International Horse Racing

• Melbourne Cup seventh Fox Hunt to make debut for Godolphin

  Fox Hunt, who found a chequered path when finishing seventh in last year’s Melbourne Cup, makes his debut for Godolphin in tonight’s Tabloid Trophy (2800m) at Meydan.

   
• Dubai interest at an all time high with news Black Caviar may make trip

  Australian interest in the Dubai Racing Club meeting, to be held March 31 at Meydan, is at an all time high with two of our three best sprinters nominated for races on the rich card.

   
• Treble to Zac Purton

  Australian jockey Zac Purton has rocketed into third place in the Hong Kong jockeys’ premiership courtesy of a winning treble at Happy Valley. Purton opened his account with a win aboard Industrial Legend before adding to his tally with victories on Wind Damper and Charity Spirit, who took out the… Read More »

   
• Ballabriggs tops National entry

  Last year’s winner Ballabriggs heads the 82 entries for the Grand National at Aintree on April 14. The 11-year-old provided trainer Donald McCain, son of the legendary Ginger McCain, with an emotional first triumph in the world’s most famous steeplechase. McCain also has Charlie Hall Chase winner Weird Al and… Read More »

   
• Buck’s bouncing after Cleeve success

  Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has given superstar hurdler Big Buck’s a clean bill of health following his 15th straight win at Cheltenham on Saturday. The Andy Stewart-owned nine-year-old briefly looked in trouble as Dynaste kicked clear turning for home in the Cleeve Hurdle but Ruby Walsh never really had to… Read More »

   
• Name change for Golden Jubilee

  The Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot has been renamed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes to mark this important milestone in The Queen’s reign. The Group One race over six furlongs (1200m) takes place on Saturday, June 23. It was known as the Cork And Orrery Stakes until 2002 when it… Read More »

   
• Freeze threat to British meetings

  British race clubs are trying to save important jumps meetings this week by laying frost sheets with icy weather predicted over the next few days. Sandown have deployed frost covers in an effort to safeguard Saturday’s fixture featuring the Grade One Challengers Novices’ Chase. “We decided the cover the track… Read More »

   
• Hong Kong buyers dig deep at Karaka

  Hong Kong agent Willie Leung had a blank cheque in his bid to secure So You Think’s three-quarter brother. Leung went to $800,000, the highest price to date at New Zealand’s Premier Yearling Sale, to secure the colt by High Chaparral out of La Souvenir, a daughter of So You… Read More »

   
• Ellis waits till end to make biggest mark

  Well known New Zealand syndicator David Ellis waited until the end of selling to make his biggest mark on day one of New Zealand’s Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka. Ellis hadn’t spent more than $200,000 until five lots from the end when he went to $NZ740,000 ($A577,000) for a Stravinsky-Jesmonds… Read More »

   
• Bart Cummings earns place in NZ Hall of Fame

  Given he’s been buying horses from New Zealand since 1958, it’s no surprise Bart Cummings is almost regarded as an honorary Kiwi. As of Monday, it’s official. He’s now the first foreigner to be given a place in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. Cummings was inducted at a… Read More »

   
• Calgary Bay heading to Grand National

  Henrietta Knight is to give Calgary Bay another tilt at the Grand National after the nine-year-old put up a creditable weight-carrying performance to win the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster. Knight had felt 11st 11lb (75kg) might prevent Calgary Bay (12-1) from taking Sunday’s competitive handicap chase but she was… Read More »

   
• Winning double for Stephen Baster at Kranji

  Stephen Baster has made a solid start to his six month riding stint in Singapore with his second winning double in a week. Baster’s two winners on Sunday were the Steven Burridge-trained Awakened and Bulldozer for trainer Mok Zhan Lun to go with his two winners last Tuesday. Coincidentally, Baster… Read More »

   
• Ockham’s Razor too sharp in Karaka MIllion

  Australian raider Ockham’s Razor has beaten the locals to win New Zealand’s richest race, the Karaka Million, at Ellerslie.

   
• Big Buck’s makes it 15 straight

  Big Buck’s has marched ever closer to compiling the longest winning streak for a jumper in modern times after taking his tally to 15 in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham.

   
• Hurricane ready to fly at Leopardstown

  Hurricane Fly makes his eagerly-awaited seasonal reappearance in Sunday’s Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown where he will face four rivals.

   
• Grands Crus to miss Gold Cup Trial

  Captain Chris is the new favourite for Saturday’s Argento Chase at Cheltenham after connections of Grands Crus decided to sidestep the race.

   
• Big Buck’s looking for 15 straight

  Big Buck’s appears to face a straightforward task as he goes in search of a 15th straight victory in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

   
• Ascot to issue refunds over PR disaster

  Ascot officials will refund premier enclosure customers following a public relations blunder over their new dress code policy at Saturday’s meeting.

   
• Somersy shines at Ascot

  Somersby was the pride of Ascot on Saturday after getting the better of Finian’s Rainbow and Al Ferof in a thrilling climax to the Victor Chandler Chase.

   
• Guiseppina upsets Atomic Force

  A storming finish has carried Guiseppina past Australian favourite Atomic Force and on to victory in the Group One Telegraph Handicap at Trentham.