Champion jockey Damien Oliver is set to announce his retirement in a media conference later this morning, with plans to officially step away from horse racing in early December. With a career that spans over three decades, Oliver is one of the most accomplished figures in Australian horse racing. Oliver… Read More »
You have got to love Samantha Collettâs sense of humour. âBack in dadâs will for a bit longer,â she said after winning on the first-timer Red Sniper for her dad, Jim Collett, at Matamata over the weekend. Samantha Collett had only returned to her native New Zealand from Queensland, where… Read More »
Horse racing sometimes forgets that Royal Ascot is not simply another major meeting, but a golden stitch in the fabric of British society and tradition. The fixture can attract the best of the Australian sprinters, the World Pool and Wesley Ward but the true essence of the event is under… Read More »
The dispersal auction for Strawberry Hill Stud, part of John Singleton’s equine breeding and racing venture, generated nearly $14 million this past Tuesday. Yulong Investments, conducting business under the name Highway Farm, was a prominent player, acquiring 13 lots. Their standout purchase was Miss Fabulass, sold for $1.85 million. A… Read More »
True Marvel will be Matthew Smith’s only runner in Friday’s Listed Wyong Gold Cup (2100m), having run second in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at $151 in the Autumn. He also placed in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) and even managed to win a maiden hurdle at Hamilton in… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable has taken the opportunity to give two of their runners a look at Caulfield before an upcoming Group 1 race. Duke De Sessa and Steinem will represent the stable in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) on Saturday as they kick off their spring campaigns. Working with Kettle Hill, Duke De Sessa was having his first look at… Read More »
While the Cairns Cup went the way of the John Manzelmann trained The Driller on Saturday, no one would dispute the fact that the overall dayâs proceedings were dominated by Jason Taylor, who rode half of the ten-race card … from only eight rides. Taylor was understandably chuffed with his… Read More »
The Tony and Maddysen Sears trained stable star Yellow Brick won his trail at Doomben this morning. There were no fireworks, just a strong workmanlike session with the son of The Mission doing all he was asked to in a satisfactory fashion, … an effort which pleased his co-trainer Maddy… Read More »
Ballarat trainer Nigel Blackiston will take a two-horse team to Sandown as he looks to build the career of one galloper while the other may race for the last time. Last start Sandown winner Subrising runs in the Ladbrokes Yard Comments Handicap (1400m) as she looks to build her career towards a potential Group 1 target, while Passione runs in the… Read More »
Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip is set to make a much-anticipated return in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 9. After a recent 1200-metre jumpout at Cranbourne, trainer Ciaron Maher is optimistic about the thoroughbred’s condition. “He’s getting there, we put the shades on him today… Read More »
Aidan O’Brien has all but confirmed that his star three-year-old, Paddington, will not compete in the Cox Plate 2023. Instead, the focus will be on the Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on October 21. Paddington recently finished third at the Juddmonte International, ending a streak of six consecutive wins… Read More »
Trainer Colin Webster is delighted with Baby Paris after his exciting sprinter dominated rivals in a barrier trial at Belmont today (Monday). Baby Paris, ridden by Peter Knuckey, was in cruise mode for the majority of her 1000m trial, outclassing a handy field to win by a length. At her… Read More »
Trainer Mitch Freedman has made the tactical decision to steer his horse, Attrition, away from Saturdayâs Group 1 Memsie Stakes, instead setting sights on the Feehan Stakes. “We just thought three weeks after that hard first-up run probably would suit him better.” Freedman told Racing.com. This realignment aims to set… Read More »
Leading horse trainer Peter Moody received a $5,000 fine from the Victorian Racing Tribunal after he pleaded guilty to a charge concerning prohibited substances found in his sprinter, Brereton. The fine came after a positive pre-race drug test conducted before a race at Flemington on May 13, 2023. VRT Chairman… Read More »
I Wish I Win will plot a unique path to The Everest, starting with this Saturday’s Memsie Stakes, and Katherine Coleman said the $750,000 event had come at a good time for the gelding. The 1400-metre weight-for-age Group 1 could be the five-year-old’s only start before the $20 million The Everest on… Read More »
Melbourne hosts its first major of the racing season with the running of the G1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on Saturday. Many of the elite sprinter/milers are in the nominations including Alligator Blood ($6) and Mr Brightside ($3.50) will be high up in the markets come the weekend. There is also up and… Read More »
We get to see the first of the races which will have a great bearing on the TAB Everest as the sprinters take on the initial running of the Concorde Stakes (1000m) with a million dollar prize money. Some old warriors who are the winners of the last two editions… Read More »
Nature Strip has won much bigger races than Saturday’s Group 3 Concorde Stakes, but the $1 million race at Randwick looms as one a significant in the context of his career. The eight-time Group 1 winner and 2021 The Everest champion needs to show trainer Chris Waller that he still has a… Read More »
Mike Moroney has set high goals for his horses this spring, especially for Emissary, who finished runner-up in last year’s Melbourne Cup. The stayer appears to have returned in good order, as evidenced by his recent impressive performances at Flemington jumpouts, including one over 1200m. Although late to mature, Emissary… Read More »
In the recent World All-Star Jockeys series in Japan, Australian representative and G1-winning jockey Rachel King performed impressively, narrowly missing the top spot. The Sydney-based English jockey led the series after three of four legs, claiming victory aboard Dover Hawk in a 1200m race and finishing runner-up with Pod Bullet… Read More »
