The Luca Cumani-trained stayer who is co-favourite with English bookmakers to win the Melbourne Cup is proving just as popular with Australian pre-post punters. Mount Athos, unbeaten in two starts since joining the Cumani stable, has attracted consistent TAB Sportsbet support since the Australian wagering agency opened Melbourne Cup betting… Read More »
The intriguing battle between Luke Nolen and Craig Newitt for the Melbourne jockeys’ championship may be set for a premature and slightly low-key ending at Mornington on Wednesday. Nolen leads Newitt by two wins with three metropolitan meetings remaining in a season that has promised to go down to the… Read More »
Winter revelation Australian Star has been entered for two races on Saturday but trainer Gerald Ryan will wait until later in the week to decide whether the three-year-old backs up seven days after his latest triumph. Australian Star has been entered for the Listed Winter Challenge (1600m) at Warwick Farm… Read More »
She’s already a prolific money spinner and speedy filly Diamond Earth will be given the chance to add valuable black type to her name at Morphettville on Saturday, the final race of her two-year-old season. She is one of six juveniles among 24 entries for the Listed Lightning Stakes (formerly… Read More »
Dual Group One winner Streama may only be seen once in Sydney this spring as trainer Guy Walter gears her program around the Myer Classic in Melbourne. Streama announced herself as a filly of quality with her Flight Stakes victory last year but was overshadowed by the subsequent achievements of… Read More »
Anthony Cummings’ leading Golden Rose contender Your Song returns to the stable this week but the trainer is also looking to a few others to line up in the season’s first Group One race. Last-start winner Soapbox and She’s a Fox will be entered in fillies division of the Rosebud… Read More »
It’s still the middle of winter but Queensland trainer Tony Gollan already has a spring in his step. Gollan’s two stable stars, half-brothers Temple Of Boom and Spirit Of Boom, have begun their build-up to a new season return with pre-training on a water walker and the trainer is eyeing… Read More »
Extensive medical tests have revealed apprentice Priscilla Schmidt faces at least six months on the sidelines recovering from a fractured leg. Schmidt suffered the injury when she was catapulted from the saddle and landed heavily on her left leg when her mount Sizzleon took fright on the way to the… Read More »
An Irish-trained sprinter who earned some Royal Ascot bragging rights over Black Caviar is in the running to be part of this year’s European contingent heading to the Melbourne spring carnival. Dandy Boy, who won the race immediately after Black Caviar’s heart-stopping Diamond Jubilee Stakes win, has connections thinking about… Read More »
Despite a vigorous defence, top jockey Glyn Schofield was suspended for six meeting for careless riding at Rosehill. Stewards charged Schofield with shifting out at the 300m mark of the Myer Handicap aboard More Rocco, causing Christian Reith to lose his running on Kim Divine. Schofield pleaded not guilty and… Read More »
In-form apprentice Maija Vance rode a winning double at Eagle Farm on Saturday but her day was soured when she was suspended for careless riding. Stewards suspended Vance, who pleaded guilty, for seven meetings for careless riding aboard Gay Deceiver in the Hamilton Hotel Handicap. Vance was successful aboard favourites… Read More »
Had everything gone to plan for the speedy colt Golden Archer he would have been on the same plane to England as his stablemate Black Caviar and would have run at the world’s most prestigious race meeting. But the notorious uncertainty of racing led to Golden Archer getting tangled up… Read More »
Sydney’s soon-to-be premier jockey Hugh Bowman signed off for the season with yet another winner at Rosehill on Saturday. Bowman has wrested back the Sydney premiership from reigning champion Nash Rawiller and he ended his metropolitan season haul on 93-1/2 wins after scoring aboard the Chris Waller-trained Coup Ay Tee…. Read More »
A plan to save Hour Of Peril’s best for last paid off for jockey Jeff Lloyd when the wet track specialist won the Tattersall’s Mile at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Lloyd admitted he harboured some doubts about Hour Of Peril’s stamina but stuck to a plan to keep the four-year-old… Read More »
Bart Cummings will adopt a softly, softly approach with emerging filly Norzita this spring but says she all going well, the Rosehill winner will be given a chance at Group One level. After making a mess of her Gosford debut earlier this month, the two-year-old showed a marked improvement when… Read More »
New Zealand apprentice Alysha Collett has upheld the family honour by riding a winner at Rosehill as part of a two-week scholarship in Sydney. The 18-year-old won an Auckland Racing Club prize which is supported by former Kiwi, premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller, a year after her brother Jason. With… Read More »
Skytrain has been maligned by punters but he finally delivered for favourite backers at Rosehill on Saturday. The Peter Snowden-trained gelding, sent out a $3.10 favourite in Saturday’s Ingham Chicken and Turkey, Love’em Handicap (1200m), responded under the riding of Christian Reith and burst through near the inside to defeat… Read More »
The jockey has a big opinion of Saturday’s Flemington winner Shanghai Warrior and the trainer an even bigger one. But the two have vastly different ideas about the future of the talented colt. Shanghai Warrior ($6.50) scored a victory in the Bob Skilton Handicap (1100m) that prompted trainer Pat Hyland… Read More »
A long and gruelling campaign had its reward, but not its end, when Streaky Fella claimed a hard-fought victory in the Stirling Mortlock Handicap at Flemington on Saturday. “He’s been up for a fair while, but he’s showing no sign of slowing down,” said trainer Aaron Purcell. “It’s amazing how… Read More »
Improving juvenile Show A Noee gave fledgling trainer Caitlin Lavin the perfect birthday present by winning at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Lavin celebrated her 26th birthday in style when Show A Noee, backed from $15 into $13 in the Hamilton Hotel Handicap, overhauled Discreet ($3.80) in the final stages to… Read More »
