Victorian-trained colt Prestar has given Tony and Calvin McEvoy a pleasant conundrum as they consider whether to keep him in Sydney for some of the better three-year-old races. Having his first start since placing in juvenile company on the Caloundra Cup program in July, Prestar ($3.40) upset odds-on favourite Johnny by… Read More »
Tyler Schiller’s hopes of snaring his first Group win of the new season hinge on where Team Hawkes opt to launch the carnival campaign of Blue Diamond Stakes winner Devil Night. The colt is an acceptor for Saturday’s Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill, as well as the… Read More »
Trainer Matt Laurie is aware of the task confronting Treasurethe Moment when she makes her seasonal debut in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. The nine-time winner from 11 starts will tackle the older horses for the first time in the Group 1 contest over 1400m on Saturday. Treasurethe Moment has strung together… Read More »
European stayer Al Riffa will attempt to give Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien a third win in the Melbourne Cup having been purchased by Australian connections. But Al Riffa will not remain in Australia post the Melbourne Cup and will chase lucrative prize money targets on the world stage. Al Riffa has been… Read More »
Tasracing has announced a significant boost to its TasBred scheme, unveiling an additional $1 million in funding and a range of new initiatives designed to strengthen Tasmania’s local thoroughbred industry. From November 1, the TasBred prize money pool will rise to $2.15 million, with a $20,000 bonus to be attached… Read More »
Some of Australia’s highest-profile three-year-olds colts return to the races this weekend, but the one considered the horse to beat in two of that age-group’s most significant events is still a couple of weeks away from resuming. Nepotism will launch his spring campaign in the $300,000 Group 2 Run To The… Read More »
Champion trainer Chris Waller made a special trip to Caulfield to watch Fangirl go through her paces ahead of the Group 1 Memsie Stakes. Fangirl was scratched from the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick last Saturday and floated to Melbourne that night to run in the Memsie Stakes (1400m)… Read More »
The racing career of triple Group 1 winner Sunshine In Paris is over following an injury sustained at trackwork on Tuesday morning. Training partners Annabel and Rob Archibald broke the news on social media after consulting with the six-year-old’s owners John and Deb Camilleri. “Our stable star Sunshine In Paris has unfortunately picked… Read More »
Tulloch Lodge imports Sir Delius and Vauban, who currently share favouritism for the Melbourne Cup, have signalled their spring readiness with strong trial victories at Hawkesbury. The pair were among a large group of high-profile runners to step out after last week’s weather disruptions forced the metropolitan trial program to… Read More »
OTI Racing’s staying star Sevenna’s Knight is on track to represent the syndicator in France’s premier contest, the Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe, for a second time. The six-year-old showed his toughness in Sunday’s Group 2 Prix Kergorlay at Deauville, finishing third in a tight finish despite racing on ground… Read More »
The Melbourne Racing Club has confirmed 16 nominations for the Group 1 Memsie Stakes, the traditional weight-for-age opener to Victoria’s spring carnival. Among the headline entries are 2023 winner Mr Brightside, top-class mare Fangirl, Queensland star Antino and last season’s standout three-year-old Treasurethe Moment. All are poised to launch their… Read More »
A modest Geelong maiden has produced a significant moment in Australian breeding, with champion sire Written Tycoon notching his 1000th individual winner. The milestone was achieved when three-year-old Bedourie, racing in Yulong’s famous green and white silks, broke through for his maiden success on Friday. The colt’s victory etched another… Read More »
Betr’s high-profile takeover battle for PointsBet may not be its only corporate play, with reports linking the wagering group to potential interest in Entain’s Australian operations. According to the Australian Financial Review, betr chairman Matt Tripp and chief executive Andrew Menz recently held a series of meetings in London with… Read More »
Antino will be tackling a much stronger Memsie Stakes that the version he was unplaced in last year, but Tony Gollan is convinced his veteran stable star is a more seasoned horse in 2025. The seven-year-old son of Redwood resumes in the 1400-metre Group 1 that is the spring kick-off point for… Read More »
Marhoona has made her first public appearance since winning this year’s Golden Slipper, holding out a host of well-performed sprinters to win a trial at Hawkesbury on Monday morning. The Emirates Park-raced daughter of Snitzel scored a half-length win over Headwall in the 800m hitout, which also included Shangri La Spring (third), Jedibeel (fourth)… Read More »
Former top-class three-year-old Elliptical has returned to Australia and joined the Chris Waller stable. Previously trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Elliptical’s career peak came with victory in the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes in 2023. A year earlier he went agonisingly close to elite success, finishing runner-up in both… Read More »
Jockey Mark Zahra has been given the call up to ride Fangirl in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. The Chris Waller-trained mare was floated down from Sydney on Saturday night and will head to Caulfield on Tuesday for a familiarisation gallop ahead of the Memsie Stakes (1400m) on Saturday. Fangirl… Read More »
Fresh from claiming the opening three-year-old stakes race of the season with Skyhook, Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou are preparing to chase another, this time with well performed colt King Of Pop. The winner of the Black Opal Stakes at two, King Of Pop will resume in the Group 3 San… Read More »
Ron Turcotte, the legendary jockey who partnered with Secretariat to capture the 1973 Triple Crown, has died at his home in Drummond, New Brunswick. He was 84. Turcotte passed away on Friday from natural causes, his family confirmed. Born in Canada, Turcotte rose from humble beginnings to the heights of… Read More »
Justin Huxtable scored a notable victory when he partnered the Tom Button trained Rogue Bear to a Cairns Cup success at Cannon Park on Saturday. It was a triumph of sorts for Huxtable, given all that he has gone through over the last twelve months … from being stood down… Read More »
