Paul Snowden will almost certainly resist any temptation to back-up brilliant Roman Consul Stakes winner King’s Gambit in The Everest, but he won’t be surprised to see the colt in the $20 million sprint next year. One slot remains to be filled with Yulong yet to confirm its runner for next week… Read More »
A quick back-up coupled with a rise in distance has paid dividends for Godolphin filly Zardozi who claimed her maiden Stakes win with a stylish performance at Flemington. Zardozi took out the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) on Saturday to potentially forge a path towards the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at… Read More »
If Our Norman causes an upset and wins the XXXX Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) on Saturday, it won’t come as a complete shock to Perth trainer, Chris Willis. Chris Willis concedes the clash between Our Norman and hot favourite Villeins is a David versus Goliath battle, but he’s confident of a competitive performance. Willis… Read More »
James Cummings has already demonstrated an ability to identify the right horses to direct towards the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes and there is plenty riding on the performance of his runner in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed event. Blue Illusion will be not only Godolphin’s first two-year-old runner for the season, but its first Australian… Read More »
Subzero was more than a racehorse. The 1992 Melbourne Cup winner was described by Richard Freedman, one-quarter of the Freedman brothers training team who conditioned the famous grey to victory in Australia’s most famous race, as ‘Australia’s greatest thoroughbred’ for more than his racing record. Not just a Melbourne Cup… Read More »
Jockey Daniel Moore is reuniting with Uncle Bryn at Flemington ahead of a bigger assignment in the Caulfield Cup. Uncle Bryn contests the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday in a bid to emulate the deeds of Smokin’ Romans 12 months ago. Smokin’ Romans won the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield enroute… Read More »
An overseas runner has commanded much of the attention in the lead-up to Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes, but Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior is not the only international flavour to the $750,000 Group 1. Simon and Ed Crisford-trained gelding West Wind Blows brings form from European races containing some of the world’s… Read More »
Trainer Grahame Begg has considerable belief in lightly raced mare C’est Magique. The winner of a Pakenham synthetic maiden at her debut outing, C’est Magique has competed in Stakes race in her four subsequent starts. Begg has raised the bar further on Saturday with C’est Magique heading to Flemington to tackle the open age sprinters in the… Read More »
New Zealand trainer Mark Walker will be looking to build on his impressive strike-rate in Melbourne since establishing a stable at Cranbourne. From seven runners out of the Cranbourne stable since the start of September, Walker has produced three winners and will looking to increase that tally at Moonee Valley on Friday night and further… Read More »
Filly Opal Ridge won the inaugural running of the Tapp-Craig, and Hawkes Racing is hoping Makarena can make it a clean sweep for the girls when she steps out in the $500,000 Rosehill feature. In an unusual move for the stable, the three-year-old will contest Saturday’s 1400 metre race at just her… Read More »
The $2 million Hill Stakes will be a fork in the road for import Hoo Ya Mal with connections hoping he can prove himself worthy of another Melbourne Cup bid. Co-trainer Adrian Bott has been rapt with the five-year-old’s two runs from a spell, including his midfield effort in the 7… Read More »
A three-year-old fillies Stakes race at Flemington could determine the direction that Poifect takes later in her spring campaign. Poifect is engaged to run in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday with her Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes having an open mind on her potential ‘Grand Final’. Options… Read More »
Star Hong Kong-based jockey, Zac Purton, is set to join forces with trainer Willie Mullins for this year’s Melbourne Cup, riding Absurde in a partnership that has been a decade in the making. Purton’s previous collaboration with Mullins in the Melbourne Cup dates back to 2017 when he rode Max… Read More »
Parisal’s first-up win proved her capacity to absorb pressure and James Cummings says she will probably have to show the same resilience to overcome a wide draw in The Nivison. The Astern mare settled midfield from a similarly awkward gate in the Toy Show Quality (1300m) and tracked three and four-wide… Read More »
Talented sprinting filly Charm Stone is currently on the sidelines after undergoing a procedure to remove a bone chip from one of her knees. Bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills, who acquired the speedy daughter of I Am Invincible for $1.55 million, recently confirmed that Charm Stone will undergo a three-month spell… Read More »
A week to the day following the 100th Prix de lâArc de Triomphe, itâs the 133rd running of the Velka Pardubicka with Slavia Insurance in the Czech Republic. Again run over 6,900m with 18 runners facing 30 jumps, itâs last year Mr Spex who will be ridden by Irish amateur… Read More »
Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are hoping their decision to pause The Little Pumper’s winter preparation will reap spring carnival rewards, starting in the $500,000 Tapp-Craig at Rosehill. The three-year-old collected back-to-back wins in June and July but found himself at an awkward juncture in the calendar after finishing fifth… Read More »
Former French galloper Athabascan has been sent from the Sydney stable of trainer John O’Shea in a bid to secure a Melbourne Cup start. Success in The Bart Cummings (2510m) at Flemington on Saturday provides the winner with a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7. Athabascan will be… Read More »
A brace of promising performances over unsuitable trips has Zeyrek on target to underline his claims for a Victorian venture when he gets to his preferred distance range in the Hill Stakes. The gelding has been valiant in his two return runs, sticking to his task when fourth to Pericles in the… Read More »
While there are pundits wondering if Lunar Flare has returned in the same vein of form she was in over the previous 12 months, her trainer Grahame Begg is far from disappointed. Lunar Flare will be lining up for the third run of her campaign when she runs in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington Saturday, all part… Read More »
