Mick Kent is undecided on immediate plans for two-year-old Escamillo but believes the colt has the talent to be targeted at feature staying races next season. Escamillo took up the running and raced to a three-quarters of a length victory in Saturday’s Samson Handicap (1400m) at Sandown, leaving Kent to… Read More »
A week after finishing out of a place, Mamwaazel has turned that around to bring up an early Chris Waller-trained double at Rosehill. Jason Collett’s winning ride in the 1400m race for three-year-old fillies was a replica of Jim Cassidy’s aboard Waller’s first winner Sniper Fire who took out the… Read More »
Veteran trainer Brian Smith has predicted leading Brisbane apprentice Tegan Harrison could go all the way to the top after her win on Southerly at Eagle Farm. Harrison was seen at her best to get the Smith-trained Southerly ($15) to the line first in Saturday’s Mittys Hcp (1800m). In a… Read More »
The highly-anticipated debut of Hydrogen has not brought the win his owner had hoped with the colt sixth at Newmarket. Had the son of Galileo not been the most expensive yearling sold at auction in 2012 at 2.5 million guineas ($A3.9 million) his effort would have registered as just about… Read More »
Jumps jockey Richard Cully has a big few days ahead as he chases wins in two countries. Cully has the plum mounts on Australian Hurdle and Australian Steeplechase fancies Fieldmaster and Krase at Sandown on Saturday. He will ride at Hamilton in Victoria on Sunday before flying to New Zealand… Read More »
A promising first-up run has convinced trainer Simon Zahra bookmakers have got their market wrong for Saturday’s Le Pine Funerals Plate at Sandown. Zahra and training partner Mathew Ellerton will run Miss Maggiebeel and Theodora in the $80,000 race but the stable is surprised at the difference between their prices… Read More »
Flanked by two grey horses and a solitary piper, popular trainer Guy Walter has left his beloved Warwick Farm racetrack for the final time. Around 2000 friends and colleagues packed the members grandstand and the mounting yard on Friday to join his family in farewelling Walter who died suddenly last… Read More »
Gerald Ryan can’t split stablemates Hot Snitzel and Dances On Stars as the pair prepare to clash in Saturday’s Magic Millions QTC Cup at Eagle Farm. The Rosehill trainer can make a case for both horses with Hot Snitzel dropping significantly in grade while Dances On Stars has been racing… Read More »
Joe Pride is hoping his team of Rosehill runners stretch out better than he has this week. The Warwick Farm trainer has been on restricted duties after undergoing a knee operation on Monday and is likely to be forced to watch his runners compete from his lounge room. “I was… Read More »
Deciding when to take time off is always a delicate balancing act for a jockey. A break from riding, no matter how short, can have a major impact if things go against a jockey while away from racing. Opportunities to ride the next star may be lost while trainers can… Read More »
Trainer David Hayes has made an important gear change for Queensland Oaks hopeful Star Fashion on the 30th anniversary of his father Colin Hayes’s biggest Queensland win. The late Colin Hayes is a Hall of Fame trainer but he was a rare visitor to Queensland with Look ALoft’s 1984 Queensland… Read More »
Racing NSW stewards have banned all nominations from Newcastle trainer Darren Smith after finding elevated cobalt chloride readings in samples taken from some of his horses. Cobalt is found naturally in horses but elevated levels of the substance can increase the production of red blood cells in a similar manner… Read More »
Belle Couture’s career is on hold again after Black Caviar’s half-sister tore her near hind hamstring when unplaced at her most recent start at Flemington. The three-year-old looked a filly of immense promise when she won first-up at Caulfield on Easter Monday but failed in her two subsequent starts at… Read More »
Chris Munce will test one of his favourite horses, Belltone, as a Stradbroke Handicap mount at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Munce, who has not ridden Belltone since they combined to win the BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben 12 months ago, will be back aboard for the Group Two QTC Cup… Read More »
Over the past few years, Chris Waller has risen through the ranks to become a leading Group One trainer and multiple Sydney premiership winner. It has taken a lot of hard work and while having glamour horses like Zoustar helps, it is the next tier of horses who have built… Read More »
Gold Coast trainer Noel Doyle hopes his lucky rider Ric McMahon can bring him a change of fortune with comeback horse Le Val at Eagle Farm. McMahon, who begins a suspension after Saturday’s racing, will replace Tim Bell aboard Le Val in Saturday’s Group Two Queensland Guineas (1400m). Bell has… Read More »
A lengthy journey could be the reward for Post D’France if he performs well early in a preparation that begins in Saturday’s Jim Conway Handicap at Sandown. Post D’France improved rapidly once he joined the Steven Brown stable at Flemington with the gelding winning five of nine starts after arriving… Read More »
California Chrome has been given a good look at the saddling enclosure before a track gallop at Belmont ahead of his bid for the final leg of the Triple Crown. The chestnut colt walked around the paddock on Thursday (Friday AEST) before standing in a stall for five minutes so… Read More »
Brown Panther has taken another step towards a second tilt at the Melbourne Cup with a convincing victory in the Group Three Henry II Stakes at Sandown. The next mission for the six-year-old will be the Gold Cup at the Royal Ascot meeting. Owned by his breeder, former English striker… Read More »
A jockey shortage has paved the way for Christian Reith to extend his riding stint in Hong Kong until the end of their racing season. The top Sydney jockey had planned to ride at three meetings there from June 1 but on Thursday the Hong Kong Jockey Club granted Reith… Read More »
