Horse Racing News

• Racing Rants (Edition 2) – An early look at the Cox Plate

  Blake Redden (1st Past The Post Racing) and Andrew Hawkins (Andrew Hawkins Racing) present Racing Rants – a discussion of issues and news affecting the racing industry.

   
• Blake Spriggs keeps full claim for Randwick

  Apprentice Blake Spriggs will claim two kilograms for the final time at Randwick on Saturday and is confident of continuing his unbeaten record on the in-form Hidden Gem.

   
• Lee Freedman stands down as head trainer

  Hall Of Fame trainer Lee Freedman says he has no intention of retiring from racing despite standing down as the head trainer of his stable.

   
• Folding Gear on Caulfield Cup path

  Exciting four-year-old Folding Gear will kick off his Caulfield Cup campaign with a pipe-opener in the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington.

   
• Jason Clifford lands “first” Victorian city win

  Former Tasmanian trainer Jason Clifford landed his first metropolitan winner since basing himself in Victoria when Delighted Owners won at Mornington.

   
• Sir Hallowell on the up

  Craig Newitt believes Sir Hallowell will win better races after the former West Australian sprinter landed his first victory for the Mick Price stable at Mornington.

   
• Nash Rawiller wins first race of new season

  Nash Rawiller returned from the Top End to kick-start his premiership defence in the best possible way with victory on Just The Tonic in Sydney’s first metropolitan race of the season.

   
• Peter Snowden after new season’s stakes races

  The first metropolitan meeting of the new season had a notable absentee in Darley trainer Peter Snowden.

   
• City drought ends for Tony Pattillo

  Tony Pattillo showed his career was back on track when the jockey landed his first city winner in 18 months aboard talented three-year-old Vintage Moss at Eagle Farm.

   
• “Common looking” Affair after biggest win

  If racing was only about the best looking horses winning, Rain Affair would be an outsider – and not the warm favourite – to win the Missile Stakes.

   
• Work The Room on trial for Melbourne

  Trainer Rob Heathcote has had a change of mind and will consider adding Work The Room to his Melbourne spring carnival team if the six-year-old is successful at Doomben on Saturday.

   
• Guru to beat bad draw in Coffs Harbour Cup

  Despite a horror draw, trainer Stephen Farley remains upbeat Gazza Guru can still win Thursday’s $70,000 Coffs Harbour Cup.

   
• Helmet heads Caulfield Guineas nominations

  The Peter Snowden-trained dual Group One winner Helmet heads the nominations for the Caulfield Guineas in the absence of his more-celebrated stablemate Sepoy.

   
• So You Think entered for Cox Plate but doubtful

  A third Cox Plate is a possibility for dual winner So You Think – but any genuine hope of a return of the hero is likely to depend on the vagaries of Australia’s quarantine regulations.

   
• Top Taree trainer oozing in confidence

  When Taree trainer Ross Stitt is bullish about his runners prospects, it’d be wise to follow him and according to him, we should be backing his horses at the Coffs Harbour Cup meeting on Thursday.

   
• Adelaide trainers get spring boost

  Spring prospects for Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas could receive a massive boost from an unlikely source on Saturday.

   
• Chris Waller’s big team for the spring

  Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller has numbers on his side as he looks to this year’s spring features.

   
• Glen Colless in hit-and-run raid

  Top Brisbane hoop Glen Colless will venture to Sydney for just one ride on Wednesday as he continues a comeback to the saddle following a fall at Doomben last month.

   
• Low-key comeback for Chris Munce

  After adding another piece of silverware to his trophy cabinet, premiership-winning jockey Chris Munce will make a low-key comeback for his first meeting of the new season at Eagle Farm.

   
• Full list of Thousand Guineas nominations

  Here are the nominations for the Thousand Guineas.