Horse Racing News

• Wet not weight scale worries Stephenson

  Trainer Richie Stephenson will go against his better judgment and give Toowoomba flyer Azzaland his first weight-for-age test on a heavy track in the Group Two Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm.

   
• Noel Callow to ride in India

  Noel Callow flew out for India on Thursday night after being suspended for careless riding at Ballarat the same day.

   
• Keepin’ The Dream capable of another big race surprise

  Keepin’ The Dream, invariably unfashionable with punters, has the statistics on board to say he will revel in his role as a feature race underdog at Hawkesbury.

   
• Paul Messara feels Gunsynd too short for Fort

  Trainer Paul Messara won’t be giving up on Chateau Fort in the Group One Queensland Derby in June even if the three-year-old is beaten in the Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm.

   
• Prince to reign at Sapphire Coast

  Hawkesbury-based owner-breeder John Simpson’s early patience with Reenact gelding Mary’s Prince is set to reap further dividends at the Sapphire Coast on Sunday.

   
• Asp to strike at Albury

  When frustrated Wagga trainer Trevor Sutherland first broke in a Fubu gelding for the late Arthur Menzies, he told the startled owner: “He’s a low act. He could crawl under a snake’s belly with an umbrella up.”

   
• Moroney to unveil wraps on imports

  Imported stayers seem to be the flavour of the month, with another prolific trainer set to unveil a strong team of overseas horses in the coming months.

   
• Jason Collett’s star on the rise

  Apprentice Jason Collett has had a good start to his Australian stint and has been given the chance to further announce his arrival with rides in two stakes races at Hawkesbury on Saturday.

   
• Claim to give little General a break

  Trainer Ricky Maund has opted for claiming apprentice Ashley Thompson to offset the topweight of diminutive sprinter General Truce at Caulfield on Saturday.

   
• Interstate trip to “make” Speediness

  Colin Scott had Group One ambitions with Speediness thwarted earlier this year but now believes an interstate trip will be the making of the gelding.

   
• Heathcote prays for dry winter for carnival team

  Given one wish, leading trainer Rob Heathcote would hope for a dry winter carnival.

   
• Nigel Blackiston doubles up for Sapphire

  Flemington trainer Nigel Blackiston will play a double hand at Caulfield in a bid to win his second feature race for the week.

   
• Messara pair on trial for winter

  Friday’s Muswellbrook meeting marks an important stepping stone towards the Scone and Brisbane winter carnivals for the Paul Messara-trained Rogano and Pyrography.

   
• Jim Cassidy’s early winter start to be rewarded

  Patinack Farm trainer John Thompson hopes Jim Cassidy’s early start to the Brisbane winter carnival will be rewarded in the Group Three Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

   
• Tim Clark continues winning form

  Fresh from a successful autumn carnival, a confident Tim Clark continued on his winning way with a treble at Canterbury on Wednesday.

   
• Black Caviar dominates BTC Cup

  Champion Black Caviar is long odds-on to remain unbeaten in the Group One BTC Cup in Brisbane.

   
• Warrnambool Cup chance for Tarawera

  Classy jumper Tarawera could be a surprise runner in the Warrnambool Cup with connections literally weighing up their options.

   
• Steps In Time could head to Brisbane

  The Stradbroke Handicap could emerge as a realistic target for Steps In Time if the talented filly can win the Listed Hawkesbury Guineas on Saturday.

   
• City Of Song set to bounce back

  Talented filly City Of Song gets the chance to put two unlucky runs behind her when she contests Saturday’s Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield.

   
• Mr Unforgettable on Stradbroke Handicap path

  Mr Unforgettable didn’t gain a start in last year’s Stradbroke Handicap but victory in Saturday’s Rowley Mile could take him a step closer to this year’s Queensland feature.