Triple Group One winner Happy Clapper has had a pipe-opener in a Randwick barrier trial when fourth in a heat won by the John Thompson-trained Sweet Deal. Happy Clapper worked to the line in the 900m-heat on the course proper on Thursday, pleasing trainer Pat Webster with his effort and… Read More »
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes remains the highest rated race in Australia and equal sixth best in the world following the latest rankings at the World’s Best Race and Racehorse awards. It is the third year in succession the Group One Randwick feature, which Winx won at her final start last… Read More »
High priced yearlings are a little like Gucci hand bags, nice to look at and happily flaunted but they are not necessarily better than a cheaper version. That is why co-trainer Peter Snowden is relaxed as he prepares two colts who fetched a combined total of almost $4 million at… Read More »
The infamous south-east Queensland holiday traffic has prompted Desleigh Forster to keep promising youngster Boom Spender at home with the desired result. The trainer accepted with Boom Spender at Doomben on Thursday and in the Sunshine Coast Classic on Saturday. She felt the easier trip across the road from Eagle… Read More »
No-one would begrudge trainer Steve O’Dea a change of big race luck with Scallopini in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup. O’Dea is having another successful season and is firmly entrenched in the metropolitan trainers premiership top 10 with 17 winners. He went to the Magic Millions day a fortnight ago… Read More »
Craig Williams and Damien Oliver will head a team of metropolitan jockeys competing against a country side at a twilight meeting at Flemington. The meeting on February 9 will feature two teams of seven with all races on the straight course. The Victoria Racing Club has dubbed the Sunday meeting… Read More »
Buoyed by strong barrier trial performances from his stable stars, Anthony Cummings is optimistic two-year-old Fayerra can defy her odds and be competitive at Randwick. With the autumn carnival around the corner, Cummings ramped up preparations for Libertini, Vegadaze and Prince Fawaz on Thursday with all stepping out at a… Read More »
Southern Lad will be looking to continue trainer John O’Shea’s outstanding mid-season form at Randwick, and notch a victory that has the potential to set him on a Group One path. O’Shea has trained 14 metropolitan winners this season, nine of them since January 1 including a treble on the… Read More »
Trainer Robert Heathcote has more than one reason to hope promising three-year-old Ziemba can win at the Sunshine Coast. Ziemba will be joined by stablemates Stuttering and Mosshiki to give Heathcote a strong hand in Saturday’s QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1600m). Heathcote has been the form Brisbane trainer since the start… Read More »
Group One VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound will ramp up preparations towards her return when she contests a Flemington jump-out. The three-year-old filly played her part in a memorable Melbourne Cup carnival for trainer Danny O’Brien last spring, winning both the Group Two Wakeful Stakes and Group One VRC Oaks…. Read More »
A belated change to the race program has resulted in promising sprinter Sir Elton facing an immediate test of his capabilities when he resumes at Randwick. Trainer Adam Duggan admitted he had to get his head around the alterations after the four-year-olds and upwards event was combined with a three-year-old… Read More »
The booking of in-form apprentice Stephanie Thornton is expected to be the key to Just Orm breaking his open company duck at the Sunshine Coast. Thornton will claim 1.5kg on Just Orm bringing his weight down to 52.5kg in Saturday’s Coastal BMW Open (1000m). It is arguably the most competitive… Read More »
The powerful Ciaron Maher Racing stable has already had a host of juvenile winners this season and Maher hopes the run continues as he targets the major races Maher and his co-trainer David Eustace prepared filly Away Game to win the recent $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the… Read More »
River Racer is unlikely to be regarded among Queensland’s greatest mares but she will be remembered as one of the most honest to race in the state. River Racer needs only to finish in the placings in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) on Saturday to take her earnings past… Read More »
Popular jockey Michael Hellyer would love to celebrate reaching 600 career wins with another feature race success at his favourite track, the Sunshine Coast. Hellyer rode his 600th winner on Deep State at the Sunshine Coast last Sunday. The seaside track has been a happy hunting ground for Hellyer with… Read More »
Multiple Group One placegetter Dreamforce has signalled he is in for a good preparation with a solid barrier trial win at Randwick. The John Thompson-trained seven-year-old beat three-year-old Standout in the first of two 900m-heats on the course proper on Thursday. There was less than five lengths covering the 10-horse… Read More »
Jockey Luke Currie has already won this season’s Magic Millions Classic and will get a better idea about his hopes of back-to-back Blue Diamond Stakes victories when favourite Hanseatic resumes in one of the Previews. Currie is well placed to judge the potential of young horses, having won two of… Read More »
Jockey Josh Cartwright has landed a satisfying city double at Sandown as he continues to rebuild his riding career in Victoria after serving a lengthy suspension. A victory on the Nick Harnett-trained colt Seafield Road in Wednesday’s Le Pine Funerals Plate (1300m) gave Cartwright his first city success since his… Read More »
After a race day he would rather forget, trainer Gerald Ryan is hoping to come away from Randwick in a happier frame of mind. Ryan had high expectations for two-year-old Return With Honour at Rosehill on Saturday but the heavy track put paid to the colt’s chances and those of… Read More »
Popular Godolphin sprinter Osborne Bulls has been retired as a multiple Group One placegetter. Godolphin announced on Wednesday the six-year-old would join its Lifetime Care Program, which retrains ex-racehorses in other disciplines. The gelding retires with nine wins from his 20 starts and nine placings, including five seconds at Group… Read More »
