Never one to shy away from a Group One challenge, trainer Anthony Cummings admits he had to be persuaded to run Fiveandahalfstar in Saturday’s Victoria Derby. Cummings avoided the traditional lead-up races in Melbourne, preferring to let the gelding establish winning form with two victories in restricted races in Sydney…. Read More »
Leon Corstens can see no better way of preparing New Zealander Zabeelionaire for next week’s Melbourne Cup than following the proven formula of his former boss Bart Cummings. That means running the four-year-old in the $1 million Group One Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) on Saturday. Zabeelionaire already has a berth in… Read More »
Grahame Begg is confident Secret Admirer has regained the necessary freshness to overcome a significant drop in distance from the Caulfield Cup to the Myer Classic. Secret Admirer ventured to uncharted territory in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) last start but reverts to 1600 metres in the Myer, the distance at… Read More »
A horse who almost earned a spot on Paul Perry’s Melbourne spring carnival team will carry his hopes at Rosehill on Saturday. Smart sprinter Stratana will resume in the Bradford Solar Hcp (1100m), a race which has attracted a handy field headed by proven stakes performers News Alert, Uate and… Read More »
Permit will figure in a gear change for Saturday’s Lexus Stakes when he lines up as one of two Chris Waller-trained stayers chasing a Melbourne Cup berth at Flemington. Waller has last-start Group One Metropolitan runner-up Kelinni in the Lexus (2500m) along with Permit who will have ear muffs re-applied… Read More »
Victorian paramedics fear resources are being diverted to treat binge drinkers, as a new report shows the Melbourne Cup is the city’s booziest sporting event. The race topped the tables as the worst sporting event for alcohol intoxication and assaults during the day and before the event, according to the… Read More »
The highly promising Great Choice has undergone a dressage course to help curb the impeccably bred colt’s waywardness. The Brett Thompson-trained Great Choice, who created a big impression winning his only start at Dubbo, steps out in the Burkes Building Supplies Benchmark 50 Hcp (1200m) at Bathurst on Friday. By… Read More »
The Melbourne Cup tops the list as the city’s booziest sporting event of the year, a new report says. The race topped the tables as the worst sporting event for alcohol intoxication and assaults during the day and before the event, according to the VicHealth and Eastern Health Turning Point… Read More »
Victorian police are urging racegoers to celebrate responsibly or face fines during Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival. Police will have a strong presence on all major race days and will be targeting post-event behaviour in Ascot Vale, Moonee Ponds and Flemington. Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Crisp urged punters to be… Read More »
The return to winning form by Streama has boosted Guy Walter’s confidence ahead of her bid for a third Group One in Saturday’s Myer Classic at Flemington. The winner of last season’s Flight Stakes and Australian Oaks, Streama’s first two starts this campaign were mixed when she followed a first-up… Read More »
Champion jockey Darren Beadman has publicly thanked his fans for their well wishes on the announcement of his retirement. Beadman is continuing his rehabilitation from serious head injuries suffered in a fall in Hong Kong in February which ended his career. He ended months of speculation when he appeared on… Read More »
Snitzerland has been Corey Brown’s headline horse this spring and he is confident the filly can claim a deserved Group One win at Flemington on Saturday. The Gerald Ryan-trained three-year-old is equal favourite for the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) along with another filly Nechita from the Patinack Farm… Read More »
While question marks hang over the ability of many of Saturday’s Victoria Derby contenders to run the distance, that is the least of trainer Murray Baker’s concerns about It’s A Dundeel. The 2500 metres of a spring Derby has brought many undone in the past but canny New Zealander Baker… Read More »
Cox Plate winner Ocean Park is stifling betting on Saturday’s Mackinnon Stakes after being installed a short priced favourite to land his fifth consecutive Group One victory. The four-year-old opened at $1.55 with TAB fixed odds on Wednesday with Caulfield Cup runner-up Alcopop ($6) and December Draw ($9) the only… Read More »
Tommy Berry has been left without a Derby Day ride but still plans to head to Flemington to experience the atmosphere ahead of the Melbourne Cup meeting where he’s booked for Glencadam Gold. Gai Waterhouse had planned to start Glencadam Gold in Saturday’s Lexus Stakes ahead of the Melbourne Cup… Read More »
Glen Boss has played another starring role in a feature race with his dashing victory aboard Puissance De Lune in Wednesday’s Listed Bendigo Cup. Boss, who won Saturday’s Cox Plate on Ocean Park, steered the French import across from his wide draw to sit outside race leader Fiumicino. Puissance De… Read More »
The first and only time trainer Angela Davies took a two-year-old to Rosehill on a Saturday was memorable for the wrong reasons. She’s A Stalker made her juvenile debut at the track in December last year and failed to finish due to shin soreness. On Saturday Davies will return with… Read More »
Champion rider Damien Oliver is hoping first impressions are all they seem after his introductory ride on 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain on Wednesday. “He’s a lot more impressive when you get on his back than when you look at him,” Oliver said. “He’s such a big and imposing horse… Read More »
Craig Williams came to Werribee on Wednesday morning looking for signs of change in the reigning Melbourne Cup champion Dunaden. What he found was a horse in the exact same condition as he was before he rode him to victory in the Caulfield Cup and better than when he won… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse has not given up hope Glencadam Gold can take part in the Melbourne Cup. Waterhouse says she won’t run the imported stayer in Saturday’s Lexus Stakes at Flemington after discovering heat in one of his legs on Tuesday. She will still be represented in the race by Reuben… Read More »
