Read what each of the jockeys said about their rides in the 2024 Champions Mile at Flemington. Craig Williams (Mr Brightside) On his combination with Mr Brightside: “He’s had a great preparation. He won the Makybe Diva Stakes here. The Grand Final was the Cox Plate, he ran fourth but ran… Read More »
Tony Ottobre has announced the retirement of his esteemed mare, Pride Of Jenni, after a career marked by multiple Group 1 victories and earnings exceeding $10 million. Pride Of Jenni’s retirement follows a recent bleed during the G1 Champions Mile at Flemington, where she was unable to finish competitively. Racing… Read More »
Read what each of the jockeys said about their rides in the 2024 Champions Sprint at Flemington. James McDonald (Sunshine In Paris): “I was rapt when the camera started following me. All that matters is that the number’s in the frame. I’m so thrilled for Annabel, and John the owner. Obviously… Read More »
Annabel Neasham’s faith in Sunshine In Paris was rewarded when the classy mare upstaged Australia’s best sprinters in Saturday’s Champions Sprint at Flemington, but the victory did not come without a tinge of regret. The Sydneysider was kicking herself for not insisting that her training partner Rob Archibald be trackside for the $3… Read More »
It was a win more than two years in the making and Smokin’ Romans could not have picked a more appropriate venue to reward his connections’ patience. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding led all the way to claim the $300,000 Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington. It was the 10th career… Read More »
Top trainer Stephen Miller believes Magnificent Andy is poised for victory and can stamp his Railway Stakes (1600m) credentials when he tackles the Group 2 Perth Racing Member Appreciation-Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday. Miller’s confident prediction is drawn from Magnificent Andy’s previous run in the Eurythmic Stakes… Read More »
As hard as he tried, jockey Shaun O’Donnell couldn’t find a slot for tough mare Searchin’ Roc’s when he was aboard her last time out in the Group 3 Eurythmic Stakes (1400m). From barrier 15 O’Donnell was left stranded four wide without cover in no man’s land, but testament to… Read More »
Melbourne Cup plans can be years in the making and Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan is already thinking about next year’s race at Flemington. The Melbourne Cup (3200m) is still more than 360 days away, but O’Sullivan’s stayer Berkeley Square will pass an important qualifying clause if he can run top three in… Read More »
The weight of money on the Champions Mile at Flemington has kind of surprisingly been for Pride Of Jenni who failed to fire in the Cox Plate last time out with punters thinking she can bounce back from that lacklustre run when finishing eight of nine in the Cox Plate…. Read More »
Having centred their spring thoughts around the Melbourne Cup with Eliyass, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott decided to change direction after contesting another spring feature. Now the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday is the focus for Eliyass. French-bred and having done his early racing in the… Read More »
Anticipation is at fever pitch for the launch of the Dream Chasers Festival at The Meadows this Saturday night and you will see all the colour, stories and high octane action live on Racing.com. The coverage kicks off at 6.15pm immediately following Champion Stakes Day at Flemington. It will be… Read More »
Not many horses, especially older geldings, go from winning a maiden to Group 1 success in one campaign, but that is what the Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained Baraqiel will attempt to do at Flemington. A maiden winner on debut at Sale in May, Baraqiel heads to the big… Read More »
Mr Brightside will sport blinkers for the first time in his career as he lines up for Saturday’s Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington. Co-trainer Ben Hayes made the decision after the gelding impressed during a strong workout on Monday. While there were previous discussions about using blinkers, including before… Read More »
Timing the Golden Gift campaign of Tupakara has been a delicate balancing act, but one that trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald are hoping they have got right. The filly was responsible for a promising debut when she didn’t get much room in the early part of the straight before finishing fourth… Read More »
A rare stroke of fortune ahead of a big race has been gratefully accepted by trainer Mitchell Freedman as he prepares Attrition for the second leg of his two-part Sydney mission. Having drawn closer to the outside than the inside at his past 10 starts, Attrition has landed barrier five for Saturday’s… Read More »
It is highly unlikely Chris Waller and James Mcdonald will be making the same mistake twice with Fangirl. The six-year-old daughter of Sebring heads to the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington on Saturday coming off a previous start sixth in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 19…. Read More »
Positive trainer and jockey combinations are a sought-after addition of confidence and with Michael Hickmott and Todd Pannell teaming up again with rising filly Spirit Of Camelot, they could present one of the better punting propositions around Australia on Saturday. Pannell’s winning strike-rate with Hickmott is currently at 26.4% and at 25%… Read More »
Debonaire is defined as having charm and sophistication – and for the Fiona Scott’s talented gelding of the same name, it is a fitting moniker. The son of Pierro, whose name is spelt with two Ns, enjoyed a breakout season at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club for Scott, winning five of… Read More »
If jockey Kate Pateman was feeling contented and pleased with her performance on Kerman Rock last Saturday, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who would be critical. Pateman, six months into her comeback after the birth of her second child, produced a ripper on Kerman Rock, expertly rating… Read More »
Rustic Steel has stamped his class on the Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury, reacting to a key gear change to deliver trainer Kris Lees his first win in the Listed feature. Successful in the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m) during the autumn, the seven-year-old had resumed with an encouraging midfield effort in… Read More »
