Victoria Derby aspirations for Our Desert Warrior took a hit at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when he missed a place as a short-priced favourite. The Gai Waterhouse-trained colt, a brother to her multiple Group One winner Desert War, was sent out at $1.45 in the Super Saver Handicap (1600m) after… Read More »
In Britain, as Australians have learned over several spring carnivals, racing is done differently. This spring yet another of those differences will be revealed when one of England’s most astute trainers John Gosden runs Gatewood, one of the better international candidates. Gosden has followed a career path that is fairly… Read More »
Glass Harmonium has always been a good racehorse, but now that he can breathe, he has every chance of being a much better one. And if he has learned to get out of the barriers – as trainer Mike Moroney believes he has – he might even give opponents the… Read More »
Anthony Cummings is adamant stakeswinner She Goes To Rio can bounce back from her last start flop and give Saturday’s Listed Angst Stakes at Rosehill a shake. She Goes To Rio signalled she had come back in good order when she finished third to Miss Stellabelle first-up in the Mona… Read More »
Paul Snowden tries to muster the sort of confidence which is needed but it is hard to find as he outlines Epaulette’s chances in Saturday’s $1 million Group One Caulfield Guineas. It is tough for any rival of Gai Waterhouse’s explosive colt Pierro to be optimistic in the face of… Read More »
Queensland Oaks runner-up Eliza Blues is on Chris Waller’s short list for a trip to Melbourne, but first she has to prove herself closer to home. The mare will line up in Saturday’s Coniston Hotel Handicap over 1500 metres at Rosehill after pleasing the stable with her first-up effort over… Read More »
Stephen Farley is satisfied Sincero’s Cox Plate preparation is progressing as hoped but the trainer will keep a possible ace up his sleeve for the gelding’s spring grand final. Sincero will run in Saturday’s Group One Caulfield Stakes (2000m) and Farley won’t tinker with the dual Group One winner’s gear… Read More »
A compact field and wide draws for two of the fancied runners have deepened interest in Saturday’s Group One Caulfield Stakes. Looking to bounce back from his Underwood Stakes defeat as an even money favourite, Manighar has drawn barrier six in the eight-horse field. The winner of the Underwood, Kiwi… Read More »
Pin-up mare More Joyous has drawn barrier four in her quest to claim a second Group One Toorak Handicap victory on Saturday. More Joyous, who won the Caulfield feature two years ago, was one of 10 runners paid up for on Wednesday. Last year’s Toorak winner King Mufhasa will also… Read More »
The country’s leading Group One rider Nash Rawiller will be the new partner for Southern Speed when she defends her Caulfield Cup title on Saturday week. Rawiller replaces Glen Boss who jumped off the mare to chase the ride on Metropolitan winner Glencadam Gold in both the Caulfield and Melbourne… Read More »
Bianmick behaves more like a cheeky house guest than a thoroughbred racehorse. Until he arrives at the track. Through the week the six-year-old kicks back with cows, dogs and a goat – and waits for his evening treat from trainer Michael Brady’s partner Linda. His laidback attitude vanishes on raceday… Read More »
The Melbourne Cup trophy has made a brief stopover at a Sydney primary school where it may just have inspired a new generation of kids into the racing industry. The Cup, a hand-riveted $175,000 creation by Hardy Brothers, was brought to West Ryde Primary School in Sydney’s north west on… Read More »
An outside barrier will do nothing to stop super colt Pierro from winning this Saturday’s $1 million Caulfield Guineas, according to owner Greg Kolivos. The Gai Waterhouse-trained Pierro has drawn gate seven in the eight-horse field. Aiming for his ninth win in succession and trying to become the fifth horse… Read More »
New Zealand apprentice Alysha Collett will begin her latest Sydney stint with a trio of rides for premier trainer Chris Waller on Saturday. Collett, the sister of last season’s champion New Zealand apprentice Jason, spent three weeks with Waller during the winter when she kicked home four winners. Waller was… Read More »
Melbourne Cup plans for More Joyous have been shelved, leaving the Cox Plate as the glamour mare’s major spring target. More Joyous, an entry for Saturday’s Toorak Handicap, was missing when Melbourne Cup first acceptances were taken on Tuesday. Thirteen international horses remain in contention for a Melbourne Cup start… Read More »
Melbourne plans have been put on hold for Permit following his disappointing performance in the Group One Metropolitan. The gelding finished second last in Saturday’s 2400m feature and was not paid up for the Caulfield Cup when third acceptances were taken on Tuesday. Liam Prior, racing manager for trainer Chris… Read More »
Provincial maiden winner Our Desert Warrior is being set on a path that has the potential to reap Group One success faster than his high-profile siblings Desert War and Laser Hawk. Desert War won the first of his six Group Ones in the 2004 Epsom Handicap at his eighth start,… Read More »
Boom colt Pierro remains a dominant favourite for Saturday’s Group One Caulfield Guineas after drawing the second outside barrier. The Gai Waterhouse-trained colt has come up with gate seven, immediately to the outside of main danger Epaulette. Pierro is a clear-cut top pick at $1.30 in updated markets to give… Read More »
Here is a full list of horses withdrawn from the big spring features – the Caulfield Cup (2400m), the Cox Plate (2040m) and the Melbourne Cup (3200m) – after today’s acceptance stages. CAULFIELD CUP CHATEAU MARGAUX CLASS IS CLASS (IRE) DAME CLAIRE (NZ) DARE TO DREAM (IRE) DOWAGER QUEEN (NZ)… Read More »
A bigger, stronger and improved Dunaden can “definitely” win Saturday week’s Caulfield Cup, according to his jockey Craig Williams. Williams could barely contain himself after riding Dunaden at Werribee on Tuesday in the horse’s first gallop since returning to Australia, declaring him a better chance of winning at Caulfield than… Read More »
