James Cummings won’t be surprised to see unheralded mare Zapateo spoil the party when she takes on some big-name sprinters in the Concorde Stakes at Randwick. The multiple Group winner has a handy strikerate of seven victories from 18 starts but significantly, is proven over Saturday’s 1000-metre journey, a statistic Cummings says… Read More »
Champion Australian jockey Zac Purton has secured a highly coveted spring ride, partnering with the well-regarded international horse Light Infantry. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has granted Purton special clearance to return to Australia, where he will team up with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper for two elite… Read More »
Remember Samantha Miss? The Redoute’s Choice mare who raced for trainer Kris Lees in the orange colours with the black maltese cross and who won the Champagne Stakes (beating Sebring), the Flight Stakes (beating Portillo) and the Crown Oaks at Flemington (beating Miss Scarlatti) – all Group 1 wins –… Read More »
After a lengthy build-up, Karli’s Karma will kick off her campaign in the $100,000 Jolly Beggar Stakes at Belmont on Saturday. The classy six-year-old has not started since finishing unplaced in the G3 The Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot last December. Summer Dickson says the Jolly Beggar Stakes is the first step towards… Read More »
John Sargent is looking to two of his most promising horses to make spring carnival statements when Palmetto and Perfect Thought step out in separate races at Randwick. After making a successful leap from benchmark company to win the $500,000 The Coast last preparation, Palmetto resumes in Saturday’s Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m)… Read More »
What a lift-off we will have for Group 1 Spring racing when the Memsie Stakes takes centre stage at Caulfield on Saturday. I Wish I Win and Mr Brightside, the two runners vying for favouritism, have come up with opposite ends of the barrier draw (I Wish I Win with… Read More »
Kerry Parker is constantly trying to keep one step ahead of Think It Over as he manages his comeback from a tendon injury, including ensuring the grand campaigner remains mentally and physically fresh for his second-up run in the Chelmsford Stakes. Mindful horses can sprint well off a long break only to race… Read More »
Jockey Michael Dee has got the call-up to ride the impressive New Zealand visitor Imperatriz in next week’s Group 2 McEwen Stakes where the thirteen-time winner, from only nineteen starts, looks set to clash, amongst others, with the likes of Giga Kick, What You Need and Rothfire. Dee replaces Opie… Read More »
Cranbourne trainers Ken and Kasey Keys can head to their spring goal without the expectation of Scheelite remaining unbeaten. Scheelite won his first two starts before returning from a break to be beaten out of a place in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 19. The colt returns to Caulfield on… Read More »
It has been one of the spellbinding rivalries of Australian racing, but will Nature Strip and Eduardo be going head-to-head for the final time in their Concorde Stakes showdown at Randwick? Now nine and 10-years-old respectively, the top sprinters are in the twilight of their incredible careers, which have crossed paths… Read More »
Still buzzing from her outstanding result in the World All-Star Jockeys’ Series in Japan, Rachel King is keen to keep her momentum rolling into the early-season carnival races in Sydney. King participated in the Series over the weekend and after taking an early lead, she went down by a single point… Read More »
Lindsay Park import The Summit will attempt to enhance his Caulfield Cup credentials in a Stakes race at Caulfield. The Summit snuck into the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) on Saturday with his trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes looking to enhance his rating with a win, or placing, ahead of his next assignment. The Group… Read More »
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are not afraid to throw their horses into the deep end, providing they have the talent. For that reason, the stable has elected to tackle Group 1 company with Amenable when he lines-up against some of the nation’s best in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. After a first-up win at Caulfield on… Read More »
The much-hyped sprint duel between I Wish I Win and Giga Kick has hit a roadblock, cooling the feverish anticipation that surrounded the proposed event. While Wednesday night’s unveiling of the Cranbourne-hosted 1200-meter clash set the racing world abuzz, it seems that enthusiasm isn’t universal. The reluctance stems from the… Read More »
Retiring jockey Damien Oliver, a dominant figure in Melbourne Cup Week, is set to receive an enduring tribute. The Victoria Racing Club announced that the $500,000 Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes on Victoria Derby Day will be renamed The Damien Oliver. The news broke just hours after Oliver confirmed he would… Read More »
Slow developing Rackemann may be seen in a minor Stakes race during the upcoming Melbourne Spring Carnival if Lindsay Park has their way. Having just his third start at Sandown on Wednesday, the now four-year-old Rackemann took out the Remembering Mikaela Claridge (1300m). Ridden by Craig Williams, the Ben, Will and J d Hayes-trained Rackemann ($4.40) registered a… Read More »
He departed Perth as a promising apprentice with the racing world at his feet and returns home to where it all began as one of Australia’s greatest-ever jockeys. Western Australian-born Damien Oliver has called time on his decorated riding career and will retire following the Ascot Pinnacles carnival in December. Oliver… Read More »
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Veight will commence his spring campaign at Caulfield that the trainers hope will lead to a Caulfield Guineas victory. The three-year-old runs in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, with the aim of being third up into the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 14. Veight showed… Read More »
My Bella Mae will showcase her Winterbottom Stakes credentials when resuming at Belmont, with owner-breeder Nino Tufilli confident she can brush aside a disappointing interstate autumn campaign. Holding a perfect record of two wins from two starts when first-up, My Bella Mae, off a winning trial, will look to rebound… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott gave three of their carnival hopefuls a day out at Warwick Farm with Converge, Hawaii Five Oh and Kibou all stepping out in exhibition gallops. Group 1 winner Converge (Adam Hyeronimus) had the measure of Hawaii Five Oh (James Mcdonald) in their workout, edging him out by a… Read More »
