Trainer Mike Moroney is looking to Alenquer showing the form that earned him equal second top-weight in the Melbourne Cup when he resumes at Caulfield. Alenquer lines up in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) on Saturday, his first run as a gelding. The French-bred galloper was gelded after two moderate runs… Read More »
Sticking to campaign templates that have worked in the past is Chris Waller’s usual formula for big race success. But the champion trainer is stepping outside the box in his attempt to win the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) first-up with Shinzo. No horse has captured the $1 million spring… Read More »
Romantic Warrior has successfully navigated a series of challenges, including a disruptive pre-export quarantine in Hong Kong and the impact of Super Typhoon Saola. Now settled in Australia, the horse is adjusting well, says Ben So, travelling foreman for trainer Danny Shum. Previously plagued by feed import issues, the team… Read More »
Sharp ‘N’ Smart, trained by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, faces uncertainty ahead of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after being assigned a weight of 53.5kg. This puts the booked jockey, Hugh Bowman, in doubt as he was hoping for 54.5kg. Graeme Rogerson stated, “At this stage it is Hugh’s ride… Read More »
Ripcord is set to be one of the star attractions at the final Saturday meeting at Belmont Park for the season, which also features the Black Heart Bart Stakes (1200m). The son of Written By made a promising start to his racing career, taking out the Listed Perth Stakes (1100m), before… Read More »
Ben Pearce, along with co-trainer and brother, Dan, said there were a couple of choices on the table for Acromantula, but they settled on Friday week’s G1 Moir Stakes (1000m) as the best option. Moonee Valley’s unique track has proven to be a happy hunting ground for Acromantula, who landed… Read More »
Trainer Michael Freedman will look to send Ducasse to Melbourne for a lead-up to the Caulfield Guineas. But a start in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on Saturday will be dependent on Ducasse drawing a decent barrier. The Prelude is the traditional lead-up to the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October… Read More »
Racing Victoria Head of Handicapping David Hegan says he can only provide a weight for the Melbourne Cup on the evidence in front of him. The $5 Unibet favourite Vauban has been allocated 55kg in the 2023 Melbourne Cup, a weight that may seem harsh given the stayer is a Listed Three-Year-Old winner in… Read More »
Gold Trip will need to achieve a feat that has occurred only once previously if he is to go into the record books as a two-time Melbourne Cup winner. Since the metric system was introduced into handicapping in Australian racing in 1972, Think Big, in 1975, is the only horse to win the Melbourne Cup with 58.5kg. That is… Read More »
Its the $1m Kia Golden Rose Stakes, the first Group 1 of the Sydney Everest Carnival, and it’s the Longines Golden Slipper 1,2 of Shinzo and Cylinder who are duelling race favourites. Aided by two recent barrier trials, the Golden Slipper hero Shinzo is returning first-up following his Golden Slipper… Read More »
The much-anticipated weights for the Melbourne Cup 2023 have been officially released, setting the stage for an exhilarating race come November. Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban has been assigned a competitive 55kgs for the iconic two-mile handicap, setting expectations high for the thoroughbred’s performance. Meanwhile, the defending champion, Gold Trip, will… Read More »
The official weights for the upcoming Caulfield Cup have been unveiled, adding another layer of excitement to the already high-stakes competition. Trainer Chris Waller is eyeing another win after clinching victories with Durston in 2022 and Verry Elleegant in 2020. His charge, Francesco Guardi, is the current favourite and has… Read More »
Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr are looking for back-to-back wins in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) and will saddle up the lone filly in the race with Charm Stone drawing the inside gate at Rosehill. Only one filly has won the Golden Rose and never in its traditional place in… Read More »
In a key jockey change ahead of the Group 3 Sandown Stakes, Victorian jockey Blake Shinn is set to replace Jimmy Orman on the much-discussed horse, Antino. The decision comes in the wake of the horse’s disappointing showing at The Sofitel (1400m) at Flemington last weekend. Orman, who had ridden… Read More »
The horse racing world is keenly awaiting the release of weights for Melbourne’s major spring Cups, including the team behind last year’s Melbourne Cup winner, Gold Trip. Expected to carry more than his previous 57.5kg, the team is evaluating options for the season. Although the Caulfield Cup was initially on… Read More »
William Haggas, the esteemed trainer, is contemplating an entry for Desert Hero in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), set to take place at Flemington on November 7. Owned by King Charles and Queen Camilla, the colt has attracted attention following his third-place finish in the Group 1 English St… Read More »
Owner Peter Walsh set a cat amongst the pigeons when he threw Everest plans into the melting pot for his star mare Amelia’s Jewel. On the eve of her interstate kick off at Flemington, Walsh sent social media into a frenzy and gave trainer Simon Miller conniptions. Up until that stage… Read More »
Stephen Wolfe believes a last hurrah for Red Can Man in the next 12-months would be a fitting way to end a stellar racing career. The son of Gingerbread Man has been a stable pin up for Wolfe for a number of years, winning eight races and pocketing $2.3 million in prizemoney. Signature… Read More »
Soulcombe will get his first taste of Group 1 racing at Caulfield this Saturday when he returns to the scene of his eye-popping first-up win. The imported gelding will be one of multiple runners for Chris Waller in the $750,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m). It is the next step in a campaign… Read More »
The main race is the G1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) with a full field likely to make this a cracking betting race. Without A Fight ($3.50 Boombet) will be a huge focus of attention off his excellent Queensland Winter. But he will plenty of company with G1 winners such as Lindermann… Read More »
