The combination of a dry track and blinkers helped Cepheus return to from last start, and a distance rise at Randwick could prove the final piece of the puzzle. An OTI Racing syndication, Cepheus was bought with lofty ambitions in mind and he made an encouraging local debut when storming… Read More »
While three-year-olds have a good record in the Cox Plate, winners of the Caulfield Guineas have not fared that well in recent years. If successful in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday, Godolphin colt Anamoe will become the first since Red Anchor in 1984 to win the Caulfield Guineas –… Read More »
Stablemates Lord Olympus and Marway have been on a collision course this spring and that isn’t set to change any time soon. The pair have clashed in both campaign runs, Marway finishing ahead of his barn mate first-up and Lord Olympus getting a win on the board last start. The pair… Read More »
Trainer Matt Laurie holds Mornington Glory in high esteem and expects the colt to do most of his racing at stakes level. A debut maiden winner at Bendigo, Mornington Glory headed straight to a stakes race at his second start finishing fifth to Kallos in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 2…. Read More »
Gold Trip and Callsign Mav will undergo further vet examinations after showing signs of lameness in the lead up to the Cox Plate. Racing Victoria inspected all 10 runners engaged in Saturday’s Group 1 showpiece over 2040m at The Valley and said Gold Trip and Callsign Mav presented with lameness. New Zealander Callsign Mav was… Read More »
Right place, right time might be how the connections of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained Lombardo are feeling heading into the Manikato Stakes. Last week’s Everest at Randwick may have robbed Friday night’s Group 1 weight-for-age sprint over 1200m some star power, but for those involved with Lombardo, they are not concerned. Market… Read More »
A favourable weather forecast is predicted to help the chances of Miami Bound in her bid for a second Moonee Valley Gold Cup. The Danny O’Brien-trained mare won the Group 2 race over 2500m on a soft track last year and rain is forecast again at The Valley this weekend. Just… Read More »
Racing dishes out its share of kicks in the guts and Matthew Smith was on the receiving end of one this week when his Japanese import Keiai Nautique was left out of the Cox Plate field. The Moonee Valley Racing Club committee used its discretionary powers to exclude the horse from the… Read More »
Gary Portelli has taken heart from the recent form reversal of Bondi Stakes rival Hilal as he prepares Royalzel for a shot at the $1 million three-year-old mile. The duo both contested the Golden Rose with Royalzel finishing tenth and Hilal eleventh and while Royalzel was then given a freshen up and will… Read More »
Geelong Cup winner Tralee Rose has escaped a weight penalty for the Melbourne Cup but is now safely in the top 24 of the Order of Entry. Racing Victoria Handicapper Greg Carpenter declined to penalise Tralee Rose for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 2 after he hard-fought half-length win… Read More »
Robert Heathcote is thrilled to have secured Tim Clark to partner natural front-runner Emerald Kingdom, who will bid to enhance his flashy second-up record at Randwick. Emerald Kingdom is the horse Heathcote tipped to his golfing buddies prior to his BRC Sprint victory, declaring him over the odds as a $71 chance…. Read More »
Experienced jockey Troy Turner says he can think of no reason why he can’t score another upset win with Startthefriar in the Listed Northam Cup (1600m) on Sunday. Turner partnered Startthefriar in last month’s Hannans Handicap (1400m) when the Blackfriars gelding posted one of the biggest upsets in the race’s history…. Read More »
Tulloch Lodge co-trainer Adrian Bott has flagged the Magic Millions carnival as a likely target for undefeated three-year-old Snitzonfire. A typically tough, on-pace runner for the Gai Waterhouse and Bott stable, Snitzonfire continued his rise through the ranks with his most impressive win to date in the Keeneland Handicap (1400m) at Randwick’s Kensington… Read More »
Tralee Rose has cemented her position in the Melbourne Cup with a hard-fought win at Geelong. The Symon Wilde-trained mare is eligible for a penalty after Wednesday’s win in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) to move up the Order of Entry after being borderline before the race of making the final 24 for the Group 1 Melbourne… Read More »
What began as a hit-and-run mission to Sydney for a throw at the stumps in a $1 million race has turned into an epic adventure for connections of Queensland filly Startantes. A late entry for the Golden Rose, Startantes ran the race of her life to finish sixth to top colt… Read More »
A change of headgear and a change of tactics has seen New Zealand three-year-old Tutukaka run out a strong winner of the Listed Geelong Classic. The Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on October 30 is the next target for Tutukaka following his win over 2200m on Wednesday. After a last start fifth in the… Read More »
The Victoria Racing Club has revealed their ticketing details for a COVID safe Melbourne Cup Carnival. A crowd of 10,000 has been approved for Melbourne Cup Day with 10,000 possible for Oaks Day and Final Day if Victoria reaches the State Government’s 80% double vaccination requirement, which it currently is on track to do. VRC members… Read More »
Import Skymax is still a work in progress but trainer Mark Newnham is confident the City Tattersalls Club Cup is the right race for the stayer at the right time. Now he just needs Sydney’s unpredictable spring weather to play ball. The winner of the Australia Day Cup in January,… Read More »
Trainer Matt Dunn hasn’t given up hope that Yamazaki could yet sneak into the field for The Invitation, confident the enigmatic mare has returned to work better than ever. The backmarker is second reserve for Saturday’s $2 million The Invitation and Dunn says she won’t be out of her depth if she can… Read More »
Nick Ryan carved out a successful career as a jockey before weight got the better of him and is now proving himself a more than handy trainer. But one thing that he has not been able to put on his CV to date is a Group 1 win. He had six Group 1 seconds as a jockey and last… Read More »
