Trainer Jason Warren has Blue Diamond Stakes aspirations for Flyer after her impressive debut win at Sandown. A daughter of Exceedance, Flyer took out the Fierce Impact – Quality Yearlings 2024 (1200m) on Wednesday to potentially book her place in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on… Read More »
Neville Parnham has faith that Bustler can make his presence felt on debut in Melbourne. A winner of the Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot last November, Bustler prepares for another Group 1 test in the CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Bustler and stable mate, WA Guineas champion,… Read More »
Group 1 winner Trix Of The Trade is set to make his return to racing in the Listed Pinjarra Classic (1300m) later this month. Trainer Colin Webster is also likely to aim the gelding at the Listed Bunbury Stakes (1400m) early next month, as he looks to score his first win since… Read More »
Having spent almost two decades working for Gai Waterhouse, Steve O’Halloran admits it feels a little surreal to be saddling a rival runner in a $2 million race. O’Halloran was among Waterhouse’s go-to trackwork riders for many years, later working as a senior foreman and travelling with her horses to… Read More »
Time will be of the essence for two-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Mark Zahra as the Caulfield meeting nears its end on Saturday. A big sports lover and in particular American Football, Zahra is booked to fly to the US on Saturday night to attend the Super Bowl in Las Vegas… Read More »
Fully Lit announced not only himself at Rosehill on January 20, the two-year-old did a good job of also shining the spotlight on fledgling syndicator RedFox Racing. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt carried RedFox’s red and black colours to a win that elicited a much more raucous reaction than… Read More »
Buoyed by what Moravia achieved at his first racing campaign, trainer Michael Freedman heads into the Sydney carnival optimistic the three-year-old can raise the bar again. Moravia made a rapid leap into black-type company at just his second start last August, placing in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) then beating… Read More »
It is the time of the year where the two-year-olds need to start showing their credentials if they want to be players in the big autumn races. At Caulfield on Saturday are the two divisions of the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m), one for the fillies and another for the colts… Read More »
Jockey James McDonald has informed Racing NSW Stewards that he’s following specialist advice by stepping down from the Warwick Farm meeting tomorrow. This move is prompted by the left foot injury he sustained at Rosehill Gardens on February 3rd. He’ll also be absent from rides at Canterbury Park on February… Read More »
Giga Kick’s injury setback has dashed hopes of seeing the star sprinter in action this autumn. Racing manager Rod Douglas confirmed that while the horse is recovering and back in light training, he won’t be ready for the upcoming races. The injury, a torn muscle between his hamstring and hip,… Read More »
Perth Wildcats champion Damian Martinez was already poised to have a special weekend with his jersey to be retired alongside fellow Wildcats greats on Sunday. His weekend got off to the perfect start with the exciting galloper he part-owns Red Fifty Three successful in the Morley Growers Market Handicap (1200m) at Ascot… Read More »
Stefan Vahala hopes adopting a patient strategy can begin to pay off both now and later in the year. The now arrives as soon as Saturday, (weather permitting) in the Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) at Ascot, Aztec Ruler’s first crack at Listed company. If that plan comes to fruition first-up and… Read More »
In-form jockey Beau Mertens has been transported to hospital following a fall in the opening race at Stony Creek. Mertens was riding the $1.65 betting site favourite Nobiallo in the San Remo Hotel Maiden Plate (1100m) on Tuesday when the first starter fell heavily near the 200m mark. Just Bolts, who… Read More »
An horrific fall in the first race at Stony Creek on Tuesday has claimed the life of a promising young horse whilst two jockeys (Beau Mertens and Thomas Stockdale) were hurt but miraculously not severely in the incident. Mertens was unseated from the highly favoured debutant, Nobiallo, priced at $1.60… Read More »
Some of the better three-year-old staying races could be on the agenda for American Pharoah filly Redbreast, who will debut over 1200m at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Adrian Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, says it’s hard not to be excited by the trial star, who could end… Read More »
Craig Williams says time has been the friend of Melbourne Cup runner-up Soulcombe after partnering the stayer in a track gallop at Caulfield. Chris Waller called on Williams to partner Soulcombe as the gelding builds to a potential target of the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in late March. Williams… Read More »
Mark Zahra has a soft spot for Gold Trip, the horse that provided the jockey with the first of his back-to-back Melbourne Cup victories. Zahra answered a call from trainer Ciaron Maher to give Gold Trip a gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday as part of the entire’s build-up to a racetrack return…. Read More »
Mick Price is aware there are more suitable immediate options for Ayrton than this Saturday’s CF Orr Stakes, but he thinks it is the right Group 1 race to have a crack at. Waiting for him will be star miler Mr Brightside, but the $750,000 weight-for-age Group 1 event is… Read More »
Former AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan is reportedly the frontrunner to assume the role of the new chairman of Racing Victoria, according to several media outlets. While no official confirmation of his acceptance has been made, sources suggest that McLachlan is the preferred candidate of Victoria’s Racing Minister, Anthony Carbines. This… Read More »
Trainer Neville Parnham, and the Casey’s: Sean and his son Jake, have targeted feature races with stars of last year’s Ascot Pinnacles carnival. Group 1 Railway Stakes champion Bustler and WA Guineas hero Zipaway have been entered for Melbourne features at Caulfield on Saturday. Parnham has nominated Bustler for the CF Orr… Read More »
