly Assail and Melbourne youngster Clevadude have met with contrasting fortunes in the Magic Millions Classic barrier draw. Assail drew the rails, ensuring the Clarry Conners-trained two-year-old tightened her grip on favouritism for the $2 million race. She firmed from $2.80 to $2.60 as Clevadude eased from $3 to… Read More »
The first lady of Australian racing returned to her old “home” on Monday, bigger, stronger and maybe even better than when she left it seven months ago. Black Caviar used her own twitter account to announce her arrival back at trainer Peter Moody’s Caulfield stable after completing her pre-training at… Read More »
A recent Flemington double with British General and Tuscan Fire has fuelled Dan O’Sullivan’s ambitions of a repeat at the same track on Saturday. The pair won at the New Year’s Day meeting and premiership leader Glen Boss has committed to both horses again but the trainer has some reservations… Read More »
Assail has been promoted to Magic Millions favouritism over Clevadude ahead of Tuesday’s barrier draw for the summer’s richest race. The Clarry Conners-trained filly firmed from $3 equal favourite to $2.80 on Monday after the declaration of the final field for the $2 million race for two-year-olds at the Gold… Read More »
A field of 13 has been declared for the Gosford Gold Cup with Gai Waterhouse and Peter Snowden each saddling up two runners in Thursday’s Listed race. Waterhouse will start up-and-coming stayer Travolta and the durable Reuben Percival in a race which holds special significance for the Randwick trainer. This… Read More »
