Santa Ana Lane has taken another step towards defending his TJ Smith title with a third-placed finish in a barrier trial at Werribee. The Anthony Freedman-trained sprinter won last year’s TJ Smith and his autumn campaign has been geared towards that race again. He is expected to return in the… Read More »
Star New Zealand mare Melody Belle may be vulnerable when she makes her return to racing in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield. The warning comes after Paul Richards, father of the mare’s trainer Jamie, rode Melody Belle in a gallop on the course proper at Caulfield on Tuesday. The work-out… Read More »
Assistant-trainer Sam Freedman does not see barrier one as a hindrance to the chances of favourite Hanseatic in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. After coming up with barrier one, Hanseatic eased from $2.30 to $2.40 with PlayUp for Saturday’s Group One Blue Diamond Stakes for two-year-olds over 1200m. Hanseatic… Read More »
NSW South Coast communities hit by bushfires have received the initial relief package from funds raised at a special race day. The Australian Turf Club Foundation raised $150,000 from the Randwick meeting on January 25 and on Tuesday began the distribution of 1700 bales of hay for horses and other… Read More »
South Australian trainer Chris Bieg does not see a lack of race experience counting against three-year-old Free Of Debt in the Oakleigh Plate. Free Of Debt will be having his sixth start in Saturday’s 1100m-scamper at Caulfield, but that is offset by the minimum weight of 50kg. A ligament issue… Read More »
Having watched the success of European stayers in Australia, Albury trainer Mitchell Beer has jumped on the bandwagon, but with a different target. While his counterparts dream of success in races like the Melbourne Cup, Beer has his sights on capturing his hometown Cup next month. Beer went to England… Read More »
Reigning Blue Diamond Stakes favourite Hanseatic has drawn the inside barrier for the Group One race at Caufield. The Anthony Freedman-trained colt has won the Preview and Prelude leading into Saturday’s $1.5 million 1200m-race for two year-olds. He is at $2.40 to give Freedman and Godolphin back-to-back wins after Lyre… Read More »
Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn will saddle half the field in the rescheduled Northern Rivers heat of the Country Championships. The meeting has been transferred to Grafton on Thursday because of problems with the amount of rain at Coffs Harbour which forced the cancellation of racing on Tuesday. Because of the… Read More »
A capacity field of 16 has been declared for the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Of the 16 two-year-olds in Saturday’s Group One Blue Diamond Stakes over 1200m, nine are fillies. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable holds the strongest hand with six runners – Ideas Man,… Read More »
Two of the top three market contenders for the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield have had their first look at the track ahead of the Group One race. New Zealand mare Melody Belle, with Paul Richards in the saddle, teamed with a member of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable… Read More »
North Queensland jockey Mark Elliott has been disqualified for four years after his sixth positive random test to cannabis in a decade. Stewards opened an inquiry after a urine sample was taken from Elliott at a Townsville race meeting on January 25. Elliott pleaded guilty to providing a urine sample… Read More »
A better-than-expected win by Anaheed in the Rubiton Stakes has co-trainer Peter Snowden optimistic about the filly’s chances in the Group One Oakleigh Plate. Anaheed resumed from a spell with a 1-1/4-length win in quick time in the Group Two Rubiton Stakes (1100m) against older horses at Caulfield on February… Read More »
Jockey Luke Currie knows what it takes to win feature two-year-old races and he is confident unbeaten colt Hanseatic can give him a second-straight Blue Diamond Stakes. Currie has won two $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classics at the Gold Coast on Sunlight (2018) and Away Game (2020) and took… Read More »
After making her mark as the first Sydney two-year-old winner of the season, Every Rose has not had things her own way since. The filly dominated the Gimcrack Stakes in October but has run two seconds and been unplaced in the Magic Millions Classic at her other three starts. After… Read More »
New Zealand star Melody Belle and Group One-winning Sydneysider Kolding will get a look around Caulfield in separate gallops ahead of their clash in the Futurity Stakes. The Jamie Richards-trained Melody Belle will chase her 11th Group One win in Saturday’s 1400m weight-for-age feature which will be her first start… Read More »
A half-yearly report indicates racing in Queensland is in a healthy place apart from worries about the performance of the Queensland TAB. Racing Queensland has unveiled its first half results for the 2019/20 financial year with solid progress being realised across the industry. RQ’s chairman Steve Wilson said highlights included… Read More »
New Zealand filly Probabeel has worked home well in a barrier trial at Randwick to show her readiness for a Group One rematch with Funstar. The Jamie Richards-trained Probabeel finished second to Funstar, trained by Chris Waller, in the Flight Stakes in October. The two are scheduled to meet in… Read More »
Victorian trainer Mark Sues has been charged with failing to provide proper and sufficient nutrition and appropriate veterinary treatment to four horses. Racing Victoria stewards issued nine charges relating to welfare against Sues on Monday, four in the alternative. Stewards allege that up to July 1 last year, Sues failed… Read More »
More than 1700 bales of hay are ready to be distributed to properties on the NSW South Coast from funds raised at the Australian Turf Club’s recent bushfire appeal race day. As well as the roll-out of hay to the Cobargo and Moruya districts on Tuesday, the ATC Foundation will… Read More »
Hong Kong champion Beauty Generation has bounced back to break his winning drought and set up a possible trip to Dubai. The John Moore-trained Beauty Generation won his third Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday after four losses. “The defeats have been disappointing but they hadn’t… Read More »
