Japanese Emperor has already demonstrated an ability to run a big race a whopping price on Australian Guineas Day and Mike Moroney thinks a low barrier gives him a chance to do so again this Saturday. The Satono Aladdin four-year-old will contest the $130,000 Good Friday Appeal Plate at Flemington. He hasn’t… Read More »
Australian Bloodstock is gearing up for the Australian debuts of their international transfers, New Energy and Berkshire Shadow, targeting key Group 1 races this autumn. Jamie Lovett expressed excitement over their progress, noting their adaptation to local training and conditions since their arrival last spring. New Energy is set to… Read More »
The Te Akau racing team has officially announced that the next challenge for their star mare, Imperatriz, will be the prestigious Newmarket Handicap. The nine-time Group 1 victor, who was a top contender for the Canterbury Stakes in Sydney, will instead showcase her talent in Melbourne. Following the Newmarket, plans… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher stable has called on a set of blinkers in its bid to capture the Australian Guineas with King Colorado. The shades were applied to King Colorado when the colt ran in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley last spring, but the headgear has been missing in his two… Read More »
Lindsay Park has the idea of travelling the eastern seaboard in coming months with last start surprise winner Makram. But first Makram’s trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes want to ensure the gelding’s first-up win at $151 with betting apps two weeks ago at Flemington was no fluke. The… Read More »
A veteran of the weight-for-age arena, Think It Over doesn’t have the speed in his legs that he once did, but time has done little to dull his desire for racing. Trainer Kerry Parker was delighted to see his stable star show his customary competitive spirit when finishing a fighting third behind… Read More »
Munhamek has been granted a wildcard entry into the $4 million All-Star Mile at Caulfield on March 16, following a stellar performance in the Ascot Gold Rush and a notable run in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes. Originally from the UK, the eight-year-old has made a significant impact in Australia,… Read More »
Justine Erkelens holds big ambitions for Own The Queen, she’s hoping to plot a path towards next month’s WA Oaks with her promising filly. That picture becomes clearer on Saturday when Own The Queen goes up against 11 opponents in the Listed Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m). Own The Queen is… Read More »
Manaal has largely flown under the radar since her Gimcrack Stakes win, but trainer Michael Freedman is looking for her to put her name back up in lights at Randwick. A narrow victor of Sydney’s first two-year-old race of the season, Manaal returned with a closing second to the speedy Lady Of… Read More »
Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker will attempt another raid on a rich Flemington three-year-old sprint when Caballus runs in the Inglis Sprint. Baker collected the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes with Ozzmosis last spring and while the Inglis Sprint (1100m) does not carry the same prestige, it does carry $1 million in prize money…. Read More »
James Cummings predicts VRC Oaks winner Zardozi to belie her early spring form over sprint trips and potentially give her rivals a fright when she resumes in the Group 1 Surround Stakes at Randwick. The filly was beaten more than 12 lengths first-up in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) in August and… Read More »
Racing beginning on the new inner circuit at Caulfield, named Caulfield Heath, has been given the go ahead by senior jockeys. Six official trials and three jump outs were held on Tuesday and despite continued controversy around the tightness of the turn out of the home straight and the obvious… Read More »
Talented mare Hope In Your Heart has been all but ruled out of the autumn carnival as connections weigh up whether to continue her racing career. A multiple stakes winner and Group 1 placegetter, Hope In Your Heart was due to barrier trial at Warwick Farm in January but was a… Read More »
It has been a long time between celebratory drinks for Lindsay Park in the Australian Guineas. The stable, now run by Ben, Will and J D Hayes, has not tasted success in the Group 1 race over 1600m at Flemington since Miss Finland took out the race for the boys’… Read More »
New Zealand horses making hit-and-run visits to Australia are not uncommon, but there are not many horses that do it in reverse. The Ciaron Maher-trained Holymanz, a New Zealand-bred four-year-old, made a hit-and-run trip to Ellerslie last month for the inaugural running of the Aotearoa Classic (1600m). Holymanz finished fourth… Read More »
The inaugural running of the Verry Elleegant Stakes has taken on a fresh poignancy with the sudden and tragic death of the incredibly talented race mare last week. For her trainer Chris Waller, who will be represented by up to four runners including odds-on favourite Fangirl, a victory would be… Read More »
Mike Moroney is not shocked connections had to tinker with the name of his classy three-year-old who will make his Australian debut this Saturday at Flemington. The son of U S Navy Flag had seven starts in New Zealand as Pendragon, but will race as The Pendragon in the $1… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have pinpointed the Skyline Stakes as the logical next step for star two-year-old Storm Boy as they bid to replicate a winning formula heading into the Golden Slipper. The unbeaten colt had three weeks between runs when scoring an emphatic win in the Magic Millions Classic… Read More »
In a recent development in the racing industry’s white powder scandal, stablehand Ruby McIntyre has been handed a three-month suspension by the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) for her involvement in the incident concerning champion jockey Jamie Kah. The tribunal, which includes Judge Bowman, Des Gleeson, and Maree Payne, has agreed… Read More »
Tragically, Grahame Begg’s group winning sprinter Rose Quartz passed away over the weekend due to complications from colic, leaving the racing community in mourning. The six-year-old mare, sired by Written Tycoon, had an impressive career, capturing five victories and accumulating $619,090 in prize money. Among her notable achievements was a… Read More »
