Everest winner Think About It has returned an elevated white blood cell count during routine testing and is in doubt for the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill. Trainer Joe Pride notified Racing NSW stewards of the results on Thursday but said a subsequent endoscopic examination came back clear. With… Read More »
Eight Australian-trained gallopers are set to compete in Hong Kong’s Champions Day on April 28. Lindsay Park’s Mr Brightside, a six-time group one winner, will contest both the G1 QEII Cup and G1 Champions Mile. Chris Waller has entered Atishu and Kovalica for both races, while Gary Portelli’s Kimochi and… Read More »
Willie Mullins, the mastermind behind Vauban’s racing prowess, is fixated on Melbourne Cup redemption. Despite being a top contender last year, Vauban faltered, finishing a distant 14th behind Without A Fight. Mullins, undeterred, asserts Vauban’s readiness for a comeback, setting sights squarely on the 2024 Melbourne Cup. Confirming a strategic… Read More »
In a Victorian Racing Tribunal hearing on Wednesday, barrister Albert Dinelli KC asserted that all 10 charges against Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir have been substantiated. The charges stem from the use of a jigger on three racehorses at Weir’s Warrnambool stables just before the 2018 Melbourne Cup. Weir, along… Read More »
Italian jockey Stefano Cherchi suffered a head injury in a fall at Canberra on Wednesday during the Affinity Electrical Technologies Class 1 Plate. Alongside Jeff Penza and Shaun Guymer, Cherchi was dislodged from his mount, Hasime, at the 800m mark. Racing NSW confirmed his injury and stated he received on-track… Read More »
Barrier draws for big races don’t get much worse than those handed out to Joe Pride’s Golden Slipper day squad. Pride will saddle up four Group 1 runners and all have come up with double-figure alleys, Ceolwulf faring best of them with gate 11 of 12 for the Rosehill Guineas (2000m). Stable… Read More »
Talented apprentice jockey Madi Derrick has been booked to ride in the WA leg of the upcoming National Apprentice Race Series (NARS). NARS sees the nation’s most promising young jockeys ride against each other in the apprentice-only race series. Madi Derrick replaces the suspended Victoria Corver to represent the Racing WA team during… Read More »
Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell will keep Farag to the flat for the immediate future after the New Zealand-bred gelding recorded a strong staying win at Sandown. Farag added the Sportsbet Make It Look Easy Handicap (3000m) on Wednesday to his record of four wins from five starts since joining the stable of… Read More »
William Pike sustained a broken heel in a home accident and has been off the scene since booting home a treble at Pinjarra in January. There were serious concerns that Pike would be in a race against time to be fit for Ascot’s rich autumn carnival. But with the $5 million… Read More »
Tim Clark predicts two-year-old Just Party will make his presence felt in better grade races after posting his maiden win at Wyong’s midweek metropolitan meeting. By Justify, the sire of Golden Slipper favourite Storm Boy, Just Party ($1.40) atoned for his defeat as favourite at Newcastle earlier this month with a length… Read More »
Victorian colt Coleman and first emergency Espionage have until Friday to prove their fitness after suffering minor setbacks in their respective Golden Slipper build ups. Coleman’s trainer Matt Laurie told Racing NSW stewards on Wednesday that the dual black-type winner was experiencing “sensitivity” on the inside of his near-fore foot. However, Laurie… Read More »
The Newmarket Handicap victory by Cylinder has given Bjorn Baker a timely confidence boost as Ozzmosis prepares to tackle the older sprinters for the first time in The Galaxy. There had been a school of thought that the three-year-old form wasn’t as strong this season, however, Baker pointed to Cylinder’s rousing win over… Read More »
Coolmore principal Tom Magnier has paid Chris Waller the ultimate compliment ahead of Switzerland’s Golden Slipper bid, drawing similarities between Sydney’s champion trainer and Ballydoyle supremo Aidan O’Brien. Waller delivered Coolmore its maiden Golden Slipper victory last year with Shinzo and on Saturday Switzerland will attempt to repeat the dose. Waller has… Read More »
Gold Trip, the 2022 Melbourne Cup champion, has encountered a setback in his racing career due to a tendon injury, casting uncertainty over his future. Trainer Ciaron Maher confirmed on Wednesday that the Group 1 star will be sidelined for the remainder of the autumn season, although the injury has… Read More »
Beau Mertens has picked up the ride on Godolphin sprinter Cylinder in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. The James Cummings and Godolphin team went on a search for a jockey to ride the last start Newmarket Handicap winner in Saturday’s Group 1 sprint. With Damian Lane and Jamie Kah in Sydney… Read More »
Plans are underway to take Dolphin Skin to Adelaide for their upcoming Carnival, but for the time being the filly will be kept in Melbourne. The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained filly was entered for the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on Saturday, but instead she will stay in Melbourne… Read More »
The second day of Darren Weir’s Victorian Racing Tribunal hearing concluded with the final witnesses providing evidence concerning the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer’s use of a jigger on three racehorses in October 2018. Racing Victoria’s Chairman of Stewards, Rob Montgomery, initiated proceedings on Tuesday morning, offering insights into the stewards’ inquiry… Read More »
The Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) is gearing up to finalise the venue for the 2026 Cox Plate by mid-year, as the iconic racecourse undergoes extensive track reconstruction. Club CEO Michael Browell announced plans for an expression of interest process to determine the best-suited location, with Melbourne’s other two racing… Read More »
While Perth’s glamour mare Amelia’s Jewel strutted her stuff in a Perth trial on Monday, Overpass was doing the same at Rosehill Gardens ahead of their mouth-watering clash in next month’s $5 million Quokka (1200m) at Ascot. Amelia’s Jewel, who settled last in her four-horse trial, gave pacesetter Bopping Blue a… Read More »
Star mare Imperatriz will bid to keep her unbeaten record at Moonee Valley intact when she seeks a second win in the William Reid Stakes. Imperatriz won the 1200m Group 1 sprint last year before going on to take the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m), the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m)… Read More »
