David Vandyke is banking on the sheer talent of Gypsy Goddess to help her overcome a distance drop when she returns to her home state for an important winter carnival stepping stone. After fine performances to finish third in the Vinery Stud Stakes (1850m) and runner-up in the ATC Australian Oaks (2400m)… Read More »
Lindsay Park colt Liberty Steps will be racing for a potential trip to Brisbane when he steps out at Caulfield. A Caulfield winner at his second start, Liberty Steps will line up in the Thomas North Handicap (1200m) on Saturday. The Ben and JD Hayes-trained two-year-old, if successful, could then make… Read More »
Trainer Eric Musgrove’s longevity as a jumps trainer has been rewarded at Warrnambool with the stalwart registering his 31st winner at the famous Three-Day Carnival. Musgrove scored his first Warrnambool Carnival winner back in 1981 and along the way has collected two Grand Annual Steeplechase victories with Hibernian Prince in 2001 and… Read More »
Two progressive gallopers from the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace stable are set to kick off their latest campaigns at Caulfield. Thought Of That and Mankayan pair off against each other in Take It To The Neds Level Handicap (1600m) on Saturday. Both have not raced since late last year and are potentially heading to Queensland. Eustace said… Read More »
After missing much of the Sydney autumn carnival with injury, Jason Collett will waste no time getting his season back on track when he returns to Saturday racing with a bumper book of ten rides at Gosford. Collett spent six weeks on the sidelines after breaking his collarbone in a race… Read More »
Mark Newnham is banking on a different preparation yielding a different result when Spirit Ridge attempts to go one better than his runner-up finish in last year’s Wagga Cup. Usually an on-pace runner, Spirit Ridge settled worse than midfield when coming back in journey from a Sydney Cup tilt in the 2021… Read More »
Prince Of Boom, who was one of the Robert Heathcote runners sensationally scratched (by order of the stewards) from the Mick Dittman Plate on April 23, will be looking to right the ship of the Heathcote stable, which has endured a really rough passage recently, when he tackles the Gold… Read More »
Trainer John O’Shea is likely to head north with improving colt Shalailed, who has posted his first win despite not enjoying the heavy conditions at Canterbury. The youngster surged to the front halfway up the straight in Wednesday’s TAB Plate (1200m) before the testing ground started to take its toll. He… Read More »
Apprentice Madison Lloyd has landed her most important career victory guiding Frankie Pinot to a first-up win at Warrnambool. Success in the Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m) on Wednesday was her biggest success since the apprentice had her first ride in March 2019. “Last year was my first year here (at Warrnambool)… Read More »
The promising Huetor will face his moment of truth when he takes on star galloper Zaaki in the Hollindale Stakes and it may not be their only match-up. Co-trainer Peter Snowden is hoping the French import can prove his weight-for-age credentials to earn a shot at the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), which… Read More »
Saunter Boy has redeemed himself for last year’s defeat in the Galleywood Hurdle with a tough victory under top weight at Warrnambool. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace -trained hurdler finished fourth as the $2.10 favourite in last year’s 3200m feature hurdle of the Warrnambool Three-Day Carnival. But this time around in… Read More »
A glance at the weather forecast for Brisbane next week has trainer Danny Williams eyeing a start in the Doomben 10,000 with Shelby Sixtysix – if the popular sprinter can squeeze into the field. The back-up specialist is set to contest the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford this weekend but… Read More »
Symon Wilde would love to win a feature Group 1 race, but the local trainer says it doesn’t get any better that winning a feature jumps race at the Warrnambool Three-Day Carnival. Wilde won the feature jumps race, the Brierly Steeplechase on Tuesday, and has three entrants in the Grand… Read More »
Lindsay Park has been a regular visitor to the Queensland Winter Carnival over their history but will break new ground this weekend. For the first time Lindsay Park will have a runner in north Queensland when Crosshaven starts in the inaugural staging of The Archer (1300m) at Rockhampton on Saturday. The… Read More »
Tom Dabernig already has a Warrnambool Cup victory under the belt, but now as a local would like to add one in his own right. Furrion gave Dabernig, along with David and Ben Hayes, their sole victory in the Listed race in 2019. Angel Rock will line up for Dabernig on Thursday over 2350m looking… Read More »
Michael Lane is rapt with the progress of Free Trade and has targeted Saturday week’s G3 Roma Cup (1200m) as the gelding’s return. Lane has patiently brought Free Trade back to peak fitness after illness kept the seven-year-old sidelined for close to a year. Free Trade will make his first appearance since… Read More »
Local trainer Symon Wilde made the opening day of the Warrnambool Three-Day Carnival registering a five-timer, including the quinella in the feature race of the day. After landing divisions of the maiden hurdle with Count Zero and Rider In The Snow, Wilde also won a maiden flat race with Mio Capo and… Read More »
Fresh off an impressive win in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup with stable stalwart Kirwan’s Lane, Randwick-based trainer John O’Shea is aiming for more riches at this weekend’s Gosford standalone meeting. O’Shea will saddle up Irish import Diamil in the $500,000 The Coast Quality for three and four-year-olds and his honest campaigner Southern Lad resumes in… Read More »
Trainer Daniel Bowman admitted to being nervous before Bubble Palace took to the track for her second race start at Warrnambool. A winner at Ballarat on debut, Bubble Palace was a heavily supported $1.90 favourite to take out the VOBIS Gold Strike (1000m) on Tuesday. Bowman need not have worried… Read More »
Even at her lowest point when lying in a hospital bed did apprentice jockey Hannah Fitzgerald ever consider walking away from racing. If anything, her long enforced absence reinforced her love of the sport and fuelled her desire to get back to riding and doing what she loves best. Hannah… Read More »
