An era has ended with Chris Waller announcing the retirement of champion sprinter Nature Strip. The decision was made almost immediately after the nine-year-old finished down the track in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday with Waller convening a spontaneous press conference to confirm the news. Standing alongside Nature… Read More »
Champion apprentice Zac Lloyd has proven a capable fill in for Sydney’s leading jockey James McDonald, answering a late call-up to guide Tiz Invincible to a dynamic win in the Group 2 Furious Stakes at Randwick. McDonald injured his ankle in a race day mishap at the Wyong Cup meeting and while… Read More »
Trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy never doubted the credentials of promising three-year-old Veight who returned with an impressive Stakes victory at Caulfield. Having his first start since finishing out of the money on a wet track in Sydney during the autumn, Veight returned to claim the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) on Saturday. The victory showed the McEvoy… Read More »
In a dramatic twist to an already eventful week, champion jockey Damien Oliver will be riding Alligator Blood in today’s $750,000 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Oliver recently announced his year-end retirement and was initially without a mount for the Group 1 race. However, a twist of fate saw Tim Clark… Read More »
After a tumultuous Wyong Cup day meeting that resulted in multiple hospitalisations, Racing NSW stewards have provided updates on the condition of the jockeys involved. James McDonald, initially hospitalised for foot and shoulder pain, reports ankle discomfort but plans to fulfil his Randwick riding commitments today, subject to a medical… Read More »
By his own high standards, it’s been a slow start to the new racing season for jockey Pat Carbery, but he’s determined to hit back at Belmont on Saturday. Carbery has picked up three plum rides and victory aboard Augment, My Bella Mae and Zephyra would be the perfect tonic on the… Read More »
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 Redoute’s 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) – all Group 1 wins –… 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 »
