UK trainer Brian Ellison thought luck had again deserted him when Onesmoothoperator was under an injury cloud for a start in the Melbourne Cup. Ellison has been coming out for the Melbourne Spring Carnival since 2005, with a focus on the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington to be run on… Read More »
Harry Eustace is hoping to ride his luck with Sea King for just a couple more days in Australia. The Englishman headed Down Under to tackle the Cox Plate with Docklands, who had in tow a travelling companion who is now a leading contender for an even bigger prize – the Melbourne… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher stable has a strong hand in the $3 million Big Dance at Randwick, even if the barrier draw has thrown up some potential challenges for a couple of well-credentialled stablemates. Maher has three runners in Tuesday’s 1600m race, with Gringotts and Detonator Jack both drawing wide while Vivy Air has a… Read More »
Robbie Dolan isn’t fazed by the $201 currently quoted about the chances of his 2024 Melbourne Cup mount Knight’s Choice. “I’ve never worried about prices before and I’m not going to start now,” said Dolan. “He (Knight’s Choice) actually ran pretty well the other day in the Bendigo Cup. From… Read More »
Despite the 3200-metre journey of the Melbourne Cup, when it comes to barrier draws the gap in starting from pole position compared to gate 21 still seems, on face value, to be a long way between being fortunate or otherwise. Owner Ozzie Kheir part owns four runners engaged in this… Read More »
William Haggas has continued his incredible strikerate in Sydney, producing Lake Forest for an upset win in The Golden Eagle and in doing so becoming the first European trainer to triumph in the $10 million race. Ridden by the UK-based Cieren Fallon, Lake Forest ($19) settled in the second half… Read More »
Fawkner Park has gone some way towards offsetting the disappointment of an abandoned Caulfield Cup campaign with a consolation victory in the $750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup. A dominant winner of the Q22 during the Brisbane winter carnival, the gelding was among the early fancies for the Melbourne feature but struggled to… Read More »
At her third attempt, Atishu has finally added the Empire Rose Stakes to her ever-growing record. The only Group 1 race run for fillies and mares during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington, Atishu has finally been lauded the winner after finishing fifth in her first attempt before chasing home Pride… Read More »
Jamie Kah rounded out one of the most eventful days in her decorated career with victory in Saturday’s Victoria Derby at Flemington aboard Goldrush Guru. The star rider won the $2 million Group 1 for the first time just over an hour after her participation in the second half of the… Read More »
Bella Nipotina has returned to a rockstar reception at Rosehill after becoming Australia’s second biggest prizemoney earner with a devastating win in the Russell Balding Stakes. Along with first prizemoney of $1.725 million, the Ciaron Maher-trained mare picked up a $1 million bonus for claiming the most points in the Sydney… Read More »
Switzerland has ensured he will command a healthy fee when eventually retired to stud after demoralising his opponents in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. The Group 1 race over 1200m for three-year-olds on Saturday is regarded as a stallion making race with previous colts to have won being Star Witness,… Read More »
Treasurethe Moment completed a winning hat-trick, in the process stamping herself the horse to beat in the Group 1 VRC Oaks, with a strong win in Saturday’s traditional lead-up, the Wakeful Stakes. The Matt Laurie-trained filly proved too good for $1.85 favourite Powers Of Opal in the 2000-metre Group 2 at Flemington…. Read More »
Hardened racing people rarely show emotion, but trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Jamie Kah shared a tear after the win of Another Wil at Flemington. The pair combined to score with Another Wil in the Group 2 The Damien Oliver (1400m) on Saturday in the colours of Colin McKenna who died suddenly last… Read More »
New Zealand Melbourne Cup hopeful Mahrajaan has been pulled from the race following a scan failure, as Racing Victoria stewards announced on Derby Day, just before the final Cup acceptances deadline. The Shaune Ritchie-trained stayer, who was to be ridden by jockey Declan Bates, joins a growing list of horses… Read More »
UK stayer Onesmoothoperator has been cleared to start in the Melbourne Cup. The Brian Ellison-trained galloper was passed fit to be an acceptor for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday after undergoing a second veterinary inspection at the Werribee International Horse Centre on Saturday morning. Onesmoothoperator underwent… Read More »
The Melbourne Cup field is getting closer to be finalised with 29 horses remaining in contention. After third declarations were taken on Monday, 35 gallopers remained in the hunt for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday. Since Monday however, Jan Brueghel, Via Sistina, Brayden Star, Muramasa,… Read More »
Trainer Darren McAuliffe hopes to use tomorrow’s Quayclean Handicap (1500m) as a springboard to blacktype races for talented mare Chollima. The daughter of Starspangledbanner heads into tomorrow’s event third-up, following a luckless third behind Watch Me Rock last start. Chollima has been a model of consistency in her 11 starts to date,… Read More »
Star jockey Chris Parnham says he’s looking forward being back aboard unbeaten galloper Wind And The Lion in tomorrow’s TABtouch-Placid Ark Prelude (1000m) at Ascot. The son of Written By won by three lengths on debut at Belmont in July, where he beat Arduet and Scenic George. Parnham rode Wind… Read More »
Chris Waller reckons Atishu would not be out of place in the ‘Fashions on the Field’ during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Ahead of the first of two potential runs during Cup week, Waller said Atishu was dappled up and ready to run at Flemington, a carnival the now seven-year-old has performed… Read More »
The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin stable is banking on a call to target a shorter Group 1 race for three-year-olds with Bittercreek will pay off on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. After scoring at Moonee Valley last Saturday in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes, Bittercreek showed… Read More »
