A routine surgical procedure put Toydini in the right frame of mind for racing and an inspired ride by Blake Shinn allowed him reveal his undoubted potential at Randwick on Saturday. Toydini had shown plenty of ability in his two-year-old season and then as a spring three-year-old, but was held… Read More »
Safeguard showed why Darley originally rated him among their leading Golden Slipper chances with victory in the opening race on Australian Derby day at Randwick. On a spectacular afternoon in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and amid a sea of salmon and black to celebrate Black Caviar’s appearance later in the day,… Read More »
Esteemed British trainer Henry Cecil has hit out at a soon-to-be-published biography that contains “unhappy and difficult phases” of his life, saying the concept of the book was changed without his authorisation. The 70-year-old Cecil, who trained retired flat-racing great Frankel and is a 10-time champion trainer, gave British journalist… Read More »
Joseph O’Brien has allayed fears about the well being of leading Epsom Derby contender Kingsbarns. The Galileo colt headed ante-post lists for the Epsom Classic throughout the winter following his thoroughly impressive display in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, but trainer Aidan O’Brien revealed late last month his three-year-old… Read More »
From the day Kings Palace was born there was a hope he could develop into a Derby horse. The gelding, a last-start city winner, is set to be given his chance in the South Australian Derby in three weeks but first he’ll try to take out the Listed Galilee Series… Read More »
For some horses, Saturday’s Randwick meeting is a grand final but for others it’s the chance to stake a claim for Group One glory in the following two weeks of the autumn carnival. The three favourites for the features are all odds-on – Overreach in the Sires’ Produce, It’s A… Read More »
A favourable forecast has all but assured Black Caviar will have the Randwick footing she needs in her bid for 25th win on Saturday. “The forecast is pretty promising,” Randwick track manager Nevesh Ramdhani said. “They are forecasting it to be a sunny day and we’ll certainly be racing on… Read More »
Craig Newitt didn’t hesitate in predicting Hvasstan could turn his fortunes around in Saturday’s Australian Derby after a Rosehill Guineas run rated too bad to be true. But whether the Victorian-based colt turns it around enough to defeat odds-on favourite It’s A Dundeel is still a question mark for Newitt…. Read More »
Trainer Murray Baker always had an ace up his sleeve as he put a frustrating Melbourne spring behind him and steered his star colt It’s A Dundeel toward Saturday’s Australian Derby. And when he played the card, it worked to such stunning effect that it turned It’s A Dundeel into… Read More »
A horse whose racetrack appearances are accompanied by considerable trepidation among his handlers is set to make the risks seem worthwhile in Saturday’s Doncaster Prelude at Randwick. Mahisara showed himself to be a horse with a future when he won the Sandown Stakes in Melbourne last spring and his trainer… Read More »
Michael Walker passed up the ride on Bonaria earlier in the autumn, but now the jockey is fit and ready to go he’s looking forward to re-uniting with the stakes winner on Saturday. Walker has only recently returned to Melbourne racing having had hip surgery after last year’s spring carnival…. Read More »
Queensland Derby aspirant Carmora is undefeated in three starts but his trainer still describes him as “dumb”. While Desleigh Forster, who prepares the gelding, isn’t backing away from that description she firmly believes Carmora has the necessary ability to be aimed at a Derby preparation. “At the moment he’s pretty… Read More »
Michael Rodd doesn’t doubt Villa Verde’s class but admits he does have a query over the filly at the Sires’ Produce Stakes distance. Villa Verde came to Sydney as a leading Golden Slipper contender but has been no match for Overreach in her two autumn starts. The filly finished seventh… Read More »
Nathan Tinkler’s entire racing stable will be sold at public auction next month. More than 200 horses racing under the banner of Tinkler’s Patinack Farm will be sold through bloodstock auction house Magic Millions during its annual National Sale. The announcement of the dispersal comes 24 hours after Sydney-based bloodstock… Read More »
For the first time this autumn, Charlie Boy has drawn the barrier to give him every chance to show his best. Whether that will be good enough to beat Overreach in Saturday’s Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes remains to be seen but trainer Gerald Ryan expects him to be competitive…. Read More »
It probably doesn’t count as family support, but Black Caviar will have a couple of relatives on track at Randwick on Saturday. The great mare will have one of her cousins and an aunty competing in separate races on the Derby day card. Scandiva, a daughter of Black Caviar’s granddam… Read More »
Black Caviar is set to play a starring role at Randwick on Saturday and All Too Hard’s jockey Dwayne Dunn is confident the mare’s half-brother is heading the right way to follow suit in a fortnight. All Too Hard rounded out the Melbourne part of his preparations for the Group… Read More »
Last season’s champion two-year-old Dawn Approach is among a record 17 second-stage entries for the Epsom Derby. The unbeaten son of 2008 Epsom hero New Approach was added to the premier Classic at a cost of STG8,000 ($A11,700). He is already hot favourite for the 2000 Guineas. As well as… Read More »
Australia’s leading bloodstock auction house has barred beleaguered mining magnate Nathan Tinkler from selling horses at its major sales after he withdrew his stock from the Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Tinkler had entered 24 yearlings in the sale recognised as Australia’s premier thoroughbred auction. William Inglis and Son chief executive… Read More »
The Randwick 1200-metre track record could be in danger if Corey Brown has his way in Saturday’s TJ Smith Stakes. Far from being intimidated by the presence of Black Caviar, Brown plans to turn up the heat on the champion mare by making full use of Rain Affair’s high-cruising speed…. Read More »
