The racing world is grieving the tragic loss of New Zealand jockey Johnathan Parkes, who passed away overnight at the age of 35. Parkes was a celebrated rider in New Zealand, amassing more than 1,000 career wins, including 62 black-type races and 12 Group One victories. His exceptional talent and… Read More »
Last start Group 1 winner Deny Knowledge faces another Racing Victoria veterinary inspection before starting in the Caulfield Cup. Deny Knowledge, who last start defeated Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield last week, was inspected by RV vets on Thursday who had noticed a change… Read More »
Naturalism Stakes winner Positivity has been withdrawn from Saturday’s Caulfield Cup following an unsatisfactory trot-up on Friday. Trainer Andrew Forsman made the decision to scratch the four-year-old mare after she failed to meet his expectations during the routine check. Fancy Man, who recently finished third in the Group 2 Herbert Power… Read More »
Saturday’s Caulfield Cup will be run thousands of kilometres away from Hong Kong, but that doesn’t mean Zac Purton’s competitive instincts have lessened. Hong Kong’s champion rider heads a big group of jockeys from that jurisdiction in Melbourne for the $5 million event, some of whom are yet to ride… Read More »
The shuffle of spring three-year-old fillies races has opened opportunities for the promising Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock-trained Tobeornottobe. The Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday will go a long way to determining the eventual path the filly takes. The change in programming has resulted… Read More »
Gun jockey Jimmy Orman will be missing from the Queensland riding ranks for close to a three week period, in the first instance while taking up another opportunity to ride for the Michael Costa stable in Dubai, before taking a well-earned holiday in Japan. “We spoke and Michael was always… Read More »
Group 1 winning trainer Paul Jenkins might fly largely under the radar these days but give him just a sniff of a good horse and he will produce quality results … like the exceptional five wins in a row by I Am Artie, with the lightly raced son of Artie… Read More »
One jockey not at all upset about weights not being raised in the Caulfield Cup is Sydney-based Winona Costin who will ride for the second time in the Group 1 handicap. Costin finished fourth aboard the Annabel Neasham-trained Bois D’Argent in last year’s race and will be looking to improve on that… Read More »
Co-trainer Adrian Bott believes the presence of four three-year-olds adds intrigue into what is shaping as a wide open The Everest at Randwick on Saturday. Bott and Gai Waterhouse are yet to win an Everest and this year their stable’s hopes rest with three-year-old colt Storm Boy and three-year-old filly Lady Of Camelot…. Read More »
Trainer Bjorn Baker believes a below-expectations performance from Overpass in last year’s The Everest probably played against him when it came to securing a slot this year. It means the proven fresh performer is instead scheduled to make his return in Saturday’s $2 million Sydney Stakes (1200m) on the undercard to The… Read More »
The higher bar of competition across metro and provincial racing over springtime in Victoria has Ballarat-based Henry Dwyer sending a runner who can strike back winning form to Adelaide on Saturday. Nishino Crescent firmed from $13 into $11 overnight and Dwyer is hoping the five-year-old by Japanese sire Satono Aladdin can make… Read More »
As Soldiers Camp bolted to a commanding victory in last Saturday’s Genesis Minerals Leonora Cup (1600m), the profound impact of the race meeting was not lost on racecaller Royce Newton. From his vantage, the unique community connection racing fosters was obvious, as hundreds of racegoers gathered at the Leonora Racing… Read More »
It may not be the most important race of the spring for Too Darn Discreet, but the Ethereal Stakes may be a race that shapes the future of her campaign. A last start winner of the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 5, Too Darn Discreet… Read More »
Racing Victoria vets have given 16 runners in the Caulfield Cup the all-clear to start after pre-race checks were conducted. Three horses – the Danny O’Brien-trained Young Werther, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Deny Knowledge and the Andrew Forsman-trained Positivity will all undergo further vet checks following inspections during the day on… Read More »
Maddy Sears, who trains in partnership with her father Tony, loves a challenge and that is why she is looking forward to a very busy and pretty exciting period over the next couple of months during which time she will face two very different and exacting challenges head-on … one… Read More »
Racing Victoria has announced that Deny Knowledge and Young Werther will undergo re-inspections by veterinarians on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup. The decision comes after vets noticed changes in the gait of both horses during Thursday’s routine inspections. Deny Knowledge, who secured an impressive all-the-way win in… Read More »
Former trainer Darren Weir has lodged an appeal against the two-year disqualification handed down by the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) in July for using a jigger on three horses. Weir’s legal team, Guthrie & Associates, has filed the appeal with the Supreme Court, arguing that the penalty is “altogether excessive… Read More »
A week off for Antino … with sights now firmly set on the Hong Kong Mile. Tony Gollan’s faith in Antino’s superior ability has never wavered and the son of Redwood’s extraordinary win in the Toorak Handicap, when securing his maiden Group 1 victory, only cemented Gollan’s view that Antino… Read More »
The move is on … destination Pakenham! The latest chapter in the Meagher family racing history is underway with Dan Meagher returning to Australia, not without a touch of sadness after the closure of racing in Singapore, and Chris Meagher picking up stumps in Brisbane, after spending the last three… Read More »
Everest ambitions with Lady Laguna haven’t eventuated but trainer Annabel Neasham is hopeful the mare can make up for some lost time this spring when she races for the first time in eight weeks in the Sydney Stakes. Last season’s Group 1 Canterbury Stakes winner has only raced once so far… Read More »
