With an endless string of runners, octogenarian master trainer Bart Cummings can be forgiven for forgetting a few. But he was reminded of one in particular on Saturday as he fittingly struck in the first event on the card on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington…. Read More »
Southern Speed is out of Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup after suffering a career-threatening leg injury at trackwork. Trainer Leon Macdonald said the mare had worked well on Saturday morning but jockey Nash Rawiller had concerns when he was pulling her up. “Nash said he wasn’t happy with how she pulled up… Read More »
A veterinary inspection has cleared imported stayer Winchester to continue his build-up to the Melbourne Cup. The former United States galloper was found to be mildly lame during a routine inspection of horses on Thursday who are still in the running for a start in the Melbourne Cup. Trained by… Read More »
Aussie jockey Corey Brown has played his part in a mini-streak for the Kiwis in the Victoria Derby but plans to snap that on Saturday when he rides Honorius. New Zealand-trained stayers have won the past three Victoria Derbys starting with Monaco Consul in 2009 who was ridden by Brown…. Read More »
Star mare Streama is set to back up in next week’s prestigious $1 million Emirates Stakes if Saturday’s Group One Myer Classic (1600m) goes to plan. Jockey Hugh Bowman describes Streama as his key ride for the Melbourne spring carnival and says she is in peak condition. Bowman said it… Read More »
The irony of Group-winning gelding Howmuchdoyouloveme is that he was bought too cheaply to attract offers. Trainer Con Karakatsanis paid just $5000 for the four-year-old, a price so low it put off potential buyers. Now, with five wins under his belt, including last month’s Group Two Caulfield Sprint (1100m), Howmuchdoyouloveme… Read More »
The Melbourne Cup Carnival is upon us, and with the emergence of Twitter as a powerful social platform, it has become an increasingly relevant outlet for information. But Twitter is not only a chance to discover information – it is also a chance to meet like-minded people. What better time… Read More »
Trainer Murray Baker and jockey James McDonald admit they might have been a bit hasty with their initial perception of Victoria Derby favourite It’s A Dundeel. McDonald said he was hardly impressed when he first looked over the colt. “Earlier on as a young horse he didn’t really show a… Read More »
The emergence of this year’s Rosehill Guineas as an outstanding form reference through Cox Plate winner Ocean Park can be further underlined – albeit in less-celebrated circumstances – on Saturday. Merlin Mustang, who arguably had the hardest run from a wide barrier in the Guineas before finishing midfield, will be… Read More »
The astute eyes of trainer Guy Walter know an Oaks winner when they see one and Zuccotto fits the bill. The filly runs in Saturday’s Wakeful Stakes (2000m) to stake her claim for the fillies Classic five days later with her trainer convinced she has what it takes. She hails… Read More »
If Dunaden wins his second Melbourne Cup, or if Gai Waterhouse wins her first with Fiorente, or if Red Cadeaux gains revenge for last year’s closest of second placings, it will count as another victory of sorts for Australia’s champion racehorse Black Caviar. All three of the imported horses have… Read More »
James McDonald tends to shy away from the accolades that have him marked down as the next star of Australian racing. But he doesn’t mind giving out the praise for his Melbourne Cup 2012 mount Fiorente, a horse he strongly believes can give Gai Waterhouse her first winner in Australia’s… Read More »
Paul Perry has an enviable record in Melbourne, particularly when it comes to the major sprints. A regular visitor to the southern capital at carnival time, the Novacastrian trainer has plundered feature races with the likes of Royal Ascot winner Choisir, Fastnet Rock, Dantelah and Notoire. On Saturday he will… Read More »
She may be the only female jockey riding at Flemington on Saturday but Lauri Wray says the tables are turning. “It’s definitely tough and they still want to put the boys on over the girls, but we’re getting more accepted,” Wray told AAP. “Most girls are natural lightweights, and the… Read More »
Gold Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich’s experience with two-year-olds has taught her not to be swept up in the whirlwind of expectation. Moroccan Rose, trained by Heinrich, is the $3.20 favourite to make a winning debut at Eagle Farm on Saturday following a dominant win in a 900m barrier trial at… Read More »
The doubt surrounding a Melbourne Cup start for imported galloper Green Moon has eased after the horse came through a searching gallop at Moonee Valley on Friday. Owner Lloyd Williams issued a provisional all clear after the workout for Green Moon, whose Cup prospects took a battering in last weekend’s… Read More »
English trainer Ed Dunlop wasn’t certain of what he was getting into when he came to Australia with Red Cadeaux for last year’s Melbourne Cup. But he learned fast and has returned with a bigger, stronger and better horse. Red Cadeaux came within a few millimetres of winning the race,… Read More »
A narrow defeat in last year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes was shattering for Nash Rawiller but he will be back sporting the same colours to chase an upset win in the race on Saturday. The top Sydney jockey was narrowly denied by Sepoy on the John O’Shea-trained Foxwedge in the Group… Read More »
Mornington trainer Paul Rocke didn’t quite know what he had when he bought Nisos – but he certainly didn’t think the gelding would be lining up in Saturday’s $1.5 million Victoria Derby at Flemington. It was Nisos who more or less planned his own destiny and while he is not… Read More »
It has been close to six months since Christian Reith has had the chance to ride Tiger Tees in a race and he is looking to a successful reunion at Flemington on Saturday. “I’m not suspended and finally get to ride him,” Reith said ahead of partnering the Joe Pride-trained… Read More »
