Mel O’Gorman’s first reaction was to spell Suncraze after his Flemington failure on Melbourne Cup day. But the more she reflected on his disappointing performance, the less sense it made. “The form around him has been so good with Trekking and Belflyer,” O’Gorman said. “That’s why I decided I shouldn’t… Read More »
Trainer Ken Keys rates the Sandown Guineas as the perfect consolation for Syd’s Coin after a spring of disappointment. Keys had hopes of starting Syd’s Coin in the Caulfield Guineas but following a slow start to the campaign decided on a change of direction. Syd’s Coin won a restricted three-year-old… Read More »
Mark Newnham has enjoyed a breakout spring carnival, training his first Group One winner and a VRC Oaks placegetter. And while it will be business as usual when he takes two horses to a low-key Rosehill meeting on Saturday, he recognises the importance of continuing his momentum. “We’ve had five… Read More »
NRL star Paul Gallen’s first foray into racehorse ownership is turning into a gilt-edged investment as a shareholder in one of New Zealand’s most exciting prospects. Gallen, the Cronulla stalwart preparing for his 19th season in the NRL, owns a small part of the appropriately named Te Akau Shark. Te… Read More »
Godolphin trainer James Cummings has opted for a drop in distance for Tally who runs in a stakes race at Sandown. Having contested the 2500m of the Lexus Stakes at Flemington on the opening day of Melbourne Cup week, Tally will line up in the Group Three Eclipse Stakes (1800m)… Read More »
A wide barrier draw at Doomben has swayed trainer Greg McFarlane to keep Dissolute closer to home and run the recent Godolphin acquisition in Sydney. McFarlane accepted with the horse in the Listed Keith Noud Quality in Brisbane but scratched him after he drew the outside gate in the field… Read More »
Trainer Archie Alexander hopes to end a spring of frustration on a bright note when Lord Fandango starts in the Zipping Classic at Sandown. Alexander’s spring was dealt an early blow when a case of strangles quarantined his stable and he couldn’t start a horse for three weeks. He was… Read More »
A meeting with Racing NSW will determine when Michael Freedman and his ex-foreman Edward O’Rourke can join forces to become a training partnership. Freedman has returned from an aborted training stint in Hong Kong with the pair to meet the licencing committee on Wednesday. “We’ll get through that and assuming… Read More »
Trainer Jenny Graham has put the disappointment of the Kosciuszko behind her and is focused on chasing stakes success in Brisbane with promising country galloper Victorem. The sprinter had been a popular favourite leading into the $1.3 million Kosciuszko at Randwick last month but his stocks diminished when heavy rain… Read More »
She may sound sweet but Iamacrumpet is one tough little mare. The four-year-old will run in the Highway Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday after winning by almost three lengths at Muswellbrook last week. It is the Jan Bowen-trained runner’s maiden trip to Sydney, and the first metropolitan meeting for her… Read More »
The Victoria Racing Club has added the Andrew Ramsden to its list of ballot-exempt races for the Melbourne Cup. To be run on May 25, the Andrew Ramsden has undergone some changes. With an increase in prize money to $400,000, the race has been shortened from 3200m to 2800m, will… Read More »
The VRC this morning has announced that the Andrew Ramsden Stakes will now carry a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup. With the recent domination of overseas horses making up the Melbourne Cup Field there has been a backlash from participants that Australia needs more representation in the biggest race… Read More »
Police are investigating after a six-week-old foal was stolen from trainer Nathan McPherson’s Carrum Downs property on Monday. The newborn horse, Holly, requires around-the-clock care after a tendon issue left her unable to walk. McPherson says his family had been left devastated and are pleading for the safe return of… Read More »
Eight races have been set down for Happy Valley this Wednesday night, with the feature race being the JRA Trophy, a Class Three event over 1200m. Race One: 2 Management Star Race Two: 4 Hurricane Hunter Race Three: 8 Dr Race Race Four: 7 Champion Supreme Race Five: 12 Jolly… Read More »
Joe Pride has a message for anyone who doesn’t think trainers care about their horses as he recovers from the shock of Ball Of Muscle’s bleeding attack in a trial at Canterbury. “I’m shattered. Things go wrong in racing all the time but for it to happen to this horse… Read More »
Queensland Oaks winner, Youngstar, sixth in the Melbourne Cup, has had a small bone chip removed from her right front fetlock. Trainer Chris Waller said the mare had pulled up sound from last week’s Cup but precautionary X-rays detected the chip which was taken out on Monday. “The surgery went… Read More »
Lindsay Park will have a two-pronged attack on the final feature three-year-old race of the spring carnival at Sandown. Long Leaf and Good ‘N’ Fast will line up for the stable of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig in Saturday’s Group Two Sandown Guineas. The three back up after… Read More »
The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board has reserved its decision after a hearing of cobalt charges laid against trainers Terry and Karina O’Sullivan. The father-and-daughter training partners from Stawell pleaded not guilty to three counts of deliberate administration of cobalt as well as the alternative charges relating to the illegal… Read More »
Jockey Hugh Bowman will miss the chance of repeat victories in the Japan Cup despite having a one-month suspension stemming from the Melbourne Cup varied on appeal to the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board. Bowman was hoping to get the penalties on a careless riding charge, a whip rule breach… Read More »
A date to test the new Eagle Farm track surface has been set with the first horses galloping on it in a few weeks. The track will be tested on December 4 with racing expected to begin on December 22. Eagle Farm has been out of operation for most of… Read More »
