From the start of the racing career of Martist, trainer Tony Gollan has had his eyes on the Queensland Winter Carnival. And the major race on the Queensland Winter Carnival calendar for two-year-olds comes up on Saturday with the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm. Martist is one of 13 runners in… Read More »
Trainer Rob Heathcote was not unhappy to see the rain falling in Brisbane as Rothfire prepares for the Stradbroke Handicap. Rothfire worked at Eagle Farm on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in which the ‘old marvel’ drew barrier 13 in the 23-horse field that has a capacity of 18 runners plus five emergencies. The rising nine-year-old will jump from… Read More »
Hall of Fame trainer Peter Moody has confirmed the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) will be the primary target for superstar mare Sheza Alibi during the spring. While the destination is clear, the path to Royal Randwick on October 31 remains flexible, with Moody and training partner Katherine Coleman still… Read More »
Star jockey Blake Shinn has moved a step closer to returning to competitive riding after climbing back aboard horses for trackwork following his lengthy recovery from a serious leg injury. After recently receiving medical clearance, Shinn wasted little time resuming riding duties, partnering horses in light work at Cranbourne for… Read More »
Not often is a trainer spoilt with two suitable wintertime staying options on a Saturday but it will be rain that determines where Matthew Smith sends Portland this weekend. The last start Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) winner has nominations for both the Group 2 The Q22 (2200m) at Eagle… Read More »
It is 36 years since Grahame Begg tasted success at the highest level in Queensland and with the field now set for the state’s signature race on Saturday, he is hopeful that Splash Back can break that long drought. You have to go way back to Eye Of The Sky’s… Read More »
Australian breeding heavyweights Coolmore and Newgate Farm have joined forces in a significant agreement that will see talented colt Wodeton retire to stud in 2026. The deal between the Coolmore ownership group and Henry Field’s Newgate operation ensures the son of Wootton Bassett will receive an opportunity at stud while… Read More »
Zac Lloyd has wasted no time in putting his name on the list of winners in Britain, guiding the Michael Bell trained Any Which Way to victory in a Class 2 Handicap for three-year-olds at Doncaster on Saturday. The 9-4 second favourite benefitted from a confident ride by Lloyd, whose… Read More »
Champion mare Pride Of Jenni will face a new challenge when she lines up in the final feature weight-for-age race of the year at Eagle Farm. Owner Tony Ottobre has confirmed the mare will contest the Group 2 Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday before a brief break to… Read More »
Estadio Mestalla will have an unconventional build up to the Stradbroke Handicap, but it’s a purposeful ploy trainer Joe Pride has used successfully before. The gelding will step out in an 800m barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Tuesday, travel by float to Brisbane with stablemates Private Eye and Headley… Read More »
Champion front-running mare Pride Of Jenni is set to take on a new challenge, with connections confirming she will contest next Saturday’s $1.2 million Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm. The decision will significantly alter the shape of the season’s final weight-for-age feature race in Australia, with Pride Of Jenni renowned… Read More »
Western Australian racing has served up yet another absolutely thrilling feature race finish. The result at Belmont on Saturday was so close on the line that the two main fancies in the Listed Raconteur Stakes … the $1.65 favourite Hot And High and the $3.50 second favourite Vatican Storm …… Read More »
Trainer Matt Hoysted was visibly moved by stable star Uncommon James’s first win since taking out the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate more than three years ago. “I’ll try not to get too emotional, this horse obviously means the world to our family,” Hoysted said. “It’s been more than three years… Read More »
Tasmanian apprentice Jabez Johnstone introduction to racing at Flemington was not what he had expected. On loan to Ciaron Maher for a three-month stint, Johnstone was aboard the Nick Ryan-trained Terrortorian in the Fancy A Gallop Plate (1600m) on Saturday, his first ride at Flemington. The saddle on the gelding… Read More »
The decision to bypass the Adelaide carnival and focus on Brisbane with Fireball Miss has reaped the ultimate reward with the filly scoring a brilliant Group One win in the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm. The three-year-old was explosive, rounding up the leaders and bounding clear to score by 1-1/4… Read More »
The consistent Cool Jakey defied a betting drift, wide barrier and 60kg impost to score a typically tough win in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1300m). Pride conceded he was concerned Cool Jakey might have needed the run given the sprinter was having his first start in seven weeks. “I… Read More »
Trainer Mick Shepherdson did not have to wait as long for his second city success in Melbourne as he did for his first. Shepherdson has held a trainers’ licence for around 10 years, although for a time he was the stable foreman for Tony McEvoy at Flemington. Going back out… Read More »
Former Sydney-trained galloper Wanaruah has notched his most important win yet in the feature sprint at Randwick. The Scone-based stable of Brett and Georgie Cavanough might soon be expanding after the in-form yard continued its rich vein of form with Wanaruah in the Bob Charley AO Stakes at Randwick. Having… Read More »
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Surfin’ Bird had to endure a tough run from a wide barrier draw but she gamely held off a series of challenges to score a career-best win. Star jockey Tim Clark revealed post-race that he “wasn’t overly concerned by the draw.” “It’s a good… Read More »
Trainer Matt Dale earned some travelling expenses for his winter holiday after Bravissima scored a strong win in the 50 Year and Life Member Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. “The Goulburn winters can be tough so we are leaving for a week in Port Douglas tomorrow,” Dale said…. Read More »
