Trainer Mike Moroney expects a rise in distance to suit Hawker Hurricane when he runs in the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Flemington. The trainer could not believe his eyes as the two-year-old was beaten for speed in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 23. Moroney expected the addition… Read More »
Melbourne’s two biggest handicaps, the Melbourne Cup and Newmarket, have so far eluded champion jockey Craig Williams. He gets the chance to rectify one part of the equation on Saturday when he partners Zousain in the Newmarket Handicap over the straight 1200m-course. A seven-time premier rider in Melbourne, Williams finished… Read More »
Magic Millions runner-up Dubious puts his Golden Slipper credentials on show in the Todman Stakes but his trainers are keeping an ace up their sleeves for the colt’s grand final. Dubious won the Breeders’ Plate on debut at Randwick last spring and won again in Brisbane in December before being… Read More »
Former trainer John Nikolic has been sentenced to 23 years in jail after being found guilty of importing cocaine into Fiji. John Nikolic and his wife Yvette were arrested after Fijian authorities found more than $20 million worth of drugs, along with two guns on their luxury yacht last year…. Read More »
Victorian mare Extreme Bliss has had her past two starts at Randwick and will be back at the Sydney track for a crack at a Group Three win in the Aspiration Quality. Trainer David Brideoake also nominated Extreme Bliss for a Group Three 1600m-race for fillies and mares at Flemington… Read More »
South Australian trainer Ryan Balfour will record his biggest victory if talented filly Kenyan Wonder is successful at Flemington., With wins at Listed level by stable stalwart and All-Star Mile candidate, Balf’s Choice, his biggest so far, Balfour has had his eyes set on Saturday’s Group Two Kewney Stakes for… Read More »
Hard-working in-form jockey Les Tilley can continue his good form at Eagle Farm where his rides include short-priced favourite for the two-year-old race, Sizzling Babe. Tilley has always shown promise but 18 months ago he only dreamed of riding horses such as Sizzling Babe and talented sprinter Spurcraft in the… Read More »
Four trainers argue their bans should be overturned because the stablehand at the centre of the “Aquanita eight” doping conspiracy rarely went through with administering the “top-ups”. Racing Victoria contends the four are still guilty of corrupt conduct by being party to a plan to cheat, but maintains the illegal… Read More »
A mountainous achievement, a very long road and some kill-or-be-killed type rivals stand in the way of two jocks who could make history starting today. Never before has someone ridden the Newcastle Newmarket Handicap winner, then gone to Melbourne and ridden the VRC Newmarket Handicap winner in consecutive days. But… Read More »
Lanciato will have to overcome a wide barrier and significant weight rise if he is to become the first horse in 35 years to go back-to-back in the Newcastle Newmarket. The Mark Newnham-trained backmarker has drawn the outside in the field of 13 and has 58kg, four kilos more than… Read More »
Australian horses could be back competing at major meetings in Hong Kong with the two governments coming to an interim agreement on quarantine restrictions. Horses have been banned from travelling directly between Hong Kong and Australia since October, 2017. They have had to spend six months in a third country… Read More »
Lightly raced Princess Jenni is set for a belated start to her autumn campaign and will be out to make up for lost time in the Group Two Kewney Stakes at Flemington. The David Brideoake-trained three-year-old won a 1400m fillies’ maiden at Geelong by six lengths at her second start… Read More »
In what could be a case of out of sight, out of mind, Godolphin colt Aramayo is emerging as the forgotten horse ahead of the Group One Randwick Guineas. The race has been billed as a match-up between benchmark colt The Autumn Sun and star filly Nakeeta Jane with both… Read More »
After committing to the cross-country trip to ride leading Newmarket Handicap contender Graff at Flemington, Western Australia’s champion jockey William Pike has picked up another six mounts at the feature meeting. Pike has not ridden in Melbourne since 2015 and the last time he competed at Flemington was in September,… Read More »
Matt Dale has been waiting for the right time to extend Fell Swoop beyond his traditional distance range and he has finally found it. The seven-year-old will race beyond 1200 metres for just the second time in his career when he takes his place against a crack field of sprinters… Read More »
NEWMARKET HANDICAP Run at Flemington over 1200m, $1.25 million, handicap HISTORY * First run in 1874 when won by Maid Of Avenel NOTABLE WINNERS * Malua (1884); Wakeful (1901); Gothic (1927-28); Aurie’s Star (1937); Bernborough (1946); Correct (1960-61); Century (1973); Maybe Mahal (1978); Placid Ark (1987); Shaftesbury Avenue (1991); Schillaci… Read More »
Trainer Bjorn Baker is counting on a light weight and the addition of blinkers helping Champagne Cuddles in her bid to claim an elusive Group One win in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Champagne Cuddles has been placed four times in Group One races during her 17-start career but is… Read More »
Tony Gollan is confident Vincere Volare will confirm the Brisbane trainer made the right decision to miss two earlier feature races in Sydney when she steps out at Randwick. Vincere Volare is unbeaten in two starts in Brisbane and Gollan is growing in confidence she can make it three from… Read More »
A keen form student, jockey Craig Williams says the Australian Cup is an intriguing race with a number of different form lines meeting at Flemington. Williams rides the Chris Waller-trained Shillelagh, the only mare in Saturday’s Group One race, and said she had chased the ride after watching her at… Read More »
AUSTRALIAN CUP Run at Flemington over 2000m, $1.5 million, weight-for-age HISTORY * First run in 1863 when won by Barwon * Weight-for-age since 1979 except for 1982-86. 1863-1942 run over 18 furlongs, 1943-62 17 furlongs 110 yards, 1963 14 furlongs, since 1964 10 furlongs (2000m) NOTABLE WINNERS * Tim Whiffler… Read More »
