Luke Pepper’s bold decision to tackle the tougher of two stakes races with Opal Ridge has been rewarded with the filly posting a brilliant victory in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes at Scone. Pepper could have kept the three-year-old to her own age and sex in the Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m)… Read More »
It’sourtime has provided trainer Danny O’Brien with the perfect birthday gift taking out the Listed Straight Six at Flemington. The victory in the 1200m race on Saturday made up for the disappointment of connections after the sprinter was a late scratching from the Listed Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool on the middle day of… Read More »
Beautifully bred filly Hip Hip Hoorah has kept her unbeaten record intact and earned some valuable black-type in the process with a fighting win in the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone. Raced by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Hip Hip Hurrah is a homebred by super sire Snitzel out of… Read More »
Bunbury trainer Michael Lane says Resortman is primed to end his campaign on a high in Saturday’s Group 3 Furphy Belmont Sprint (1400m). Michael Lane says bypassing the Northam Stakes (1300m) and the 28 day gap between The Quokka (1200m) is critical to Resortman’s prospects. “It definitely wouldn’t have worked… Read More »
It’s nearly two years since Red Can Man recorded his last win but trainer Steve Wolfe and jockey Shaun McGruddy have not lost faith in their horse. Red Can Man last saluted in the Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield, an absence of 672 days from the winner’s stall, but it… Read More »
The dream for trainers Amy and Ash Yargi would be to secure a start in the Melbourne Cup 2023 for their stayer Rebel Racer. But the pair are also realistic and have set their immediate goal for the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm next month. However, should Rebel Racer win the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at… Read More »
Adam Durrant is bullish four-year-old Minsk Moment can give the G3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) a big shake on Saturday, but has one major concern for his last start winner. Minsk Moment has drawn barrier 11 in the Belmont Sprint and Adam Durrant believes the wide draw and the Belmont track… Read More »
Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are already eyeing another Group 1 prize for imported sprinter A Case Of You rather than his immediate contest at that level. A Case Of You is scheduled to run in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on Saturday, but it is the Group 1… Read More »
Ballarat based trainer Dan O’Sullivan will have a runner in the South Australian Derby, but he would prefer it not to be the case. O’Sullivan has High Approach in his name for the Group 1 Classic over 2500m at Morphettville on Saturday following a suspension handed to Archie Alexander by the Victorian Racing Tribunal last week. Alexander had a six-week… Read More »
Charles Byrnes has expressed his disappointment with the decision of the stewards at Gowran Park on Wednesday to find him in breach of the rules regarding the run of Ellaat in the concluding contest on the card. Charles Byrnes was fined €6,000, rider Gearoid Brouder suspended for 21 days and the horse… Read More »
The closure of Mark Newnham’s Sydney stable and his impending move to Hong Kong has been almost as drawn out as John Farnham’s infamous ‘farewell tour’. “I’m like John Farnham – I’m getting there but I’m not quite retired yet,” Newnham quipped. Newnham expects to saddle up his last runner,… Read More »
Joe Pride is banking on the cream rising to the top when dual Group winner Expat has her third start for the stable in the Dark Jewel Classic at Scone. The highest rated runner in the bumper field of 16 plus four reserves, Expat will concede five kilos to the majority… Read More »
The Freedman family enjoyed great success with triple Group 1 winner Shoals and this Saturday they will unleash her first foal in the $150,000 Parade Lounge Sprint that kicks off the Flemington card. Co-trainer Sam Freedman has been happy with what he has seen from Isthmus in preparation for the 1100-metre event… Read More »
Dan Morton believes he will get another key guide on the future prospects of his talented filly She’s Fit in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday. Dan Morton has a high opinion of his three-year-old, but a win at the elite level against career-best opposition… Read More »
For an off-season race restricted to two-year-old fillies, the Listed Woodlands Stakes has been an unlikely launch pad for the careers of some top brass horses and this year’s renewal could again uncover a gem. Libertini scored her first black-type win in the 2019 edition before going on to win… Read More »
Ken and Kasey Keys are looking at the bigger picture with their decision to take Scheelite to Flemington for his second race start. A debut winner at Sandown on April 29, Scheelite runs in the Parade Lounge Sprint (1200m) on Saturday as a prelude to potentially bigger targets during the spring. The… Read More »
Horse trainers are known for being a resilient bunch, but they don’t come much tougher than Tracey Bartley. Having already battled and overcome cancer several years ago, Bartley found himself facing another health battle in March when what started as a routine check-in on a couple of horses turned into… Read More »
Grahame Begg is confident he has made the right decision in giving Lunar Flare some extra time ahead of the Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington. It will be five weeks since Lunar Flare last raced when she lines up in the Listed 2800m race on Saturday which provides the winner a ballot exemption into the Melbourne… Read More »
Michelle Payne has been fined $5,000 after her horse Jukila tested positive for Dexamethasone during a pre-race urine sample taken at Bendigo last year. Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory agent used to treat a range of conditions. The presence of the substance was found before Jukila won a race on the… Read More »
Champion jockey Damien Oliver is keen to add to his Australian Group 1 tally of 123 winners. As part of his bid to claim the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday, Oliver made the trip to Cranbourne on Tuesday morning to partner his Mick Price and Michael Kent… Read More »
