Smokin’ Romans has undergone a course of jumping that the Ciaron Maher stable hopes will rejuvenate the Group 1 winner. The rising 10-year-old recently ran second in a hurdle school at Traralgon in preparation for his second-up run of the campaign in the Quayclean Handicap (1800m) at Sandown on Saturday. Victorious in the… Read More »
It’s Stradbroke week and co-trainer Tony Sears has no concerns about the chances of his charge Yellow Brick in Queensland’s $3 million signature race on Saturday … a race in which Yellow Brick finished second last year at the unwanted odds of $41. A question mark would have been raised… Read More »
Peter Snowden is ruling a line through King Of Roseau’s Kingsford Smith Cup performance saying the race was a disaster for the horse from start to finish. But the trainer anticipates a much more suitable set-up in Saturday’s $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and if that transpires, it will give… Read More »
Calvin McEvoy says dual Cups winner Half Yours is finally in a race that is going to suit. And McEvoy said the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups winner will relish the presence of Pride Of Jenni in the Group 2 Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained galloper… Read More »
Stradbroke Handicap favourite Headley Grange has received a significant boost ahead of Saturday’s $3 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, drawing barrier eight at Tuesday’s official barrier draw. The Joe Pride-trained gelding heads betting for Queensland’s premier handicap following his victory in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup and appears well… Read More »
Leading Western Australian trainer Adam Durrant has been directed to appear before Racing WA stewards following prohibited substance detections involving two horses from his stable. Racing WA confirmed that ChemCentre in Perth identified Dexamethasone in samples taken from Fulmine at Belmont on November 19 and Fancy Red at Ascot on… Read More »
From the start of the racing career of Martist, trainer Tony Gollan has had his eyes on the Queensland Winter Carnival. And the major race on the Queensland Winter Carnival calendar for two-year-olds comes up on Saturday with the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm. Martist is one of 13 runners in… Read More »
Trainer Rob Heathcote was not unhappy to see the rain falling in Brisbane as Rothfire prepares for the Stradbroke Handicap. Rothfire worked at Eagle Farm on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in which the ‘old marvel’ drew barrier 13 in the 23-horse field that has a capacity of 18 runners plus five emergencies. The rising nine-year-old will jump from… Read More »
Hall of Fame trainer Peter Moody has confirmed the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) will be the primary target for superstar mare Sheza Alibi during the spring. While the destination is clear, the path to Royal Randwick on October 31 remains flexible, with Moody and training partner Katherine Coleman still… Read More »
Star jockey Blake Shinn has moved a step closer to returning to competitive riding after climbing back aboard horses for trackwork following his lengthy recovery from a serious leg injury. After recently receiving medical clearance, Shinn wasted little time resuming riding duties, partnering horses in light work at Cranbourne for… Read More »
Not often is a trainer spoilt with two suitable wintertime staying options on a Saturday but it will be rain that determines where Matthew Smith sends Portland this weekend. The last start Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) winner has nominations for both the Group 2 The Q22 (2200m) at Eagle… Read More »
It is 36 years since Grahame Begg tasted success at the highest level in Queensland and with the field now set for the state’s signature race on Saturday, he is hopeful that Splash Back can break that long drought. You have to go way back to Eye Of The Sky’s… Read More »
Australian breeding heavyweights Coolmore and Newgate Farm have joined forces in a significant agreement that will see talented colt Wodeton retire to stud in 2026. The deal between the Coolmore ownership group and Henry Field’s Newgate operation ensures the son of Wootton Bassett will receive an opportunity at stud while… Read More »
Zac Lloyd has wasted no time in putting his name on the list of winners in Britain, guiding the Michael Bell trained Any Which Way to victory in a Class 2 Handicap for three-year-olds at Doncaster on Saturday. The 9-4 second favourite benefitted from a confident ride by Lloyd, whose… Read More »
Champion mare Pride Of Jenni will face a new challenge when she lines up in the final feature weight-for-age race of the year at Eagle Farm. Owner Tony Ottobre has confirmed the mare will contest the Group 2 Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday before a brief break to… Read More »
Estadio Mestalla will have an unconventional build up to the Stradbroke Handicap, but it’s a purposeful ploy trainer Joe Pride has used successfully before. The gelding will step out in an 800m barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Tuesday, travel by float to Brisbane with stablemates Private Eye and Headley… Read More »
Champion front-running mare Pride Of Jenni is set to take on a new challenge, with connections confirming she will contest next Saturday’s $1.2 million Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm. The decision will significantly alter the shape of the season’s final weight-for-age feature race in Australia, with Pride Of Jenni renowned… Read More »
Western Australian racing has served up yet another absolutely thrilling feature race finish. The result at Belmont on Saturday was so close on the line that the two main fancies in the Listed Raconteur Stakes … the $1.65 favourite Hot And High and the $3.50 second favourite Vatican Storm …… Read More »
Trainer Matt Hoysted was visibly moved by stable star Uncommon James’s first win since taking out the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate more than three years ago. “I’ll try not to get too emotional, this horse obviously means the world to our family,” Hoysted said. “It’s been more than three years… Read More »
Tasmanian apprentice Jabez Johnstone introduction to racing at Flemington was not what he had expected. On loan to Ciaron Maher for a three-month stint, Johnstone was aboard the Nick Ryan-trained Terrortorian in the Fancy A Gallop Plate (1600m) on Saturday, his first ride at Flemington. The saddle on the gelding… Read More »
