For a boutique stable, David Payne has an uncanny knack of finding Group 1 performers, and he is hoping two-year-old Persian Wonder can become his latest. The youngster tackles Saturday’s Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, bidding to break his maiden at the highest level after a series of encouraging performances,… Read More »
Whether it was a travel hangover from a hit-and-run raid in Hong Kong or loss of interest in racing, Royal Patronage didn’t perform to expectations in the spring. Returning for an autumn campaign, co-trainer Adrian Bott figured a shake-up of the seven-year-old’s routine might sharpen his focus, and luckily for… Read More »
To Bravery Born will continue his racing journey in Hong Kong after being sold following his recent New Zealand campaign. Bred by Nearco Stud, the son of Snitzel was secured by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $200,000 from Curraghmore’s draft at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1… Read More »
Godolphin homebred and Darley stallion Frosted has died at the age of 14 after being humanely euthanised following an acute episode of laminitis. The son of Tapit will be laid to rest at Jonabell Farm near Lexington, where he stood at stud after retiring from racing and shuttled to Australia… Read More »
Ambassadorial has enjoyed a sharp turnaround in form since joining the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable and will look to continue that progression in Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup (2400m). The gelding began his career under the care of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott before later transferring to Alex Rae at… Read More »
Several Victorian trainers have targeted the Listed HC Nitschke Stakes at Morphettville in South Australia on Saturday, and the betting suggests that the best of their runners could play The Ben, Will and JD Hayes training partnership and the Ciaron Maher and Robbie Griffith stables all send out last start… Read More »
Black Type for a filly is very important for their future as a broodmare. Last start Flemington winner Exit is Adelaide bound in the search of a Stakes race victory in the Listed H C Nitschke Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville Parks on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher-trained filly is also in… Read More »
It was a case of one Australian keeping the saddle warm for another Australian when Hugh Bowman rode Romantic Warrior, James McDonald’s favourite horse, in a trial earlier this week in preparation for Romantic Warrior’s upcoming assignment in the HK$30 million G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, which will be contested… Read More »
Mornington trainer Jerome Hunter is looking forward to again testing Wonder Boy over a mile, this time on his home track. Wonder Boy contests the No Fuss Event Hire Handicap (1600m) at Mornington on Saturday ahead of a possible trip to Brisbane with the four-year-old. Hunter said he had no reason to doubt… Read More »
With a record of six wins from eight rides aboard Headley Grange, it is little wonder the gelding’s connections are pinning their faith in Adam Hyeronimus to get the best from him in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. The five-year-old turned in a brace of slashing performances to start… Read More »
Trainer Shawn Mathrick is looking forward to tackling another Stakes race with recent stable acquisition Corniche. The former Godolphin galloper scored at Flemington at his third outing for Mathrick and will on Saturday contest the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington. A pleasing effort could then see Mathrick Adelaide bound… Read More »
Randwick’s All-Aged Stakes Day is the finale of a magnificent Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, and it’s Campione D’Italia who’s seeking a Juvenile Group 1 double with the Champagne Stakes. Fresh from a three-quarter length victory over Miss Chanel in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes of 1400m at Randwick, he had… Read More »
Top weight and a wide draw have left Banker’s Choice with it all to do when he goes out to defend his Mornington Cup crown on Saturday. The eight-year-old son of Mongolian Khan was in the care of trainer Glenn Thompson when he took out last year’s Mornington Cup in… Read More »
An outside gate has put Chris Waller in two minds about whether Jokers Grin will kick off his campaign in the Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick, or if he’ll revert to Plan A and head straight to Queensland. The former Perth sprinter hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in the Group… Read More »
The big winner at Ascot on Saturday will be the winner of the $5m Quokka … and, while that is a highly competitive race possibly offering a thrilling finish, a supporting feature could well upstage the Quokka as the race of the day. The $500,000 Karrakatta Plate, which is contested… Read More »
On the same day that Persian Caviar, a daughter of Black Caviar, saluted at Sandown, the family of Winx also added another winner to the honour roll when Time Of My Life, a half-sister to Winx, being out of Vegas Showgirl, got the job done at Doomben, albeit by the… Read More »
Smooth Chino goes into the $5 million Quokka at Ascot on Saturday as a six-time winner from seven career starts. The Indianna Weinert trained gelding has drawn barrier number eleven for the big race. “I think I’m ok with it,” said trainer Indianna Weinert when reflecting on the pros and… Read More »
When Miss Chanel kicked off her career in January, Adrian Bott never expected her to still be up and running on the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival. Fully prepared to send her to the spelling paddock after every run, Bott says the filly has given connections little choice… Read More »
A second shot at a ‘win and you’re in’ race is what the connections of Basilinna are chasing at Mornington. Last year Basilinna won a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup, courtesy of her win in the Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington in May. Trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne have not ruled… Read More »
A dual headline act came out of Heat 10 of the National Apprentices Race Series at Sandown on Wednesday. The lightly raced Persian Caviar won the race to claim her second victory in only four career starts in which she has never finished out of the placings. That’s promising form… Read More »
