The Patrick Payne trained The Cunning Fox claimed a second win in the J J Houlahan Hurdle at Ballarat, having previously landed the 3250m contest in 2024. The 2026 edition arguably provided as good a race as you could wish for from a three-horse field, with the way the field… Read More »
This is a pretty impressive way for an apprentice to outride her 4kg claim. Tara Atherden had five rides on the six race card at Carnarvon on Sunday and she came away with four winners … and there were no ‘gimmes’ in there with only one of Atherden’s winners being… Read More »
The Justine Erkelens trained Too Dardy passed a tough test when he took out the $100 000 Blue Spec Stakes over 1650m at Belmont in style. The seven-year-old, who jumped at a starting price of $9 with online betting sites, was stepping out beyond 1400m for the first time and… Read More »
For only the third time in nearly a century, the Grand National Hurdle and Grand National Steeplechase double has been completed, with the Shane Jackson-trained Andy Win striding to a dominant 12-length victory in the 2026 edition of the feature over fences at Ballarat. The jumping scene is certainly different… Read More »
Chris Waller will wait until later in the week to decide how many barn mates join star mare Autumn Glow in the Group One Winx Stakes, but the champion trainer is certain to be heavily represented. Waller sent six of his carnival contingent around in exhibition gallops at Rosehill on… Read More »
Australian Bloodstock could have another serious Melbourne Cup 2026 contender on its hands after progressive stayer Wine Dark Sea staked his claim with an impressive victory in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes (1m 5½f) at Newbury. The four-year-old Ulysses gelding, trained by Harry Charlton, was purchased by Australian Bloodstock… Read More »
The Darryn Patemen trained Kings Sicario put the cherry on the top of a superb campaign when he won the $100 000 Broome Cup in thrilling fashion in front of crowd reportedly numbering 7000 people … a tremendous on-track figure for any Country Cup meeting and one which underlined the… Read More »
Age has been the friend of Shadhavar, who added another Stakes victory to her record with a determined win in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday. After a two-run campaign last preparation that saw Shadhavar successful at Listed level, the mare continued her progression with another… Read More »
Althoff has plenty of higher-profile stablemates in the Chris Waller yard, but courtesy of a beautifully judged Zac Lloyd ride, the five-year-old had his moment in the sun at Rosehill, claiming the scalp of Group 1 performer Attica. Ridden patiently in midfield, Althoff ($3.60) peeled off heels in the straight… Read More »
Bob Peters made one of his rare ventures across from Western Australia to watch Cosmic Crusader take out the P B Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield. Now trained at Pakenham by Andrea Leek, Cosmic Crusader is two from two since making the trip across from Perth. Cosmic Crusader took out the… Read More »
Chilly Girl followed the speedy Blue Door into the straight before the two fillies broke clear for a stirring duel over the final 200m. But it was the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Chilly Girl who gained the upper hand near the line to score by a convincing and widening… Read More »
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable has loads of options with exciting filly Natural Fling who registered a comprehensive first-up win at Caulfield. The father-and-son training team may consider a Group 1 sprint in coming weeks for the daughter of Home Affairs after her victory in the Group Quezette Stakes… Read More »
The normally lethal combination of trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald found themselves in rival corners at Rosehill, and Waller made sure to use it to his advantage. With Eagle Express ($4) carrying just 52kg in Saturday’s Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1200m), light weight hoop Zac Lloyd was engaged… Read More »
Trainer Michael Freedman was still coming to terms with Transcend’s loss in the stewards room when Polyglot scored for the stable in the very next race, the Proven Thoroughbreds Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. But Freedman was momentarily taken aback when the trainer of the third placegetter, Street… Read More »
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes had their faith in Hard Kick justified when the three-year-old returned to winning form at Caulfield. A debut winner down the straight at Flemington in February, Hard Kick was sent out an odds-on favourite in his return run down… Read More »
Brad Widdup hasn’t had much luck winning close finishes on the racetrack, but he has managed to claim one in the stewards’ room with improving mare Mind Ya Bizz. The four-year-old finished second past the post behind Transcend in Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1400m), beaten a half-head in a driving finish…. Read More »
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Yellow Jersey has led home Mr Brightside in a specially arranged trial on the Caulfield Heath ahead of Saturday’s meeting at Caulfield. The French-bred son of Dubawi is being prepared for a tilt at the Cox Plate which is this year run over 2000m at… Read More »
The winning margin was slender, it was a scrambling effort rather than a spectacular one, and punters who took the short odds had some nervous moments but Steel Will still found a way to win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Steel Will showed admirable desire when under pressure and was… Read More »
Long-time Sydney trainer Tommy Wong could have one of the most exciting horses of his career in Hostwin King, who will be given an important spring test in Saturday’s Listed The Rosebud at Rosehill. The three-year-old son of King’s Legacy will start as one of the outsiders against a field… Read More »
Unbeaten colt Castillo King will be given the opportunity to emerge as a serious spring contender when he tackles Saturday’s Listed The Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill. Jockey Tommy Berry has plenty of faith in the Michael Freedman-trained three-year-old but believes the Rosehill 1100-metre course and a wide barrier present significant… Read More »
