Atishu, a multiple Group 1-winning mare, is set to conclude her illustrious racing career this Saturday at Randwick in the Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m). The seven-year-old daughter of Savabeel, owned by New Zealand syndicator Go Racing, aims to secure her fourth Group 1 victory and her… Read More »
Australian-trained horse Royal Patronage is set to compete in the Champions Mile in Hong Kong later this month. Jockey Tim Clark will continue his partnership with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained import when he makes the trip across. This marks a significant event for Waterhouse, as it will be… Read More »
If Jack Lee Steere happens to be a successful slot holder in the $5 million Kia-Quokka (1200m), he may look back on it as a sliding doors moment. Lee-Steere has secured promising WA galloper West Star as his representative for the April 26 contest, but the Simon Miller-trained talent wasn’t initially on… Read More »
Tulloch Lodge mare Alalcance has taken all before her this campaign but one box still remains to be ticked. Co-trainer Adrian Bott is hoping she can take care of that at Randwick when she steps out to two miles for the first time in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m). The… Read More »
When first nominations for the Australian Oaks were taken in early February, the race wasn’t even a blip on Pam Gerard’s radar. The Kiwi trainer knew she had a talented filly on her hands in subsequent New Zealand Oaks runner-up Dubai Goldrush, but at that point the three-year-old was yet… Read More »
Trainer Grahame Begg has the task of trying to obtain a Stakes race victory with Zloties before she is whisked off to stud. While the Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m) on Saturday does not hold any Black Type status, the race will be key to the mare’s chances of eventually stepping up to… Read More »
With 97 Group One wins in seven different countries, it is surprising that it has taken so long for accomplished international jockey Christophe Lemaire to make his way to Sydney. While Lemaire has already tasted success in Australia, winning the 2011 Melbourne Cup on Dunaden, the second day of The Championships… Read More »
Lekvarte has already surprised her trainer once this campaign and Joe Pride is hoping she can take that to a whole new level by bowing out of racing as a Group One winner. The six-year-old will be auctioned as a breeding prospect at the upcoming Chairman’s Sale and Saturday’s Queen Of The… Read More »
Campbell Rawiller has announced he will hang up his saddle, bringing his riding career to a close at just 24 years of age. The talented jockey will ride for the last time at Kyneton on Thursday, ending a career that spanned both flat and jumps racing and delivered nearly 200… Read More »
The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and J D Hayes is banking on a drop back in distance proving beneficial for Killiana at Bendigo. Finding the 1200m a shade far when favourite in the VOBIS Showdown at Caulfield on March 15, Killiana is back to 1100m on Saturday when she… Read More »
A 10 per cent ownership stake in promising colt Coleman, runner-up in the Golden Slipper, was snapped up for $405,000 on Wednesday afternoon through Inglis Digital, putting his overall valuation above $4 million. STBT Bloodstock secured the share in the son of Pierata, who recently put in an eye-catching trial… Read More »
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou are hoping Grand Eagle’s midweek win at Hawkesbury is a portent of things to come from their team of juveniles on day two of The Championships. Having his third start, Grand Eagle delivered on his promise to post a comprehensive 1-1/4 length win over Headbanger in… Read More »
Racing is a game of patience as the connections of Santa Ana Moon have discovered. The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained galloper landed his breakthrough victory when taking out the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Plate (1200m) at Sandown on Wednesday. Santa Ana Moon made his debut at Cranbourne last September,… Read More »
Phillip Stokes heads to the Golden Mile at Bendigo concerned the topweight in the 16-horse field may be a run short. A proven galloper second-up, Arran Bay jumps from 1200m to the 1600m of Saturday’s Listed race. Arran Bay commenced his most recent campaign at Moonee Valley last month, beating just one… Read More »
Champion trainer Chris Waller has labelled the Australian Oaks a clash of the queens as two classic winners from opposite sides of the Tasman prepare to do battle. While Waller has opted not to back-up Aeliana from her stunning Australian Derby triumph, he will have former Kiwi Leica Lucy and Verry Elleegant’s close… Read More »
Alligator Blood, the renowned Australian thoroughbred and seven-time Group 1 winner, has concluded his racing career. Trained by David Vandyke to begin with before going to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Alligator Blood achieved significant victories, including the 2022 Stradbroke Handicap, the 2022 and 2023 Underwood Stakes, and the 2023… Read More »
An unconventional preparation hasn’t dampened Godolphin’s enthusiasm over the Sydney Cup chances of Zardozi with the global powerhouse believing she has been racing like a genuine stayer. While many of her rivals have prepared for Saturday’s two-mile test with a grounding run over a longer journey, Zardozi is coming off an… Read More »
Father-and-daughter training combination Ken and Kasey Keys have with a small team of horses always been able to find one to give them hope. Rich Enuff went close to securing a Group 1 for the stable, while Soul Patch also went close at the highest level. More recently it was Scheelite who… Read More »
The $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes is shaping as a moment of truth for Ceolwulf as the dual Group One-winning miler seeks to prove he can mix it with the country’s best horses over a middle distance. Ceolwulf will take his place in a crack field that boasts Cox Plate winner… Read More »
Racing Victoria (RV) has announced adjustments to the weight scales for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, aiming to achieve a broader distribution of weights among competitors. Effective from the 2025 editions, the minimum topweight at final acceptance will be set at 57 kilograms, reinstating a policy last applied in 2016…. Read More »
