Right from the time Deakin headed to the spelling paddock after a successful first campaign in Australia, trainer Phillip Stokes had the Group 1 Memsie Stakes as the starting point for the stayers’ spring campaign. What Stokes didn’t realise was there happened to be another suitable 1400m on the same card at… Read More »
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield is hopeful the rain forecast to fall at Caulfield does not eventuate ahead of the return run of She’s Bulletproof. The mare is scheduled to kick-off her campaign in the Group 3 Heath 1100 (1100m) on Saturday. But Littlefield warned if the track rating was much worse than… Read More »
The presence of stablemate Raging Force in the San Domenico Stakes has prompted trainer Peter Snowden to take a different route with Grand Prairie, who will also undergo a key gear change. Snowden contemplated running the pair over the shorter 1100m San Domenico course but felt Raging Force would have Grand Prairie’s… Read More »
The first Group 1 race of the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival is set to be run at Caulfield, and while it has brought together one of the best editions of the race for many years, it is far from the Grand Final for most of the combatants. The Memsie Stakes… Read More »
The decision to run Golden Slipper placegetter Wodeton first-up in the San Domenico Stakes has been made with the big picture in mind as trainer Chris Waller plots the colt’s path towards an early Group One target. While Waller is lukewarm on Wodeton’s chances of resuming with a win on Saturday, he… Read More »
Buoyed by a successful midweek raid, Tony and Calvin Mcevoy will unveil a pair of Metropolitan hopefuls at Rosehill including the pre-post favourite for the Group One staying feature. The McEvoys produced Prestar for a win at Wednesday’s Randwick Kensington meeting and will saddle up 2024 South Australian Derby heroine Coco Sun and relatively… Read More »
The final nomination to champion shuttle stallion Too Darn Hot proved the highlight of Wednesday’s Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale, fetching $255,000 with all proceeds directed to charity. The 101st and last service nomination available to Too Darn Hot was offered through a collaboration between Godolphin, Watership Down Stud… Read More »
Mark Twain’s lead-up to the Melbourne Cup has encountered a setback, with heavy conditions and forecast rain likely to see him scratched from Sunday’s Te Aroha meeting. “With the weather forecast, he will have to be a doubtful starter, which is a shame because it is a crucial run in… Read More »
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 »
