A start in a stakes race at Flemington is on the cards for Crestani when the gelding heads to Moonee Valley for his return run following a short break. The Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on January 14 is in the planning for the Pat Carey -trained galloper if he runs well on Saturday. Crestani is… Read More »
Jockey Robbie Fradd is set to undergo triple bypass surgery in the coming days. The confirmation of this serious health issue has necessitated Fradd backing off from all physical activity until such time as the outcome of his surgery and the long-term prognosis of his rehab and recovery period can… Read More »
Stony Creek would not have been expected to deliver a headline moment on Tuesday but for new trainer Rory Hunter it was a day to remember with his first runner delivered his first win. Prior to Hunter taking over training Soonga, the four-year-old gelding had three starts prior with the best… Read More »
With the scratching of Ausbred Flirt, the Gary Portelli-trained Ruby Tuesday has been a market firmer for the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf at Gosford on Wednesday. Brad Widdup confirmed on Tuesday that Ausbred Flirt will head to the paddock after her second placing at Randwick last Saturday instead… Read More »
Platinum Jubilee’s defeat in the Drinkwise Plate (1100m) at Randwick last Saturday might have been disappointment for those who backed it at $2.80, but co-trainer Adrian Bott isn’t seeing too many negatives out of the second placing to Fire Lane as the two-year-old filly heads to the Gold Coast next… Read More »
You can tell when Ciaron Maher has a soft spot for any of the hundreds of thoroughbreds under his care and Persan is one of those horses. Persan made a welcome return to the winners’ list at Flemington on December 10 taking out the Listed JRA Trophy over 2600 metres in an… Read More »
The Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw not only won a second successive stakes race in taking out the Listed Christmas Stakes at Sandown, but also the first 1100-metre race run over a unique course. Races over that distances aren’t usually able to be run at Sandown but a temporary winning post erected 80… Read More »
He didn’t have much luck in the Group 2 Ingham a fortnight ago, but the John O’Shea-prepared Diamil ($8) has made amends taking out the $200,000 Group 3 Summer Cup at Royal Randwick. It was a genuinely run affair with Grandslam setting a hectic tempo in front over the staying test of… Read More »
It was a race that greatly changed complexion over the final furlong, with Mark Newnham mare Zain’s Girl ($6.50) sticking her head out at the right time to resume in fine fashion at Royal Randwick. After the Jarrod Austin-prepared Suprina was in front by upwards of three lengths upon straightening, it set it… Read More »
Ciaron Maher has All-Star Mile aspirations with Nugget after the six-year-old gelding notched his seventh win in 15 starts in the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) at Sandown. Disappointed that Nugget was balloted out of the Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on December 10, this victory in return has the Melbourne… Read More »
Fresh off a winning treble at Royal Randwick on Christmas Eve, jockey Zac Lloyd has kept the ball rolling with an early win at their Boxing Day meeting. Piloting the Chris Waller-prepared Pink Baroque ($13), Lloyd was able to get his filly into a perfect run in transit just off the pace from… Read More »
It is safe to say that Ciaron Maher knows a stayer with potential when he sees one and St Lawrence has shown him enough to describe the horse as a ‘stayer of the future’. St Lawrence took his record to four wins in as many starts with victory in the BM70 Joe… Read More »
Dunkel is still a work-in-progress for trainer Patrick Payne but was able to show a strong ‘pick-up’ and sprint to win the Frank O’Brien Handicap at Sandown. Notching second win in three starts, Dunkel showed his staying potential under jockey Harry Coffey settling at the rear of the field over the 1800-metre trip and… Read More »
One thing Brad Widdup has learned from the wonderful career of Group 1 winner Icebath is that sometimes in racing, you need to roll the dice. Icebath was coming off a benchmark 78 win when nosed out by Colette in the 2020 Golden Eagle and started at double-figure odds when pipped… Read More »
Cindy Alderson cannot quite put her finger on the improvement from Jigsaw who is aiming to remain unbeaten as a four-year-old when he runs at Sandown. Jigsaw runs in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1100m) on Monday, looking to add another victory to wins secured at Cranbourne and Caulfield. He looked one of Victoria’s select two-year-olds after a… Read More »
Godolphin and James Cummings have produced another two-year-old winner with Amur stepping out on debut to score at Moonee Valley. The well-related Amur took out the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Handicap (1200m) on Saturday with the Godolphin team electing to run on Saturday instead of tackling a maiden two-year-old contest at Geelong on Monday. Ridden by… Read More »
A campaign that hadn’t gone to plan finally hit the right note for Jojo Was A Man, who capitalised on a change of fortune to post a strong win at Randwick. Trainer John Thompson has had to be patient with the gelding, who choked down when unplaced first-up then brought about his… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have strengthened their hand for the Magic Millions Classic after The Novelist confirmed his spot in the $2 million race with a gutsy performance in the BJ McLachlan Stakes at Doomben. The Novelist will join stablemates Platinum Jubilee and Summer Loving in the Gold Coast showpiece after… Read More »
Right You Are has continued his progression from a potentially career ending injury with a fighting win at Moonee Valley. His win in the Sweeney Estate Agents North Altona Handicap (2040m) on Saturday followed his first win in more than two years when successful at Sandown on December 10. Sent out the $2.70 favourite under… Read More »
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Inundation has made a record-breaking return to the racetrack with a stylish win at Moonee Valley. Inundation posted a time of 56.84 secs in taking out the Sweeney Estate Agents Caroline Springs Handicap (1000m) lowering the mark of 56.92 secs set by Written Beauty in 2020…. Read More »
