Small fish might be sweet this autumn, but longer-term trainer John O’Shea has identified progressive gelding Yorkshire as a Group horse in the making. The four-year-old will attempt to take the next step towards that goal when he chases back-to-back wins in Saturday’s TAB Handicap (1500m) for which he is a… Read More »
The Mark Walker stable has decided on a softer first-up for It’s Business Time when the New Zealand mare makes her long awaited racetrack return. Having also been entered for the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) on Saturday’s Sandown card, It’s Business Time will instead run in the John Moule Handicap… Read More »
It has been just under a year since Brudenell finished a close fifth in the Oakleigh Plate and trainer Kris Lees is optimistic the stakes performer is working his way back into that form. The five-year-old was beaten less than two lengths in the Group 1 sprint before some minor issues cut short… Read More »
Godolphin’s juvenile colt Aleppo Pine has firmed as a leading Blue Diamond Stakes contender after an impressive jumpout win at Caulfield on Thursday morning. The son of Blue Point showcased his speed and ability, leading the trial at a fast pace under jockey Ben Melham. Godolphin Melbourne Stable Head Nacim… Read More »
Expensive Perth-bred gelding Bustling could return to his home state for a rich prize race after a disappointing start to his tenure under the care of Melbourne co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr last September. When trained by Dan Morton, Bustling was one of the most talked about horses in… Read More »
Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williamson has seen a bit of the old spark back in Wrote To Arataki that he hopes will lead to another Stakes win at Sandown. Wrote To Arataki resumes in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, a race the mare also won in 2023. That year… Read More »
Japanese-bred mare Yachiyo will target the lucrative $300,000 Sportsbet Future Stars Series Final (1400m) on February 27, following her impressive heat victory on January 17. Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr confirmed the decision, opting for the rich feature over a Benchmark 64 race over 1600m. “For $300,000, we’d be mad not… Read More »
It will hopefully be second time lucky for Boa Vista when the filly steps out for her debut at Sandown. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained two-year-old heads to the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) on Saturday having been withdrawn from a similar race last week. Boa Vista was… Read More »
Ceolwulf has tuned up for his Apollo Stakes return with a superb barrier trial win at Warwick Farm, setting the scene for an exciting autumn carnival ahead. The dual Group 1 victor led throughout in Thursday’s 1000m heat and wasn’t tested to comfortably defeat Via Sistina, who he is likely to… Read More »
Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou are banking on the addition of winkers to spark Snitzel colt Blitzburg back to winning form after a frustrating and ultimately fruitless excursion to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions. The youngster was made second emergency for the $3 million Magic Millions Classic before suffering… Read More »
Its news that 3yo filly Thorpedo Anna was crowned 2024 Horse of The Year on receiving 193 of the 240 first-place votes at the 54th Annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards. In winning five of her six starts for the season, she began at Oaklawn Park on 30 March with a 4 length victory… Read More »
Widden Stud’s colours won’t be carried in the Rosehill race that bears its name this weekend, but that does not mean the famed operation is not represented in the $250,000 Group 3 event. Widden stallion Written By is the sire of leading fancy The Playwright and the Hunter Valley stud… Read More »
Tashi, the consistent five-year-old mare trained by Peter Snowden, is set to make her Melbourne debut in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Sandown. The decision to target the Bellmaine Stakes came after Tashi impressed in a 1030m barrier trial at Rosehill last Thursday, prompting Snowden to fast-track… Read More »
Calm, easy to handle, and has a love for work – Jasper – is the ideal equestrian horse, according to rider Suzie McLean. Pinball Player, as Jasper was known when representing Belhus Racing on the track, is enjoying his newfound eventing career. The son of Magnus had 16 career starts,… Read More »
Jockey Jye Mcneil was proven correct in his assessment of Sirena who appreciated the roomier Sandown circuit in recording her maiden win. Sirena took out the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Plate (1200m) on Wednesday having run below her best on the tighter Mornington track at her two runs this campaign. “We… Read More »
Trainer Robert Witten has been a passive observer of his hometown Bunbury Cup for six decades, but he’s hoping it’s a different story on March 8 and that he can play a more active role. Witten has experienced top level racing success before, but taking out the Bunbury Cup on… Read More »
This Saturday at Sandown, a competitive field of 13 mares will line up for the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes, a 1200-metre contest that sees several talented runners resuming their campaigns. Quintessa, Eternal Flame, and Fancify are set to carry the top weights as they return to racing, while Wrote To… Read More »
The Blue Diamond Stakes, one of Australia’s premier two-year-old horse races, is heating up as the field narrows down to 81 potential contenders. The Melbourne Racing Club recently released the third round of acceptances, and several notable horses remain in the running for the Group 1 feature next month. Key… Read More »
The Widden Stakes has been a happy hunting ground for the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable and they are looking for In Limbo to continue that trend at Rosehill. Ryan won the race in 2015 with Fireworks when training in his own right and the business partners collected another when… Read More »
Grahame Begg has been forced into starting two of his mares in a Stakes race at Sandown, a scenario the inform trainer says is not ideal. Miraval Rose and So Glamorous head to the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) on Saturday. Begg would have preferred the race to remain at Caulfield,… Read More »
