What was expected to be a two-horse race, in a small field, at Moonee Valley, turned out to be a boilover. The Happy Birthday John Dickson Handicap (1000m) was expected to see the heavily backed $2.05 favourite Command Approved and Bistro ($2.90) fight out the finish on Saturday. However, the pair cut at each other early in… Read More »
Red Resistance has stamped himself as a genuine Golden Slipper contender while King’s Gambit and Shinzo lost no admirers in a competitive Canonbury Stakes that was low on numbers but high in quality. Red Resistance ($6) kept his undefeated record intact, controlling the five-horse race from the front under Brett… Read More »
Trainer Chris Calthorpe is considering heading to Tasmania with Fighting Arrow after a narrow win at Moonee Valley. The Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) on February 6 will now be considered for the gelding following his victory in the McMahon’s Dairy Handicap (2040m) on Saturday. Ridden by Blake Shinn, Fighting Arrow… Read More »
A bit of racing history will be made today with the Gold Coast Turf Club breaking new ground … in a manner of speaking … when they host the first race meeting on their new Polytrack at their Aquis Park venue today. Eight races were originally programmed, but one race… Read More »
Robbie Fradd’s recovery from major, triple by-pass heart surgery is progressing well enough physically and, at the same time, he is also steadily coming to terms with the fact that he has not been able to end his forty-year career as a jockey on his own terms. “I’m getting there…. Read More »
Trainer David Vandyke has confirmed that Gypsy Goddess, the winner of the National Champion Three-Year-Old Filly title for 2021-22, has been sold as a broodmare and will relocate to Japan where she will join another former David Vandyke runner, now broodmare, Yankee Rose, who won the Queensland Horse Of The… Read More »
Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander has Derby aspirations for High Approach who returns to racing at Moonee Valley. A veteran of five starts, High Approach tackles older horses for the first time when he lines up in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (1500m) on Saturday. The Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in… Read More »
Godolphin filly Bistro has an exceptional first-up record but to date has been unable to replicate that at the second run of her preparation. However, the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable is confident she can turn that around against four opponents in the Happy Birthday John Dickson Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Bistro… Read More »
Those who fancy unbeaten Russian Revolution colt The Instructor as a Blue Diamond chance will take confidence from what Daumier was able to do last year. Daumier won the colts and geldings Blue Diamond Preview, the race that The Instructor won at Sandown on Thursday, before going on to win the Group… Read More »
An off-centre draw and a slightly longer trip have enticed Adelaide trainer David Jolly to Melbourne with sprinter Calypso Reign. Jolly decided the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley was the better option instead of the Listed Durbridge Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on Saturday. Calypso Reign had gate one in Adelaide and will jump from… Read More »
Tim Clark is banking on the advantage of race fitness proving the right recipe for Mariamia when she takes on Group 1 winners Forbidden Love and Golden Mile in the Expressway Stakes at Rosehill. The latter pair dominate betting with Golden Mile at $2.15 and Forbidden Love $2.70 with Mariamia on the third line… Read More »
Juvenile Divine Glory has done little wrong in her two starts to date but ever looking for a winning edge, Peter and Paul Snowden have opted for a key gear change when the filly kicks off her autumn campaign at Rosehill. The daughter of Hellbent finished a solid third to Platinum Jubilee in the… Read More »
The Lindsay Park stable of Ben and J D Hayes harbour Group 1 ambitions for Gentleman Roy after his first-up win at Sandown. Having his first outing since finishing out of the money at Moonee Valley in October, Gentleman Roy rode the speed in taking out the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) on Thursday. Sent out the… Read More »
Quality three-year-old Jacquinot has landed a first-up win that had punters taking the short odds at Sandown holding concerns during the race. Having his first start since finishing ninth in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in October, Jacquinot dived late to claim the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1300m) on Thursday…. Read More »
Few people can boast having trained a winner for His Majesty The King, but Chris Waller can now tick that off his bucket last after the enigmatic Chalk Stream emerged triumphant in the Listed Australia Day Cup at Warwick Farm. Waller has achieved more than most in racing, highlighted by his association… Read More »
Clinton Mcdonald has his eyes firmly fixed on the Oakleigh Plate after Star Patrol made a winning return at Sandown. Star Patrol landed his first win at ‘stakes level’ when he took out the Listed WJ Adams Stakes (1000m) on Thursday. The Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Sandown on February 25… Read More »
De Sonic Boom will be set on a path to the Blue Diamond Stakes after her debut win at Sandown. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained filly took out the filly’s division of the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) on Thursday to give the stable hope of a third straight… Read More »
Jockey Jordan Childs knows what is required to win the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and believes The Instructor has the credentials to give him a second win in Melbourne’s premier two-year-old race. Childs won the Blue Diamond in 2018 aboard Written By and said after The Instructor won the Listed Blue Diamond… Read More »
Rachel King has made the most of a late pick-up ride with victory aboard So Audacious at the Australia Day meeting at Warwick Farm, a fortuitous connection to the filly’s family providing her with some extra insight. The top jockey had ridden the three-year-old’s dam, two-time winner Audacious Choice, a mare trained… Read More »
Some potential kinks in the armour of the two Expressway Stakes favourites have convinced John O’Shea to test the black-type waters with improving sprinter Pizarro. The four-year-old has been scratched from a benchmark race at Rosehill on Saturday in preference for the harder assignment and O’Shea is happy to roll… Read More »
