A winning introduction to Sydney racing and an impressive attitude have earned New Zealand apprentice Alysha Collett a small extension to her stay with premier trainer Chris Waller. Collett rode the second city winner of her two-week Sydney stint when successful aboard Midnight Minx in the Bowerman’s Office Furniture Plate… Read More »
Craig Newitt kept his chances in the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership alive with a last gasp win at Mornington on Wednesday. But even at his most hopeful, Newitt admitted his chances of claiming his first title have all but vanished. “My head’s just above water,” Newitt said. Newitt’s arch-rival Luke Nolen… Read More »
Former champion jockey Ron Quinton will rely on the navigational skills of Glyn Schofield after stakeswinner Irish Dream came up with the outside gate for Saturday’s Listed Winter Challenge. The Quinton-trained Irish Dream broke through for a valuable black type victory in the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) last start and… Read More »
Injured jockey Michelle Payne has been cleared to return to trackwork riding and is set to make her race day comeback early next month. The popular Victorian hoop suffered five fractured vertebrae, two broken ribs and bruising to her face and chest in a fall at Donald on May 13…. Read More »
The past 18 months have been a roller coaster for Toby Edmonds but he is hoping to capitalise on what he sees as a bright future for racing in Brisbane. Edmonds was the trainer for Patinack Farm’s Queensland arm until they severed ties in February last year. It meant Edmonds… Read More »
World champion sprinter Black Caviar left quarantine, checked in briefly at her Caulfield stables and then made a dramatic departure to a secret location. The mare is set to undergo a series of intensive veterinary tests this week to determine the extent of muscle injuries revealed after her win in… Read More »
Group One winner My Kingdom Of Fife has been sent for a spell and will miss the spring carnival. Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller said he had made the decision to send the imported gelding back to the paddock as he was not satisfied he had fully recovered from a… Read More »
The much-anticipated debut of one of the most expensive yearlings sold in Australia in recent years comes with high expectations at Werribee on Thursday. But it seems another well bred colt from the same stable who is due to make his first appearance at Caulfield on Saturday is the newcomer… Read More »
The chequered career of Daniel Ganderton has taken another hit with the troubled jockey suspended for two months for not giving a horse every chance in a race at Canterbury. Ganderton hit out at stewards during Wednesday’s inquiry when he was charged with not taking all reasonable and permissible measures… Read More »
Having trained a Cox Plate winner and won trainers’ premierships in two states it might be difficult to imagine how a life in horse racing could be improved upon. But it is typical of Tony McEvoy that his latest challenge is the one that is giving him more joy than… Read More »
A horse carrying silks made famous by the late Jim Houlahan has given his grand-daughter her first win as a trainer. Echelon, trained by Amy Johnston, won at Pakenham on Tuesday in Houlahan’s colours of light blue with black stripes and maroon sleeves and cap. Johnston is the 26-year-old daughter… Read More »
Chad Schofield will start the defence of his Sydney apprentices’ premiership on the sidelines after being suspended at Wyong. Schofield, who is set to claim his first Sydney apprentices’ title, was outed for five meetings for careless riding at the Australian Turf Club meeting on Tuesday. The 18-year-old notched his… Read More »
Bashboy headlines nominations for Sunday’s Grand National Steeplechase as trainer Cairon Maher strives for successive wins in the jumps feature. Maher prepared Man Of Class to an upset win in the $250,000 Grand National Steeple (4500m) last year and comeback jumper Bashboy is likely to be a short-priced favourite on… Read More »
Supporters of two-year-old Relaxed And Happy would have been just that watching the youngster space his rivals at Wyong on Tuesday. The Chris Waller-trained gelding, helped by a well-judged front-running Nash Rawiller ride, skipped across the wet conditions to keep his unbeaten record intact at the Australian Turf Club meeting…. Read More »
Replacing one stakes-winning horse with another is never easy for a small stable but Jarrod Austin believes Sydney’s last black-type feature of the racing season is an opportunity to fill a void. Austin has Spinnawitch, a shock first-up winner, entered for the $100,000 Winter Challenge at Warwick Farm on Saturday…. Read More »
Injury robbed Mr Chard of a Cox Plate campaign last spring but trainer Dean Lawson is dreaming of a second chance. Mr Chard, who has raced just once since last year’s Australian Guineas, is set to resume in Saturday’s Group Three Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield with Lawson looking forward… Read More »
Mick Smith returns to Canterbury on Wednesday hoping for a reversal in metropolitan fortunes with bush mare Money Never Sleeps. Money Never Sleeps is back in town for the TAB Sportsbet Handicap (1900m), a month after she was declared a non-runner at the same track when the race started without… Read More »
French stayer Dunaden is unlikely to defend his Melbourne Cup crown with a decision about his immediate racing future expected to be made on Tuesday. Options for Dunaden’s end-of-year campaign have been left open to include a return trip to Australia or a start in the Prix de l’Arc de… Read More »
There won’t be a better horse racing at Caulfield on Saturday than Heart Of Dreams. It’s just a matter of whether the dual Group One winner is recovered from a knee problem suffered last spring and if he’s as happy about being a racehorse as he was during his stellar… Read More »
Golden Slipper runner-up Snitzerland is little more than a week away from a barrier trial in preparation for her spring campaign which is aimed at the Coolmore Stud Stakes in November. The Gerald Ryan-trained filly was the surprise packet of the Slipper, leading the field into the straight and holding… Read More »
