Four of the runners in Melbourne’s premier juvenile race will require further testing before being passed fit to start at Caulfield. Racing Victoria vets inspected all 16 two-year-olds on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. Lofty Strike and Kiki Express both presented with lameness. Lofty Strike… Read More »
Young Victorian apprentice Matt Chadwick has started his career in the best possible way. Winning. He climbed on board the Gavin Bedggood trained DRONE STRIKE (Smart Missile – Mosoru) at Kilmore in a $25,000 BM 58 hoping for the best. The boy sprang her from the gates, sent her to… Read More »
Having missed the winning ride on Anamoe in the Hobartville Stakes, Hugh Bowman is keen to make his presence felt at Sydney’s first Group 1 meeting of the autumn. The champion jockey was a late scratching from Rosehill last weekend due to illness and in his absence, Tommy Berry picked up the… Read More »
The Anthony and Sam Freedman are looking further afield at another Group 1 prize with Extreme Flight rather than the one that confronts them at Caulfield. Extreme Flight is one of eight runners in the Futurity Stakes (1400m) on Saturday and Sam Freedman concedes he doubts whether Extreme Flight is a winning… Read More »
A Merchant Navy colt, secured by Wally Daly, topped the final day of the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale at $160,000. Offered by Amelia Park Racing and Breeding, the colt will join the training combination of father and son duo, Sean and Jake Casey. Merchant Navy was the second foal of… Read More »
Michael Freedman believes it is time for a rethink of the rules around set weights and penalties races after the Brad Widdup-trained Icebath was “pitchforked” into the Guy Walter Stakes at Randwick. Freedman is a big fan of the introduction of rich new races such as The Everest, Golden Eagle and The… Read More »
Sydney has received a drenching this week and the Randwick track has not been immune with almost 200 millimetres of rain recorded ahead of the first Group 1 meeting of the autumn. The surface was rated a heavy 8 midweek and downgraded to a 9 on Thursday, but Australian Turf… Read More »
History says it will be difficult for Wild Ruler to win the 2022 Oakleigh Plate, but jockey Mark Zahra believes he is partnering the right horse in the Group 1 sprint. Wild Ruler has to lump the equal topweight of 58kg in Saturday’s 1100m at Caulfield and since the race went metric… Read More »
Barriers proved to be the difference between stablemates Fangirl and Espiona in the Light Fingers Stakes, but both will have to overcome challenging draws in their Group 1 Surround Stakes rematch. Espiona has drawn gate 13 and Fangirl 16 in Saturday’s field of 16 plus two emergencies. It is a… Read More »
The connections of Miss Roseiano have made a $55,000 gamble that the filly is up to winning the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. That is the price they had to pay to get the daughter of Exceed And Excel into the Group 1 race for two-year-olds over 1200m on Saturday. Having already… Read More »
Sentimental favourite Lofty Strike will require a second veterinary examination in order to take his place in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Racing Victoria vets on Thursday began an inspection of all 16 two-year-olds engaged in Saturday’s Group 1 race over 1200m and found Lofty Strike presented with lameness in his right… Read More »
Racing Victoria’s stewards will make all runner’s in this Saturday’s Gr 1 Blue Diamond Stakes for the babies, undergo a rigorous vet check prior to the race. And they have started their checks this morning. This follows a routine check that found unbeaten 2nd favourite LOFTY STRIKE (Snitzel – Overreach)… Read More »
Harry Coffey has given Aurora’s Symphony a peach of a ride to lead home a mainland one-two finish in the Launceston Cup. Trained at Warrnambool by Symon Wilde, Aurora’s Symphony was coming off a last start victory in the Colac Cup (2000m) on February 11. Enjoying the run of the… Read More »
A lot has been expected of Prix De Turn from the outset of his racing career, but a drop in grade has finally afforded the three-year-old a breakthrough maiden win. Under a perfect ride from Brian Higgins, Prix De Turn ($2.80) took out the Ladbrokes Mega Multi Plate (1500m) at Sandown… Read More »
Local buyers responded strongly and overcame any fears over a lack of eastern states interest because of Covid restrictions. Local bloodstock agent John Chalmers secured the day one sale topper with Lot 174, a Playing God-Moodometer colt fetching $330,000. “He’s a big staying type with plenty of scope,” Chalmers said…. Read More »
Kerrin Mcevoy is hoping to team with another Sydney-trained galloper as he chases a second win in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield. Minhaaj runs in the Group 1 1100m sprint on Saturday looking to keep her unbeaten run intact for Randwick trainer John O’Shea. McEvoy gets aboard Minhaaj for the first time as he… Read More »
John O’Shea is sweating on an improvement in track and weather conditions as he prepares to assemble a quality team for the Chipping Norton Stakes meeting at Randwick. O’Shea is hoping to saddle up at least six runners on Saturday, including Maximal in the Group 1 showpiece, but says several of his… Read More »
Inglis Millennium winner Xtravagant Star will undergo the sternest test yet of her Golden Slipper credentials when she takes on benchmark juvenile Coolangatta at Randwick. The two undefeated fillies are set for a mouth-watering clash in Saturday’s Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), which has also attracted the highly-rated Lady Laguna and… Read More »
Trainer Mark Newnham’s experience with bonny mare Greysful Glamour has given him reason to believe Harmony Rose can return to her best after a disappointing spring. The four-year-old will launch her preparation in the Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, 12 months after capping her rise through the… Read More »
Montefilia is already a three-time Group 1 winner but trainer David Payne believes the best is yet to come. The four-year-old kicks off her latest campaign in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday after putting the finishing touches to her preparation with an exhibition gallop between races… Read More »
