Benaud landed the biggest win of his career when the John O’Shea-trained gelding took out an eventful $240,000 Wyong Gold Cup on Friday. Dylan Gibbons partnered the son of Reliable Man to a narrow win over Bois D’Argent in the 2100-metre Listed event, which saw several runners severely impacted when The Mediterranean broke down… Read More »
Jockeys Tim Clark and Regan Bayliss have been transported to hospital for further examination following a fall in the Wyong Cup. Tim Clark was dislodged from favourite Kalapour and Brett Prebble from Pretty Amazing, while Alegron, Hosier and Hopeful were all effectively pulled up after striking severe interference. Clark, who is booked… Read More »
Champion jockey James McDonald is facing an uncertain future after a fall during the Wyong Cup day. McDonald, a seven-time premiership winner, was riding the Godolphin-owned Razors in the Da Vinci 3&4YO Benchmark 68 Handicap when the accident occurred. The mishap took place right after the race commenced; Razors knuckled… Read More »
Trainer Greg Eurell says Papillon Club faces a big jump in class as she heads to Caulfield for her first start in mares’ company. Papillon Club kicks off her spring campaign in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) on Saturday on a path Eurell hopes will lead to a Group 1 contest later in the spring. The Group… Read More »
The Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday could prove pivotal to the direction Little Brose takes during the spring. While Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes are planning for a start in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 14, a win by the colt in the 1200m sprint on Saturday… Read More »
When Chris Waller sends a runner to Melbourne for the Group 1 season opener, it is a sign the horse has the right credentials. The last time Waller had representation in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield was in 2015 when Boban scored a narrow win while stablemate Weary finished in fourth… Read More »
Zac Lloyd’s ascension towards Sydney racing’s elite took another giant step on Thursday night when the star apprentice ended a decade of Chris Waller domination in the Bart Cummings Medal. Lloyd finished the season with a flourish to finish on 81 points, 17 clear of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with Waller,… Read More »
Having already presented England’s Royal family with one horse racing trophy from Australia, Chris Waller is hoping he can prepare Chalk Stream to win them another this spring. The champion trainer had the opportunity to meet King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla during his trip to Royal Ascot in June, gifting… Read More »
James Cummings won’t be surprised to see unheralded mare Zapateo spoil the party when she takes on some big-name sprinters in the Concorde Stakes at Randwick. The multiple Group winner has a handy strikerate of seven victories from 18 starts but significantly, is proven over Saturday’s 1000-metre journey, a statistic Cummings says… Read More »
Champion Australian jockey Zac Purton has secured a highly coveted spring ride, partnering with the well-regarded international horse Light Infantry. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has granted Purton special clearance to return to Australia, where he will team up with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper for two elite… Read More »
Remember Samantha Miss? The Redouteâs Choice mare who raced for trainer Kris Lees in the orange colours with the black maltese cross and who won the Champagne Stakes (beating Sebring), the Flight Stakes (beating Portillo) and the Crown Oaks at Flemington (beating Miss Scarlatti) â all Group 1 wins â… Read More »
After a lengthy build-up, Karli’s Karma will kick off her campaign in the $100,000 Jolly Beggar Stakes at Belmont on Saturday. The classy six-year-old has not started since finishing unplaced in the G3 The Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot last December. Summer Dickson says the Jolly Beggar Stakes is the first step towards… Read More »
John Sargent is looking to two of his most promising horses to make spring carnival statements when Palmetto and Perfect Thought step out in separate races at Randwick. After making a successful leap from benchmark company to win the $500,000 The Coast last preparation, Palmetto resumes in Saturday’s Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m)… Read More »
What a lift-off we will have for Group 1 Spring racing when the Memsie Stakes takes centre stage at Caulfield on Saturday. I Wish I Win and Mr Brightside, the two runners vying for favouritism, have come up with opposite ends of the barrier draw (I Wish I Win with… Read More »
Kerry Parker is constantly trying to keep one step ahead of Think It Over as he manages his comeback from a tendon injury, including ensuring the grand campaigner remains mentally and physically fresh for his second-up run in the Chelmsford Stakes. Mindful horses can sprint well off a long break only to race… Read More »
Jockey Michael Dee has got the call-up to ride the impressive New Zealand visitor Imperatriz in next weekâs Group 2 McEwen Stakes where the thirteen-time winner, from only nineteen starts, looks set to clash, amongst others, with the likes of Giga Kick, What You Need and Rothfire. Dee replaces Opie… Read More »
Cranbourne trainers Ken and Kasey Keys can head to their spring goal without the expectation of Scheelite remaining unbeaten. Scheelite won his first two starts before returning from a break to be beaten out of a place in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 19. The colt returns to Caulfield on… Read More »
It has been one of the spellbinding rivalries of Australian racing, but will Nature Strip and Eduardo be going head-to-head for the final time in their Concorde Stakes showdown at Randwick? Now nine and 10-years-old respectively, the top sprinters are in the twilight of their incredible careers, which have crossed paths… Read More »
Still buzzing from her outstanding result in the World All-Star Jockeys’ Series in Japan, Rachel King is keen to keep her momentum rolling into the early-season carnival races in Sydney. King participated in the Series over the weekend and after taking an early lead, she went down by a single point… Read More »
Lindsay Park import The Summit will attempt to enhance his Caulfield Cup credentials in a Stakes race at Caulfield. The Summit snuck into the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) on Saturday with his trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes looking to enhance his rating with a win, or placing, ahead of his next assignment. The Group… Read More »
