A restricted grade race at a midweek Sandown meeting may not be the normal path to a Group 1 race a month later. But Linas Legend put his hand up as a potential 2021 Caulfield Guineas prospect with his victory in the Tile Importer Handicap (1300m) on Wednesday. Linas Legend is… Read More »
We’re only six weeks into the new season, but star hoop James McDonald has already built a commanding lead in the Sydney jockey’s premiership. James Mcdonald has brought up an early double after winning the first two races at Wednesday’s metropolitan meeting held at Gosford. The star hoop extended his lead… Read More »
The decision by New Zealand trainer Emma-Lee and David Browne to have a small team in Melbourne for the spring has continued to pay dividends. The husband-and-wife team landed their third winner from nine starts when Rhinoceros took out the Ladbrokes Cash In Plate (1600m) on Wednesday. Elephant kick-started the campaign with victory at Caulfield on August… Read More »
Multiple Group One-winning trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith believes his improving four-year-old is well suited in the Tuncurry-Forster Cup. Multiple Group One-winning trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith will take an improved Ausbred Cooee to The Bellevue Hotel Tuncurry-Forster XXXX Gold Cup (2100m) on Friday. The four-year-old charged home late to finish second at Murwillumbah last start… Read More »
Matt Cumani is going back to basics with Khoekhoe who is returning from a spell and a gelding operation at Flemington. Khoekhoe runs in the Listed The Sofitel (1400m) on Saturday, his first start since interstate forays into Sydney and Brisbane. Cumani has removed the tongue-tie and earmuffs from Khoekhoe’s gear and wants to… Read More »
The success of Japanese-bred Fierce Impact in Australia led to his younger brother being sent down-under in search of spring riches. Fierce Impact was a three-time Group 1 winner in Australia before his retirement to stud with one of those victories coming in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last year. Keiai Nautique, a year younger… Read More »
âWeâve been at the Sunshine Coast for a couple of months now. Smokinâ Piero was our first runners up here (on Sunday). He did well for a stayer resuming over the mile, carrying 60kg.â That was Michelle Payneâs stable foreperson Nikita Berimanâs happy assessment ⊠both on being in the… Read More »
With The Kosciuszko tickets being drawn on Thursday, Peyton Place will be aiming to put his best foot forward in Saturday’s Group Two Theo Marks Stakes. Greg Stephens believes his Kosciuszko hopeful Peyton Place can catch the eye of slot holders when he lines up in the Group Two Theo… Read More »
Laverrod will campaign in Melbourne after a cameo appearance in Perth. Sean Casey is keen to head east again after Laverrod’s competitive efforts earlier in the year.. The Toronado gelding earned a cheque in every race with two wins and three placings from five starts. His peak performances came in the Listed… Read More »
Ben Pearce walked away from Monday’s Lark Hill trials contented, particularly following heat two. What piqued his attention were the efforts of stable mates Dig Deep and Vital Silver , more so the latter. Dig Deep ran home well under his own steam for second behind This’ll Testya. There is a… Read More »
Dual-license holder Michael Travers will saddle-up his first metropolitan runner this Saturday when Mathrin lines up in the Highway (1400m). The four-year-old has placed in all of her seven runs this campaign, including back-to-back wins after joining the Wagga-based horseman’s stable three starts ago. It’s a great achievement for Travers, who has only… Read More »
Last year’s winners of the three major Melbourne Spring Carnival races remain in the hunt to defend their titles after first declarations have closed. First acceptances were taken for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup last month while on Tuesday those numbers were whittled down. A total of 109 horses are still in contention for the… Read More »
The connections of Nobel Heights are a little different to most with a promising stayer on their hands as they have elected to bypass the major spring handicaps. Having shown staying ability when third in the South Australian Derby in May, it would have been expected Nobel Heights would be among nominations… Read More »
Racing Victoria hopes to boost numbers in racing stables with the introduction of two pilot programs. Stable start and the Slow Trackwork Rider Course have been introduced in a bid to attract more participants into the racing industry. Melbourne Polytechnic and Community College Gippsland will work in tandem with the Victorian racing industry… Read More »
With the lack of international flights directly into Melbourne, international trainers are struggling to get their staff into the country before their horses arrive. The likelihood of international participation in the 2021 Caulfield Cup appears remote with overseas trainers struggling to get staff into the country. Australian Bloodstock part-owned Rodrigo… Read More »
The feet of a horse are considered an important part of whether they win or lose. Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace do their utmost to keep the feet of the horses in their care in the best possible condition. And this is where the Fingal property down the Mornington Peninsula… Read More »
Part-time trainer Scott Aspery will saddle-up his Golden Rose hopeful Uzziah in this Saturday’s Group Two Run To The Rose at Kembla Grange. The three-year-old has had an unconventional Golden Rose campaign, winning a maiden at Taree two starts ago before finishing an unlucky second at Gosford last time out. It was… Read More »
The powerful Annabel Neasham team is about to gain another quality addition to the stable in the form of Top Rank, a winner of six of his twelve starts overseas. The Irish bred grey, who has been purchased by Australian Bloodstock, last raced in the Group 2 Summer Mile at… Read More »
Group 1 winners Sir Dragonet and Explosive Jack may be underdone for their first-up runs at Flemington, but their trainers are looking towards the future. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained gallopers resume in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday ahead of bigger spring targets. Three-time Derby winner Explosive Jack is on a path towards the Caulfield Cup… Read More »
Trainer Gordon Yorke has been suspended for four-and-a-half months following an exchange with fellow trainer Norm Loy. Racing.com has reported that an incident involving the two trainers took place on July 31 in which Yorke approached Loy while he was trying to remove a horse from a horse-walker. The exchange… Read More »
