Trainer Brock Lewthwaite admits there will be added pressure when he watches Prawns Eleven in the Listed Tabtouch-Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday, but heââŹâ˘s confident the talented three-year-old can rise to the occasion. If Prawns Eleven jumps away slowly from the barriers, which has been his pattern… Read More »
Phillip Stokes was relieved to see Shamino break a long drought last start, but isn’t exactly brimming with confidence that he can go back-to-back in Saturday’s $175,000 Apache Cat Classic (1000m) at Cranbourne. The once-promising sprinter will carry the 60kg top weight in the feature sprint race on the Cranbourne Cup Day… Read More »
Owner-breeder Gary Bowen says Baby Paris is not for sale now-and not for sale in the future. The exciting three-year-old filly looks a real talent and although early into her career she is living up to the hype. That reputation can be further enhanced in Saturday’s Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m)… Read More »
Josh Julius isn’t complaining, but the abundant post-Melbourne Cup Week options now available have provided him with a dilemma as to what to do with his stable star Just Folk. The six-year-old was among the nominations for the Cranbourne Cup when entries for the $500,000 Listed event closed on Monday. But… Read More »
The $500,000 Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) launches the Ascot Pinnacles Carnival on Saturday and it promises to be a belter. With a host of top three-year-olds racing in WA presently, it is certain to live up to its billing and hype. The race is named in honour of a sprinting… Read More »
He just missed out on gaining a slot in the $15 million Everest, but the Desleigh Forster-prepared Apache Chase will be out to show his wares in next Saturday’s $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle. The Better Than Ready gelding proved he was more than up to the elite level… Read More »
Winning the Carbine Club Of WA Apprentices Cup (2100m) at Ascot on Saturday was a personal triumph. Against his peers, he left no one in doubt what winning the race meant for him. After passing the post on Zadar Rock, Keshaw Dhurun stood high in the irons and turned to the… Read More »
Gavin Bedggood would love nothing more than to win his hometown Cup and he could make a two-pronged attack on the race. No Effort and Keats will be entered for the $500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) on Saturday. The Cranbourne Cup has been in Bedggood’s sights after he turned No Effort out for a… Read More »
The Melbourne Cup was won, again, by a class runner of the field, Nature Strip had his colours lowered again and Zaaki bounced back into the winners list. All that and more in this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’. KEY NEWS: Gold Trip Wins Melbourne… Read More »
Many doubted that the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained gelding Ellsberg ($3.30F) could see out the 1800m of the $2 million Five Diamonds at Rosehill Gardens today, but the five-year-old proved too strong to hold off Sibaaq ($16) by a short head with Laws Of Indices ($3.80) a length and a quarter back in… Read More »
Trainer Annabel Neasham did not want to die wondering as she set about winning the Champions Stakes at Flemington. The Group 1 race, previously known as the Mackinnon Stakes, was renamed as part of Champions Day to conclude the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Saturday’s contest did not disappoint as Zaaki went back-to-back… Read More »
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Sheeza Belter ($5) has repaid supporters who stuck following a luckless effort in The Invitation at Randwick two weeks ago. The Gold Standard filly has saluted in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes at Rosehill running down early leader Lavish Girl ($7.50) by a long neck, with… Read More »
A drop back in trip has provided Alligator Blood a second Group 1 win of the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Leading throughout over the 1600m of the Champions Mile at Flemington on Saturday, Alligator Blood confirmed his status as one of Australia’s best milers. A winner of the Group 1 Australian… Read More »
Roch ‘N’ Horse has scored another knock blow in a feature sprint race at Flemington taking out the Group 1 Champions Sprint. The Mike Moroney-trained mare won the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap over the same course and distance as Saturday’s 1200m sprint earlier in the year. This time there was no $101 on offer as Roch… Read More »
After missing the jump by two lengths in the $1 million Golden Gift at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, jockey Hugh Bowman had to reset his race plans for exciting Godolphin two-year-old colt Barber ($5). The Exceed And Excel progeny was able to run down the 14 runner field late, proving too strong… Read More »
Chris Waller and the large team of owners of import Soulcombe hope to be back at Flemington in 12 months’ time for a shot at the Melbourne Cup. Soulcombe, a former member of the William Haggas team in the UK, scored an impressive Australian debut taking out the Group 3 Queen’s Cup (2600m) on Saturday. TAB has… Read More »
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has confirmed that Hugh Bowman will take up a three-month riding contract in Hong Kong. An official release by the HKJC reads (in part): âThe Committee, by way of written resolution, resolved to grant a Club Jockeyâs licence to Hugh Bowman for the period… Read More »
Having originally considered taking I’m Thunderstruck back in trip after his Cox Plate placing, I’m Thunderstruck will attempt to register a first against Anamoe at Flemington. The pair has met on two occasions with Anamoe holding 2-0 lead, but trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are hoping to turn that around in the Group 1 Champions… Read More »
The Champions Mile has undergone a transformation that just may give Godolphin galloper Cascadian his chance to finally win a feature Group 1 1600m race at Flemington. Previously a handicap and known as the Cantala Stakes and run on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the race has been rebadged as the Champions Mile, shifted to the final… Read More »
An opportunity to match the deeds of one of Perth’s most popular and successful mares is added incentive for Massimo in the WAROA- Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday. Massimo won the Lee Steere Stakes last year and if successful for a second time on the weekend he joins… Read More »
