The absence of what Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter described as a ‘natural topweight’ means Spanish Mission heads weights for this year’s Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup. The Peter Moody-trained stayer was on Tuesday revealed as the 58kg topweight for the two feature handicap races of the Victorian spring…. Read More »
A trip to Caulfield for a track gallop has given Lloyd Kennewell some confidence ahead of Meridus contesting the Caulfield Guineas Prelude. Saturday’s Group 3 race will for Kennewell give him an indication whether Meridus can progress to the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 8. Meridus has only faced the starter on three occasions, winning a Sale maiden in June… Read More »
Overnight and early morning rain at Caulfield was not what the trainers of Ayrton wanted ahead of a gallop on Tuesday. The Caulfield track was bordering on a Good 4 on Monday before 1.5mm of rain overnight and a further shower as trackwork was being undertaken on Tuesday morning. The Mick Price and Michael Kent… Read More »
The team associated with I Wish I Win are not the only ones sweating on a run in this week’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes with the horse who finished second to him last start also facing an uncertain week. Gentleman Roy faces an even tougher task of gaining a start in the… Read More »
Aft Cabin will have every opportunity to prove his Caulfield Guineas worth when he rounds out preparations for the $2 million Group 1 this Saturday at Caulfield. The return to 1400 metres and another look at the Guineas venue in the $300,000 Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude have trainer James Cummings… Read More »
Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant has put in a much improved run in this evenings G2 Qatar Prix Foy Stakes at Longchamp. The former Chris Waller star failed to fire in her French debut but has only just gone down in the G2 staying event which was won by Iresine…. Read More »
Jockey of the moment Mark Zahra will put Illation through his paces in a jump-out at Cranbourne in a bid to get the entire back to the races. Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have no set plans for Illation after the four-year-old suffered his first defeat in the Group… Read More »
The door remains ajar for Rothfire to run in the $15 million The Everest, although trainer Robert Heathcote is keen to get through the sprinter’s next assignment before a final decision is made. A brilliant first-up winner of the McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley, Rothfire will have his next start… Read More »
Fit horses that competed during the Brisbane Winter Carnival have continued their run in Melbourne with a double at Flemington. Leading trainer Robert Heathcote and Tony Gollan along with Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted have produced a steady stream of winners from limited numbers during late winter and into the spring carnival. O’Dea and Hoysted got the ball rolling… Read More »
Nick Ryan has landed the biggest win of his career with Kissonallforcheeks taking out a stakes race at Flemington. Kissonallforcheeks won the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) on Saturday to surpass Ryan’s previous three biggest wins, all at Listed level. The former champion apprentice started his training career at Albury before moving to Caulfield after a… Read More »
The Epsom Handicap will be the spring goal for Kiku after she produced a barnstorming finish to emulate former stablemate Winx by claiming the Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill. The mare snuck under the guard of punters, who sent her around as an $18 chance, but trainer Chris Waller said the stable… Read More »
In Secret is the new Golden Rose favourite after capping a heady 40 minutes for Godolphin with her explosive win in the Run To The Rose. The filly’s victory came just a race after stablemate Golden Mile staked his claims for the Group 1 race with a similarly dominant performance in the… Read More »
Deputising for James Cummings, assistant trainer Darren Beadman said Golden Mile, who is out of dual stakes winner Calaverite, had all the hallmarks of a classy galloper and he was confident the colt would be competitive in a Golden Rose. “They don’t win much better than that,” Beadman said. “He is… Read More »
Mark Zahra had to call on the toughness of the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained I’m Thunderstruck to claim the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. The Group 1 race over 1600m did not go to plan for Zahra who was forced to race two back on the fence from an inside draw in… Read More »
Last year’s winner Art Cadeau will defend his title in this year’s The Kosciuszko after being selected by Hurlstone Park TAB customer to contest the $2 million race. The Kosciuszko, which was launched in 2018 by Racing New South Wales, has had four different winners to date … Belfyler in… Read More »
The Victoria Racing Club will pay a tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at their race meeting at Flemington on Saturday. The Queen, who was a racehorse owner, breeder and racing lover, visited Flemington on three occasions in 1954, 1963 and 1977 while her horse Arabian Story finished sixth in the 1997 Melbourne… Read More »
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable will play jugglers as they race staying mare Daisies into fitness while also keeping her fresh for a Group 1 target. Daisies makes her spring return in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday which is the kick-off point for… Read More »
He isn’t the best horse in Bjorn Baker’s stable, but veteran sprinter Prime Candidate has a case for being one of the most enduring. In his sixth season of racing, the eight-year-old has won eight of his 35 starts and managed another 10 minor placings and he continues to maintain… Read More »
Godolphin and James Cummings will be hoping to add another Group 1 trophy to the vast number in the cabinet when Cascadian lines up at Flemington. Cascadian faces seven opponents in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on Saturday, a race Godolphin and Cummings is yet to win since it was elevated to Group 1… Read More »
Trainer Archie Alexander expects a truly run race at Flemington will suit his stayer Teewaters. Archie Alexander will know more after Teewaters runs at Flemington whether the Melbourne Cup is a dream or could become a reality. While The Sally Chirnside (2500m) on Saturday may not be a qualifier for the Group 1… Read More »
