Michael Rodd was one of five jockeys suspended for careless riding on Manikato Stakes night at Moonee Valley and he will miss Victoria Derby day at Flemington on Saturday week. Rodd was outed for 10 meetings after pleading guilty to interference going out of the straight the first time on… Read More »
After so many near misses, Queensland sprinter Buffering finally had his moment to shine in a breakthrough Group One victory in Friday night’s Manikato Stakes. Buffering, in his 18th Group One attempt and after 10 minor placings, fended off a quality sprint field to defeat Hong Kong star Lucky Nine… Read More »
Star Queensland sprinter Buffering has finally snared a Group One victory, taking out the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley. Buffering’s 18 previous attempts to win at the highest level had yielded 10 minor placings but he was not to be denied on Friday night, holding off Hong Kong’s Lucky Nine… Read More »
James McDonald has geared up for his ride on Saturday’s Cox Plate favourite It’s A Dundeel with a Group Two victory on Oaks-bound Gypsy Diamond at Moonee Valley. McDonald continued his recent good form as he piloted the John O’Shea-trained Gypsy Diamond to a long neck win over favourite Gregers… Read More »
Peter Snowden admits he is going into the Cox Plate with Long John in a different mindset than two years ago when he saddled up another three-year-old, Helmet. Long John goes to Saturday’s race off a Caulfield Guineas victory as Helmet did, but carries less expectation. Sent out the favourite,… Read More »
On Cox Plate day a year ago, Fiveandahalfstar won a restricted race at Rosehill to set up an improbable but ultimately successful tilt at the Victoria Derby. Trying to emulate him on Saturday in a benchmark 64 race is the John O’Shea-trained Super Villain while David Payne will gauge the… Read More »
After celebrating his first city win with Net Worth, trainer Mitch Newman hopes to strike again at Rosehill. Net Worth gave Newman a metropolitan breakthrough at Warwick Farm on October 16 – the sprinter’s third start for the former champion Sydney apprentice rider. By champion sire Fastnet Rock, Net Worth… Read More »
After seven attempts to win the Melbourne Cup, English trainer Luca Cumani is lining up for No.8 with more experience of Australia’s greatest race than the majority his opposition – both local and international. He is also in Melbourne with a horse he believes has travelled, trained and performed better… Read More »
James McDonald rates the next two weeks as the most important of his career and it all begins with It’s A Dundeel at Moonee Valley on Saturday. McDonald will ride the favourite in the $3 million Cox Plate – the first of several well-fancied mounts for him in some of… Read More »
Trainer Barry Baldwin has been surprised by the laid-back attitude of his latest stable recruit Greytfilly, a talented but sometimes temperamental galloper. Greytfilly is set to make her debut for Baldwin with a return to Brisbane racing in the SITA Australia Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. She was… Read More »
Sacred Falls has worked well enough against Cox Plate runner Foreteller for trainer Chris Waller to declare the Doncaster Mile winner close to recapturing his best form. So much so, Waller seriously thought about starting the four-year-old in the Cox Plate. Sacred Falls galloped with stablemate Foreteller at Moonee Valley… Read More »
Inexperienced Pinstripe Lane is going to be a better racehorse next year but connections still have Victoria Derby hopes for the colt. Trained by Malua Racing’s John Sadler, Pinstripe Lane faces his biggest test in Saturday’s Group Two Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley ahead of the $1.5 million Victoria Derby… Read More »
The international Cox Plate challenge had an unorthodox finishing touch applied on race eve when the English runner Side Glance turned in a stirring piece of work. The gelding, who is to be ridden by Craig Williams in Saturday’s $3 million race, galloped strongly over 1200m with his regular track… Read More »
Zoustar couldn’t figure in a Flemington jump-out on Friday but the valuable colt showed Chris Waller he is on target to make his Melbourne spring carnival debut. The brilliant three-year-old followed home Thump, Happy Galaxy and Sidestep at the end of a four-horse 800m workout but the result didn’t matter… Read More »
British racing has secured a four-year agreement with the four largest retail bookmakers to make voluntary contributions of STG4.5 million ($A7.61 million) a year the newly-created Incentive Fund. Taking effect from April 2014, the payments from William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Betfred will be managed by a new distribution group… Read More »
The Manikato Stakes is a Group 1 thoroughbred horse race run over a distance of 1200 metres at Moonee Valley Racecourse. This event is named after the great race horse Manikato and takes place on the Friday night before the WS Cox Plate. The Manikato Stakes is for horses three… Read More »
Manikato Stakes Night takes place on Friday the 25th of October in 2013, with this great night of racing kicking off a full weekend of thoroughbred action that also includes Cox Plate Day the following day. With a total of eight races hosted under lights, this is a great opportunity… Read More »
Retired champion mare Black Caviar is expecting her first foal. Rated one of the best racehorses in the world before her retirement, Black Caviar is in foal to the champion sire Exceed And Excel. News of the pregnancy has been confirmed by Racing Victoria. The governing body said Black Caviar’s… Read More »
An unconventional preparation towards the VRC Oaks is paying off for Zanbagh who claimed her second Ballarat win against older horses on Thursday. After the filly broke her maiden at the Victorian track two weeks ago, Sydney trainer Guy Walter decided to dodge the Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield to give… Read More »
Six months after her retirement from racing, Black Caviar is embarking on a new career. Motherhood beckons for the champion mare with her pregnancy announced on Thursday by her breeder Rick Jamieson at the unveiling of a statue of her at Nagambie, in rural Victoria, near where she was bred…. Read More »
