Unbeaten jumper Annie Power’s ultimate target remains undecided but her reputation has been enhanced with her five-length defeat of Zarkandar in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot. Willie Mullins’ sturdy chestnut mare had been untouchable in seven starts at home and after a long first journey across the Irish Sea, she… Read More »
Luckygray has won his second Railway Stakes at Ascot in Perth in much less controversial circumstances than his first. He’s Remarkable was first past the post in 2011 but lost the race to Luckygray after a controversial protest. There was no doubt on Saturday when Luckygray came with a late… Read More »
Queensland sprinter Buffering completed a hat-trick of Group One wins in the most desperate of circumstances at Ascot on Saturday. Winner of the Manikato Stakes and the VRC Sprint Classic during the Melbourne spring carnival, Buffering added the $500,000 Winterbottom Stakes to his haul. But he had to work hard… Read More »
Apprentice Priscilla Schmidt will spend more time on the sideline after receiving her second careless riding suspension in as many weeks. Schmidt was outed for seven meetings, after pleading guilty, for causing interference to Shiraz Attack on the home turn in the Bundaberg Distilling Co Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm… Read More »
A horse who started the day as fourth emergency in the last race at Moonee Valley has made the most of a late call-up to post her first city victory. Going into Saturday’s meeting, the lightly raced four-year-old Coronation Shallan has only had four provincial starts, winning twice and finishing… Read More »
Territory’s fourth trainer Jarrod Austin has managed to coax the first win in more than three years out of the well-bred six-year-old. The Warwick Farm-based Austin is Territory’s fourth trainer and the gelding’s win at Randwick on Saturday capped a busy and profitable couple of days for the stable. The… Read More »
Jockey Ric McMahon has given Better Than Ready his seal of approval to chase Group One success in the autumn after his courageous win in the Keith Noud Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Better Than Ready, the $2.35 favourite, shouldered topweight of 60.5kg to win by a head from… Read More »
Cranbourne trainer Mick Kent claimed his second win of the meeting when Solsay won the City Jeep Wrangler Handicap at Moonee Valley on Saturday. It followed his win in the first race with Miss Steele. Kent had given jockey Jackie Beriman explicit instructions to ride the one-paced six-year-old gelding three… Read More »
Rising star Terravista could be stepped up to stakes company after passing his latest test with flying colours. Terravista’s spring preparation has been aimed at getting his rating up so he can compete in the better races in the autumn and he has handled the task with aplomb. His three… Read More »
A frantic tempo provided by the favourite Calming Influence has helped set up a maiden city win for Flight Academy at Randwick on Saturday. Apprentice Serg Lisnyy, who rode Calming Influence ($2.05) in the Sydney City Toyota Handicap (1300m), was hauled before stewards after the race and questioned about his… Read More »
Esprit de Bullet called on his winning Adelaide form to produce a strong finish to score in the City Jeep Compass Handicap at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Overcoming an outside barrier, the eight-year-old gelding was forced seven wide on the home turn in order to launch his bid. But with… Read More »
At the same track where Edgar Britt won his first major race 70 years ago, the legendary jockey has been made a life member of the Australian Turf Club. Britt’s contribution to racing was honoured on Saturday at a special luncheon overlooking Randwick racecourse – the scene of his 1934… Read More »
The Nikki Burke-trained Nautical enhanced an already consistent record in winning at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Going into the 1Print.com.au Handicap, Nautical hadn’t missed a top-three placing in eight starts. But she was able to double her win tally to two victories, despite Burke being less than confident about the… Read More »
Jason McLachlan has Magic Millions contender Divine Service to look forward to when he returns to training on Monday. McLachlan was given the all clear last Thursday by Racing Queensland to resume training after his licence was suspended by stewards on October 4 to allow him to deal with personal… Read More »
The depth of Darley’s youngsters has been underlined by the third individual debut winner on consecutive Saturdays in Sydney for Sheikh Mohammed’s racing operation. All three – Earthquake, Memorial and Occitan – are fillies with autumn riches in their future. Trainer Peter Snowden, who announced this week he would be… Read More »
The Michael Kent-trained Miss Steele stamped herself as a potential stakes horse after pouncing on her rivals to win at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Ridden by Brad Rawiller, the three-year-old grey sat near back of the field from a wide gate in the City Jeep Handicap (1200m). But once she… Read More »
Connections of Simenon will be satisfied if their charge can claim a share of the $6.31 million prize pot on offer in Sunday’s Japan Cup at Tokyo racecourse. The six-year-old was last seen finishing a creditable fourth in the Melbourne Cup earlier this month, beaten just two and a half… Read More »
Irish Oaks winner Chicquita has set a record for a horse sold at auction in Ireland, fetching E6 million ($A8.84 million) at a dispersal sale of Australian Paul Makin’s bloodstock. The Hong Kong-based Makin, who first experienced European racing when his horse Starcraft won Group One races in England and… Read More »
As her younger brother continues to battle laminitis, Belle Couture has made her first public appearance in a jump-out at Flemington. A half-sister to champion Black Caviar, three-year-old Belle Couture is slated to make her long-awaited debut during the summer. BC3 Thoroughbreds own the Redoute’s Choice filly out of Helsinge… Read More »
Caulfield trainer Robert Smerdon believes the weight conditions in the new $100,000 Magic Millions Ballarat 3YO Classic suit his filly Anatina. While the $200,000 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic is the feature race on Ballarat Cup Day on Sunday, the three-year-old event provides another avenue for horses bought at the Magic… Read More »
