Subterranean is such a relaxed character around the stable that getting him fit can be hard work. As a result, his fresh record is only average but he has a tendency to improve quickly with a run under his belt. That is the scenario the horse finds himself in when he… Read More »
Tralee Rose will start her campaign aimed at clinching a start in the Melbourne Cup when she lines-up in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield. Trainer Symon Wilde has picked at Saturday’s 1700m contest as a starting point, aware that it is well short of her best distance. But Wilde said it was a part of a plan… Read More »
If Jenabel reproduces her last win, trainer Natalie Burke is confident of success in the Peter Evans Memorial Handicap (1700m) at Carnarvon on Sunday. Jenabel toyed with her opposition three weeks ago and despite racing wide she proved too strong and had four lengths to spare on runner-up Marxian. After taking… Read More »
David Payne has never doubted the ability of Obvious Step, but her racing manners have been a constant source of frustration. She showed enough to be tested in black-type grade as a three-year-old and wasn’t disgraced when beaten two lengths by subsequent Group 1 winner Forbidden Love in last year’s Reginald Allen… Read More »
Trainer Chris Attard is hopeful a significant weight advantage will go a long way to giving him his first Northern Cups victory with Bering Sea in the Cairns Cup at Cannon Park on Saturday. Bering Sea went within a short neck of giving Attard his biggest victory of his short… Read More »
Jamie Kah, Ben Melham, Ethan Brown and Celine Gaudray have been suspended following a Racing Victoria stewards’ inquiry. A remorseful Jamie Kah says she has let down all Victorians after being suspended for three months by stewards for a COVID breach. Last season’s leading rider and first to top the 100-win mark in… Read More »
Leading Victorian jockeys jockeys Jamie Kah, Ethan Brown and Ben Melham and apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray have been fined $5452 (each) for breaking lockdown laws. “Police have issued penalty infringement notices to six people following a private gathering at a short term rental property in Mornington on Wednesday (25 August),”… Read More »
Anthony and Sam Freedman realise you cannot be giving away big starts if you want to be successful at the highest level. While Artorius was victorious at Group 1 level as a two-year-old, the Freedman stable has worked on getting the son of Flying Artie to be cleaner at the start. They hope that will be… Read More »
Bjorn Baker will use the Premier’s Cup as an important spring stepping stone for emerging stayer Harpo Marx, with the race set to provide the import with his most significant class test. The Darby Racing gelding struck form during the winter, posting victories over 2000m at Randwick in July and 2400m… Read More »
Trainer Mike Moroney is entering unchartered waters with multiple Group 1 winning mare Tofane ahead of her return run at Caulfield. Tofane is chasing a fourth Group 1 win when she lines up in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) on Saturday. The mare’s previous three Group 1 wins have all been over Saturday’s trip, but… Read More »
Tulloch Lodge has already struck an early-season blow in one of the three-year-old features and they will be out to continue that trend with unassuming colt In The Congo in the San Domenico Stakes. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott produced Swift Witness to outmuscle her rivals in a rough-house renewal of last… Read More »
Leading Perth owner-breeder Bob Peters won’t be setting the bar too high with Inspirational Girl and is taking a cautious approach ahead of her interstate debut on Saturday. The six year-old mare gained a trip to Melbourne after last year’s breakout Ascot campaign that reached its peak with a Group… Read More »
Racing Victoria Stewards have this afternoon opened an inquiry into the conduct of licensed jockeys Jamie Kah, Ethan Brown and Ben Melham and apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray upon receipt of information of possible breaches of COVID-19 protocols. All four jockeys have been given a 14-day ban from race tracks and… Read More »
All wins in racing are special, but when Type Won gets up and scores in her races, it holds added sentimental attachment for trainer, Kieran McDonagh. Justifying warm favouritism Wednesday, Type Won, ridden by William Pike, skipped away in the straight to win her 1000m event by 1 Âľ lengths…. Read More »
Josh Parr will be the new jockey for Montefilia in the Chelmsford Stakes after Jason Collett opted to partner She’s Ideel. Montefilia’s trainer David Payne confirmed the rider switch on Thursday and said while he had no issue with Collett’s decision, Parr now had the frontrunning to stick with the mare throughout her spring… Read More »
Trainer Gary Portelli will start three genuine contenders in the Midway Handicap, led by three-year-old Royalzel. The chance to secure the services of champion hoop James McDonald has proven too big a drawcard for Gary Portelli to resist. The Warwick Farm trainer could have opted to nominate stakes winner Royalzel for… Read More »
Tim Clark believes there is a sense of timing surrounding progressive stayer No Compromise ahead of his latest assignment in the Premier’s Cup at Kembla Grange. The former New Zealander has scored a hat-trick of wins in five Australian starts and was given a freshen-up following his latest 2400m victory at Rosehill… Read More »
It was obviously no easy decision to turn away from the ride on the Caulfield Cup favourite and one of the top Melbourne Cup fancies in Incentivise but, in the end, the logistics of trying to find the right path in the maze of strict state Covid-19 protocols that engulfs… Read More »
Warwick Farm trainer Gary Portelli has been forced into plan B with his sprinter Spaceboy after missing out on a run at The Valley. Spaceboy was due to start in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) last Saturday but just prior to being loaded on the truck for the travel to Melbourne, the sprinter became cast in his… Read More »
Co-trainer Michael Freedman will continue to monitor track conditions but he is optimistic Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside will kick off his preparation at Kembla Grange. The surface was rated a heavy 9 on Thursday after rain earlier in the week and Freedman is keen to see it improve into the slow… Read More »
