GEORGE MAIN STAKES 1600m, $500,000, weight-for-age Recently renamed Colgate Optic White Stakes HISTORY *Established in 1945 and first won by Modulation *Originally named after George Main who was chairman of the AJC *For 26 years initially contested over 1400m, before being altered to 1600m in 1972 *Upgraded from Principal Race… Read More »
Australasian Oaks runner-up Mirette is set to launch her spring campaign at Caulfield, with her trainer Archie Alexander thrilled with the way the mare has been preparing for her return to racing. Mirette went close to giving Alexander his first Group One win when she finished second to Princess Jenni… Read More »
The rain in Sydney has prompted Melbourne trainer Mike Moroney to add the Group One George Main Stakes at Randwick to the spring program of import Mr Marathon Man. Moroney said Mr Marathon Man had experience winning in the right-handed direction in France and when a rain-affected track loomed for… Read More »
Australian Oaks runner-up Scarlet Dream will take the next step towards her Metropolitan Handicap goal when she lines up against a tough field of seasoned stayers in the Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick. Keen to get some more miles in her legs, trainer Mark Newnham confirmed Scarlet Dream would take… Read More »
With his place in the Melbourne Cup already assured, Steel Prince gets an opportunity to win his way into the Caulfield Cup. Steel Prince has the second start of his spring preparation at Caulfield in Saturday’s Group Three MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) which carries a ballot exemption to the winner… Read More »
Graff is likely to be the sole representative for trainer Kris Lees in The Shorts with heavy rain in Sydney all but ruling In Her Time out of the race. If she is withdrawn, she will join Santa Ana Lane and Sunlight who have both been scratched because of the… Read More »
Trainer Stuart Kendrick will be disappointed if Don’t Waiver does not confirm his rating as one of the most improved horses in his stable when he runs at Eagle Farm. The three-year-old races in Brisbane have been competitive at every meeting this season and Saturday’s Dave Hickey 30 Handicap (1600m)… Read More »
Despite Madison County stretching his brilliance to a Derby trip in Sydney during the autumn, New Zealand trainer Andrew Forsman insists the dual Group One-winning gelding is at his best over shorter distances. Madison County was second to Angel Of Truth when he was stretched out to 2400m in the… Read More »
Tim Clark does not know how Samadoubt will handle a heavy track in the Group One George Main Stakes but he does know the horse is fit and in the form of his life. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding has been a revelation this spring, stamping himself as the form weight-for-age… Read More »
The Chris Waller-trained imported stayer Abdon is one of the few horses to race in Brisbane who has had the distinction of having had Frankie Detorri as his regular rider. Abdon makes his Brisbane debut in the $105,000 Makers Mark Open Handicap (1800m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The gelding… Read More »
John Sargent reckons his two Tea Rose Stakes fillies have snuck under the guard of punters as boom three-year-old Libertini maintains a stranglehold on the market. The winner of the Silver Shadow and Furious Stakes, Libertini is the $1.85 favourite to add the Tea Rose (1400m) to her resume, despite… Read More »
Connections of Tasmanian mare Mystic Journey have decided to stick with their original pathway to the Cox Plate with her next start to be the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Mystic Journey was beaten as a short-priced favourite by $101 shot Gatting in last Saturday’s Group One Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m)… Read More »
SIR RUPERT CLARKE STAKES 1400m, $500,000, handicap, run at Caulfield HISTORY * First run in 1951 when won by Jovial Lad * Run as an invitational race from 1951 to 1974 for invited jockeys * Group One from 1979 NOTABLE WINNERS * Torbek (1980); Magari (1982); Canny Lass (1986); Mannerism… Read More »
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission will make a special compensation payment to the connections of the horse demoted to second after stewards over-ruled a photo-finish result two months after the race. RQ stewards officially changed the result this week after an inquiry into the original decision in the race at… Read More »
With Luke Nolen benched because of a careless riding suspension, Lindsay Park has picked a similar style of rider for So Si Bon ahead of his Group One assignment at Caulfield. Co-trainer Tom Dabernig says Nolen and his quiet approach have been part of the reason So Si Bon has… Read More »
Te Akau Racing has confirmed it has booked James McDonald to partner New Zealand raider Te Akau Shark in the Group One Epsom Handicap. McDonald has retained the mount after riding the dual Group winner at his Australian debut when he finished runner-up to Dreamforce in the Tramway Stakes at… Read More »
German import Django Freeman’s spring carnival is over before it began with the horse suffering a knee injury. Trainer Robert Hickmott has told Racing Victoria stewards Django Freeman has a bone chip in his near fore knee and will now be spelled, ruling him out of the spring features. Lightly… Read More »
Queensland jockey Tiffani Brooker has been disqualified for nine months after a recent urine test showed traces of a number of prohibited drugs. Stewards opened an inquiry after Brooker submitted a urine test at the Sunshine Coast on August 11. The inquiry heard Brooker’s test showed traces of amphetamine, methamphetamine,… Read More »
Leading Caulfield Cup contender Django Freeman has suffered a major set-back and will miss the Spring carnival. Racing Victoria stewards announced the Robert Hickmott trained galloper has suffered a bone chip to the near fore knee and will be spelled immediately. Django Freeman was set to make his Australian debut… Read More »
Sunlight has joined Santa Ana Lane as a non-runner in the Group Two Shorts because of the wet Randwick track. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained mare is now likely to run in the Moir Stakes at The Valley next week. The Shorts (1100m) is a major lead-up to the $14… Read More »
