Robert Heathcote has learned to live with Fillydelphia’s headstrong attitude. Keeping Fillydelphia content and managing her niggling fetlock issues has been a challenge for Heathcote but he believes the mare is on target to crack the $500,000 prize money barrier in Saturday’s Sunshine Coast Cup. “She’s in a good place… Read More »
A day in the life of Canberra’s Matthew Dale is this week set to test any notion that the pressures on a modern racehorse trainer can be justified by the rewards available. Already one of the busier trainers in the country, Dale has a day on Friday that isn’t to… Read More »
Talented colt Rusambo is set to return after a three-month ban but a lack of numbers in the Listed Zeditave Stakes is a concern for his assistant trainer. Three-year-old Rusambo hasn’t started since his third to Snitzerland in the Group Two Danehill Stakes in September. The Peter Snowden-trained colt bled… Read More »
Venetia Williams believes Katenko could develop into a contender for both the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup. Williams describes Aintree as a “very serious option” but she feels taking on the best at level weights at Cheltenham could also be possible. The seven-year-old looked a young chaser on the… Read More »
Former Channel 4 Racing pundit John McCririck has confirmed he has started the first stage of his legal proceedings against the broadcaster as he seeks damages following his axing from its racing coverage. McCririck was one of a number of faces dropped from the presenting team after Channel 4 awarded… Read More »
Suspended jockey Danny Nikolic reportedly had an online account run by a third party to win $60,000 on at least one allegedly fixed horse race in 2011. Forensic analysis of the account registered to a person in Queensland revealed it was used by Nikolic to hide his betting activities, Fairfax… Read More »
John Meagher has guided the careers of some of racing’s elite riders and Ash Butler hopes to one day be counted among them. Melbourne Cup winning jockeys Brett Prebble and Steven King were apprenticed to Meagher when he was a leading trainer at Flemington. Twenty-year-old apprentice Butler joined the Meagher… Read More »
The barrier draw has robbed Anthony Cummings of one runner at Warwick Farm on Saturday but it might just deliver an overdue win for another. Two-year-old filly Vergara won’t take her place in the opening event after drawing wide, nor will she run at Canterbury on Friday night for the… Read More »
Unbeaten records will go on the line at Caulfield on Saturday when seven last-start winners clash in an intriguing Blue Diamond Preview for fillies. Among them is Blue Diamond Stakes favourite Miracles Of Life, who backed up her debut win in Adelaide with a nine-length victory at Morphettville three weeks… Read More »
Up-and-coming sprinter Sessions could get his first taste of stakes company in Friday night’s Canterbury Classic. Darley’s number one jockey Kerrin McEvoy, temporarily based in Melbourne, will return to Sydney for the meeting and has been booked to partner the three-year-old. Trainer Peter Snowden is expected to decide on Thursday… Read More »
Pinwheel has raced in many places but he will be in new surroundings on Friday night to chase another weight-for-age victory. The winner of over $1.1 million prize money from his 36 starts, the well-travelled gelding will line up at Moonee Valley for the first time in the Group Two… Read More »
Victoria Police have dismissed one of the central recommendations made in a report on race-fixing by Victoria’s Racing Integrity Commissioner. Deputy Commissioner Graham Ashton said the report’s call for the return of the police racing squad couldn’t be justified and seemed to be at odds with the findings of integrity… Read More »
A half brother to Cox Plate winner Ocean Park is expected to be among the highlights at next week’s Karaka Yearling Premier Sale. Ocean Park was keenly sought as a yearling three years ago and sold for $150,000 at the second-tier Select Sale at Karaka, and Trelawny Stud’s managing director… Read More »
The racing industry has been looking for ways to embrace its next generation, and a core group of young enthusiasts are leading the way. Established last September, the Young Professionals in Racing (YPR) group has enjoyed a rapid rise as it seeks to bring young people closer to the sport… Read More »
Horse racing in Victoria is not endemically crooked, but the investigative powers of those policing it still need to be drastically increased, according to the state’s racing integrity commissioner. While it found no evidence of “systemic race-fixing”, integrity commissioner Sal Perna said his inquiry was severely hamstrung by legislative and… Read More »
A six-month inquiry into Victoria’s racing industry has found no evidence of systemic corruption. Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna said his investigations led to a number of inquiries, but only one has resulted in a prosecution. “Based on current evidence, race fixing is not a systemic issue in Victoria,” Mr… Read More »
Anthony Freedman’s hopes of a second Karaka Million victory have been dashed with Minaj scratched from Sunday’s feature at Ellerslie in Auckland. Freedman announced on Twitter that Minaj had a temperature on Wednesday morning. “Unfortunately Minaj has spiked a temperature and is out of Karaka Million very disappointing for all… Read More »
Cheltenham’s big Festival Trials Day on Saturday could be run 24 hours later if the meeting is abandoned. Ground staff have been working overtime to shift the snow which fell on top of the frost sheets, which has given course officials renewed hope of the fixture going ahead. However, more… Read More »
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson could have a Grand National runner with trainer Paul Nicholls confirming Harry The Viking will be entered for the world’s most famous steeplechase. The eight-year-old was second to Teaforthree at the Cheltenham Festival last March and was last seen finishing ninth in the Hennessy… Read More »
Alex Ferguson is set to have a runner in the Grand National after trainer Paul Nicholls confirmed he would enter Harry The Viking, part-owned by the Manchester United manager, in the race. The eight-year-old was second to Teaforthree in the four-mile race at the Cheltenham Festival in March last year… Read More »
