New Zealand trainer Mark Walker says it is a juggling act to have star mare Imperatriz fresh enough for her first Group 1 assignment of the spring. Imperatriz heads to Moonee Valley on Friday night to run in the Moir Stakes (1000m), in a bid at keeping her record intact at The Valley. Last season, the… Read More »
One of Randwick’s two big Group One mile handicaps will likely see a full field this year and the barrier draw has done little to narrow down the key chances, with $6 favourite Pericles drawing 14 for the $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m). The stable also have last start Group… Read More »
James Harron did not take long to lock in a replacement runner in this year’s The Everest with the prominent bloodstock agent on Tuesday morning announcing that Cylinder would be his runner in the $20 million race. The James Cummings-trained son of Exceed And Excel is a three-year-old, as was last… Read More »
Desert Hero, a potential Melbourne Cup contender for the King and Queen, won’t compete this year. Despite passing veterinary tests, the decision to withdraw him was made following his third-place finish at Doncaster. “Desert Hero won’t run in the Melbourne Cup. We thought he had a tough race at Doncaster,… Read More »
Cylinder is confirmed as a contender in the upcoming $20 million The Everest, securing a slot thanks to slotholder James Harron. Harron made the move after Giga Kick’s withdrawal created an opening. While Cylinder’s participation is confirmed, the jockey’s identity remains undisclosed. Australian jockey Zac Purton has been confirmed as… Read More »
Star mare Amelia’s Jewel had her first track gallop at Moonee Valley this morning (Monday) and passed it with flying colours, according to trainer, Simon Miller. “She went around 1000 evens and home in 400 and was good, she scooted around,” Simon Miller told Tabtouch. “I must admit I thought she may… Read More »
Star Perth-owned mare Sheeza Belter has been retired with managing owner Justin Warwick calling time on her outstanding racing career. The multiple stakes winner ran her final race in Sydney last Saturday when she failed to beat a runner home in the G2 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill. “She won’t… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse already holds the record for the number of The Metropolitan winners but rarely has the Hall of Fame trainer gone into the Group 1 with as strong a hand as she holds this year. Not only do Waterhouse and her training partner Adrian Bott have all-in even money favourite,… Read More »
On Grand Final weekend, the major meeting is the Friday night with the running of the G1 Moir Stakes (1000m). Obviously going off last run, Imperatriz ($1.90) will be such a focus but several other elite sprinters will go around including Bella Nipotina ($8), Asfoora ($5) and Rothfire ($8) in what may be a… Read More »
Damian Lane suspected she would be fine, but Melbourne’s leading rider is now even more at ease with Amelia’s Jewel’s ability to handle The Valley after giving her a look at the circuit on Monday morning. Lane partnered the Simon Miller-trained mare in her first look at the unique track ahead… Read More »
The big miles are one of the best aspects of Australian racing and one of the great days on the turf is Epsom day where Randwick will be on show with so many features. That G1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) will be yet another open betting contest with many hopes. Pericles ($6)… Read More »
Charm Stone did not go as close in the Golden Rose as In Secret, but Michael Kent Jnr remains confident in her ability to also use it as a springboard to Coolmore Stud Stakes success. The 1200-metre Group 1 at Flemington on November 4 is the most likely next start for Charm Stone,… Read More »
Being trained at Flemington and having performed well in the Penfolds Derby Preview are both positives in the eyes of Gai Waterhouse as Gold Bullion won the lead-up contest with stablemate Ambassadorial finishing third. Gai Waterhouse first her won the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in 1995 with Nothin’ Leica Dane and 28… Read More »
Another shrewd placement from John Sargent sees his stable with a genuine VRC Oaks chance after Harlow Mist won the Kennedy Oaks Preview (1800m) at Flemington and maintaining a perfect race record. At her third start, and after wins at Goulburn and Scone, the three-year-old ran 0.27 seconds outside of Barb Raider’s… Read More »
John O’Shea hasn’t given up on Lost And Running making a late bid for an Everest berth, despite his unplaced first-up performance in the Shorts. The scratching of reigning champion Giga Kick on Saturday with a muscle tear means slot holder James Harron is back in the market for a runner, while Godolphin,… Read More »
Damien Oliver landed his first Group 1 win since announcing his impending retirement when the champion jockey partnered Alligator Blood to a second-straight win in the $750,000 Underwood Stakes. Oliver made the most of one final ride aboard gritty on-pacer before regular rider Tim Clark returns from injury in the 1800-metre event at… Read More »
They don’t call Joao Moreira ‘The Magic Man’ for nothing. The internationally decorated jockey was at his brilliant best in Saturday’s Golden Rose (1400m), extricating Militarize from a sticky position halfway up the straight and sooling him home to post a last-stride win. Moreira has now ridden Militarize three times for as… Read More »
Uncle Bryn went one better than last year when he dominantly secured the Caulfield Cup ballot exemption that accompanies victory in the Cattanch’s Jewellers MRC Foundation Cup. The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained import lived up to the high rating the stable has had on him since landing in Australia when… Read More »
Steparty will be defending an unbeaten record in next month’s Caulfield Guineas after the colt scored a tenacious win in the main Victorian lead-up to next month’s $3 million Group 1. The Paul Preusker-trained three-year-old added a fifth picket to the fence he has been building since winning a Ballarat maiden… Read More »
It wasn’t the prettiest win, but Espiona has raced herself into contention for trainer Chris Waller’s Everest slot with a commanding performance in the Golden Pendant at Rosehill. The quirky mare wanted to get her head to the side as she ranged up to eventual third placegetter Banana Queen but once jockey… Read More »
