Champion jockey William Pike has put his stamp on the Brisbane Winter Carnival claiming a second Group 1 win when he guided Sheeza Belter to victory at Eagle Farm. Pike won the Queensland Oaks on Gypsy Goddess at Eagle Farm on June 4, giving the jockey his first Group 1 win since… Read More »
Having played the bridesmaid role at his past three starts, Dragonstone finally got his moment in the sun, outclassing his rivals to capture the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes at Randwick. The diminutive gelding had twice finished runner-up to the smart Andermatt before bumping into another promising galloper in Passive Aggressive when second… Read More »
Annabel Neasham has collected another big prize with a European import, taking out the Group 2 Q22 at Eagle Farm. Numerian led throughout to claim the 2200m contest on Saturday following his stablemate Zaaki who won the race last year for Annabel Neasham. Taken to the front by Tommy Berry, Numerian ($21)… Read More »
A fierce will to win has helped deliver Siege another important metropolitan victory after jockey Chad Schofield was forced to throw his game plan out the window. Schofield had anticipated Saturday’s Celebration Of Women In Racing Handicap (1000m) being run at a faster tempo and wanted to ride Siege patiently before making… Read More »
Apprentice Mikaela Lawrence registered a breakthrough city win guiding home the Patrick Payne-trained Bigolino at Sandown. But the victory was soured for Lawrence who was fined $1500 and suspended for 11 meetings for being five whip strikes over prior to the 100m mark. Correct weight was delayed on the Thoroughbred Club Handicap (1600m) on… Read More »
Western Australia’s premier thoroughbred racing carnival is reaching new heights with more prize money, more top-class races and more excitement. The traditional Masters racing carnival featuring three Group 1 race days is being reimagined as The Pinnacles and extended to five feature races across five sparkling race days, with around… Read More »
A smart front running ride by Linda Meech has provided the Peter Moody-trained She Dances with a debut win at Sandown. Linda Meech took advantage of an inside draw on the daughter of Street Boss to head to the fence and control the speed on a heavy Sandown track in the IVE> Print… Read More »
The burgeoning talent of apprentice Dylan Gibbons was on display at Randwick with the emerging young rider celebrating an early double to bring up a century of wins for the season. Indentured to leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, Gibbons dictated terms to lead throughout aboard Zadig for Jean Dubois in the TAB Highway… Read More »
Leading trainer Lindsey Smith has flagged a small concern with Seacorp-Hyperion Stakes (1600m) favourite God Has Chosen, warning punters his charge could be looking for a longer trip. The gelding was superb in taking out the Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) last month, where he stormed home from the rear… Read More »
Trainer Lindsey Smith has ambitious plans for Triple Missile after his devastating victory in the Golden Topaz at Swan Hill. Switching back from a 1400m victory in a heat of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship at Flemington last start, Triple Missile came from near last on the turn to claim the $150,000 race… Read More »
The Elvstroem Classic is a sought after two-year-old race at the three-day Swan Hill Carnival and has been taken out by the Patrick Payne-trained Quang Tri. The 1300m race on Friday is named after the Tony Vasil-trained Elvstroem that scored a debut win at the meeting in 2003. Elvstroem went on to win the following… Read More »
It will be a difficult task for two Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained fillies to replicate the winning margin of their last start victories at Sandown. Star Of Chaos, a last start seven length winner, runs in the Thoroughbred Club Handicap (1600m) while Super Jenni Kay, a debut six length victor,… Read More »
Drawing the rails in a big race can be a boon or a burden, but Joseph Pride is happy for Private Eye to take his chances from barrier one in the Stradbroke Handicap. The Group 1 winner has been dealt a string of tricky gates in feature races, jumping from barrier 14… Read More »
Trainer Matt Cumani is still working out imported stayer Monbahar, but one thing the Ballarat-based trainer does know is the gelding loves the wet. That will be a bonus for Monbaher when he runs in the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Handicap (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday. The track on Friday was rated in the heavy… Read More »
An outside gate has dashed John O’Shea’s hopes of running Fashchanel in Group 2 company at Eagle Farm, but he is hoping to come away with a consolation win in Sydney. The mare has been scratched from Saturday’s Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) in Brisbane after drawing wide and will instead go… Read More »
A turnaround in barriers has buoyed Matt Smith’s confidence that Esti Feny can make his presence felt in his rematch with last-start conqueror Huetor in the Q22. The Hungarian import endured a torrid run from a wide gate in the Doomben Cup (2100m) but stuck to his guns to finish sixth to… Read More »
Trainer David Vandyke is a master strategist who stays focussed on particular objectives no matter what hype any particular horse is surrounded with at any time, or what temptations in terms of race scheduling might apply, or what distractions (and arenât they always there) that might be in play. Vandykeâs… Read More »
Queensland trainers made a statement of their own when stopping the invasion from the southern trainers in its tracks in both the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (won by the Desleigh Forster trained Apache Chase) and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (won by the David Vandyke trained Gypsy Goddess). The message… Read More »
A spell beckons for Royal Mile ahead of a spring campaign that his Mount Gambier trainer believes could see the gelding sneak a nice race. Royal Mile runs in the Ladbrokes Punters Assist Handicap at Sandown on Saturday before a brief spell. Trainer Lee Creek is planning an early foray into the… Read More »
A change can be as good as a holiday and it has certainly put a spring in the step of veteran gelding Inn Keeper as he prepares to make his debut for a new stable. The former Victorian will be one of two runners for Joe Pride in Saturday’s Bob Charley AO Stakes… Read More »
