The day didn’t begin how Brad Widdup had hoped but it ended on the right note when he produced talented mare Vulpine for a thrilling first-up win in the Ortensia Stakes. Usually an on-speed runner, Vulpine was slow out of the gates and settled in the second half of the field with… Read More »
Point Nepean has provided Team Williams with a Melbourne Cup starter after outstaying the opposition to claim the Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington. The Andrew Ramsden provides the winner a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November. Lloyd Williams has won seven Melbourne Cups and… Read More »
Apprentice Tyler Schiller has celebrated the biggest win of his burgeoning career with an upset victory aboard the Bjorn Baker-trained Bring The Ransom in the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic at Scone. The 23-year-old has had a heady couple of weeks in the saddle, capturing the Wagga Town Plate aboard Front… Read More »
Under-rated three-year-old Flying Crazy has put himself in contention for the Stradbroke Handicap after landing his third stakes win this campaign and claiming the scalp of Andermatt in the process. Touted as a possible Everest contender on the back of two impressive wins, Andermatt was sent out an odds-on favourite for the… Read More »
Four years after big brother Osborne Bulls took out the Luskin Stakes Stakes at Scone, Zapateo has captured a feature race win of her own at the corresponding meeting. The filly had put the writing on the wall with a last-start stakes placing behind stablemate Heresy, but she went one better… Read More »
Two contrasting rides by two of Victoria’s leading apprentices have landed trainer John Sadler a race-to-race double at Flemington. Coming from last on the home turn and sweeping down the outside, Matthew Cartwright guided Flash Feeling home in the second heat of Mahogany Challenge (1700m) before Alana Kelly weaved a passage on Adele… Read More »
Godolphin’s latest effort to add some external bloodlines to its thoroughbred portfolio has already reaped rewards, courtesy of In Secret’s barnstorming victory in the Listed Vinery Woodlands Stakes at Scone. A daughter of I Am Invincible out of multiple stakes winner Eloping, In Secret cost $900,000 as a yearling as… Read More »
Doull has become the latest two-year-old named after a famous former AFL footballer to score a victory on a Victorian racecourse. Bruce Doull was a premiership winning footballer with Carlton in the VFL during the 1970’s and 80’s and joins Brereton, Hafey, and Millane as winners for the Victorian Alliance while another… Read More »
Verry Elleegant’s new trainer Francis-Henri Graffard answered a phone call from one of the owners of the Melbourne Cup winner asking if he would like to take over the training of the mare. Graffard has had experience of Australian racing having travelled to Melbourne with Amercain and a couple of days later learned Verry Elleegant was heading his… Read More »
He may have produced an underwhelming first-up performance at Northam and lost his regular jockey, but Indian Pacific still has a fighting chance in tomorrow’s PKF-Roma Cup (1200m) at Belmont, according to trainer Neville Parnham. Indian Pacific finished more than four lengths behind Elite Street in the Group 3 Northam Mazda Stakes… Read More »
Rustic Steel has earned himself a start in the $2 million The Big Dance with his win in the Listed Scone Cup on Friday. To earn a spot in The Big Dance at Randwick on Melbourne Cup, horses must finish one-two in a list of 25 qualifying Cup races run throughout… Read More »
Jockey Shaun McGruddy has healthy respect for favourite Elite Street, but is excited by Red Can Man’s kind barrier draw in Saturday’s G3 PKF Roma Cup (1200m) at Belmont. Red Can Man jumps from barrier one and Shaun Mcgruddy believes that is a pivotal factor in turning the tables on Elite Street after… Read More »
Nick Ryan will kick-off the campaign of stable newcomerEdison at Flemington with the hope that it will lead to a stakes race win later in the preparation. A former member of the Bjorn Baker stable, Edison makes his debut for the Ryan stable in the opening heat of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series… Read More »
John Allen will be aiming to improve on his imposing record in Derby races when he partners Detonator Jack at Morphettville. Already the winner of four South Australian Derby’s, Allen will be attempting a third straight win when he partners the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – trained three-year-old in the 2500m race… Read More »
John O’Shea will be relying on girl power in the feature races at Scone on Saturday when he chases stakes success with two talented mares and a pair of promising fillies. O’Shea will be two-handed in the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) with last-start Hawkesbury Crown placegetter Fashchanel and… Read More »
John Sadler has only had Snowalot for a short period but knows one thing, the horse can stay. It is for that reason Snowalot will run in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday which carries a $300,000 first prize cheque along with a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption. Sadler says there… Read More »
A momentous afternoon awaits Count De Rupee and his trainers Robert and Luke Price if they can pull off a $1 million coup by winning the Doomben 10,000. For Count De Rupee, the race is a chance to showcase his wares against Everest contender Mazu, while for the father and… Read More »
Sold for a bargain price at the Scone Yearling Sale, Monegal will come full circle when she returns to where it all began for a shot at the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic. Theresa Bateup bought the daughter of Lope De Vega for just $3000 in 2017 and it has proven an… Read More »
Verry Elleegant remains a chance to contest this year’s Arc de Triomphe after Thursday night’s shock announcement that she would be leaving the Chris Waller stable. Waller released a statement on behalf of the ownership group advising that the reigning Melbourne Cup heroine would be transferred to French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard with… Read More »
Hong Kong-based owner Edmund Lee has had Group 1 success with Lindsay Park, think dual Australian Cup winner Harlem and successive Newmarket Handicap victor Redkirk Warrior. That was when David Hayes was at the helm, but with Lindsay Park now in the care of Ben and JD Hayes, Lee has entrusted them… Read More »
