New Zealand mare Silent Achiever has been withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup. The mare sustained an injury in the Caulfield Cup and although she worked strongly on Tuesday morning, she subsequently developed an infection. Connections of last year’s NZ Derby winner told stewards on Friday they did not intend to… Read More »
If the doubters are right and favourite Red Tracer fails to run the 1600 metres of the Myer Classic, there’s every chance Chris Waller will still walk away with the winning trainer’s trophy. Waller has designated four-year-old Catkins as the natural successor to her older stablemate Red Tracer and the… Read More »
The equation for import Jet Away in the Mackinnon Stakes is simple. Win or miss out on a Melbourne Cup berth. The scenario for three-time Cup-winning jockey Glen Boss is almost the same. Boss has his Melbourne Cup hopes pinned on Jet Away and insists the “throw at the stumps”… Read More »
The chance to ride one of Queensland’s best horses has tempted boom apprentice Travis Wolfgram to head to Eagle Farm on Saturday. Wolfgram has been booked to ride the Kelso Wood-trained Belltone in the Padua College Open Handicap (1300m). His 3kg claim will mean Belltone carries 59kg. Wolfgram, the son… Read More »
For much of the past year trainer Ed Walker regarded Ruscello as an under-achiever. But he did his best to repair that reputation when he ran a slashing race at his first Australian start, finishing a close second to Backbone at Caulfield last month with a performance that has prompted… Read More »
Glen Boss has all but conceded the Victoria Derby to Sydney colt Complacent. Boss rides maiden galloper Bring Something in Saturday’s Group One staying test for three-year-olds and rates his mount a top five chance. But he is sure the Peter Snowden-trained Complacent, winner of the Spring Champion Stakes at… Read More »
MELBOURNE Oct 31 AAP – On the fifth anniversary of Rebel Raider’s Victoria Derby win, trainer Leon Macdonald returns to Flemington with a horse he once believed could give him another. But DNA testing confirmed Essay Raider was in fact a sprinter not a stayer and Macdonald had to adjust… Read More »
While the money men have spent the week haggling over Zoustar’s worth at stud, Chris Waller’s job has been to make sure the colt is comfortable with the Flemington straight. Widden Stud has secured the future racing and breeding rights for Zoustar for an estimated $20 million which includes bonuses… Read More »
A last-start bush maiden winner racing a long way from the national spotlight of Flemington has emerged as the plunge horse of Victoria Derby day racing. Grafton three-year-old Blackboard Special will make his city debut at Rosehill on Saturday carrying $15 to $5 in early betting support to win the… Read More »
Red Tracer may be one of the shortest favourites at Flemington on Derby Day, but trainers of her Myer Classic rivals are gambling on the fact she hasn’t won over 1600 metres in four starts at the distance. The highly credentialled six-year-old claimed an overdue Group One win in the… Read More »
Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien believes Declaration Of War offers something different that might just make a difference in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. O’Brien has tasted plenty of success in the Breeders’ Cup, but victory in the $US5 million ($A5.30 million) marquee race has eluded him – so much so that… Read More »
High-profile colt Zoustar will race for his new owner on Saturday at Flemington with Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson confirming the much-talked about deal to secure the colt has been finalised. The Chris Waller-trained three-year-old is the favourite to add the Coolmore Stud Stakes to his Group One win in the… Read More »
For the second year in a row trainer John Thompson has a filly ready to run the race of her life in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. The trainer won the race with Nechita 12 months ago but says it’s too hard to line up the form… Read More »
Wordplay is following a more traditional path to her spring finale than her half-brother Fiveandahalfstar a year ago and Anthony Cummings is predicting the result will be the same. Fiveandahalfstar won a restricted race at Rosehill a week before his surprise win in the Victoria Derby while Wordplay prepares for… Read More »
Black Saturday survivor British General will be vying for a start in the $1 million Emirates Stakes when he lines up at Flemington on Saturday. The six-year-old, who escaped the fires that ravaged Victoria in 2009 and claimed the life of his mother, will step out in the TAB.com.au Stakes… Read More »
Roger James is certain Zonza’s trackwork drubbing on Tuesday is not a reflection of her chances in the Group One Myer Classic. Zonza was paired with Melbourne Cup-bound Silent Achiever on the course proper at Flemington and was left behind in the run to the line. “If you saw her… Read More »
It will be a rare spring in Melbourne without a runner from the Paul Perry stable, which is instead looking for results closer to home. Perry has been a mainstay of the Melbourne carnival winning feature races with Notoire, Choisir and Fastnet Rock. While he is unlikely to have a… Read More »
On a day dominated by talk of English, Irish and French horses and how they are hijacking Australia’s greatest race, one “foreigner” will pack up after next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup is run, never to return to Flemington. This year’s Cup will be the last broadcast by the BBC and probably… Read More »
Dwayne Dunn is pinning his Victoria Derby hopes on a maiden, a week after another three-year-old which hadn’t won a race denied him in the $3 million Cox Plate. Dunn came agonisingly close to Cox Plate success when Happy Trails went within a photo of running down the 20-1 chance… Read More »
Chris Waller has added to his buying spree at a northern hemisphere sale that has been a proven source of winners for his premier stable. Taking his spend so far to more than $1.5 million during the Tattersalls annual autumn horses in training sale, Waller purchased three horses on day… Read More »
