At the beginning of her career, a feature Sunday meeting at Rockhampton would have seemed an unlikely setting for reaching 1000 career winners by jockey Samantha Collett but 2023 The Archer Day will be one the 33-year-old will remember. In reaching this new level, Collett joins both her parents, Judy Thornton… Read More »
Barend Vorster, the star jockey from South Australia, is still battling with the symptoms of a concussion that he suffered in the mounting yard at Morphettville on February 18. Despite the head knock seeming like a minor incident, Vorster has been experiencing severe headaches, constant ringing in his ears, and… Read More »
There was a time where it was uncommon to see a horse in Australia have their first start over a mile and even rarer at 2000m. As for a hurdle race, that is almost unheard of. But the Warrnambool May Carnival is like no other with 30 races spread over the three days with a mix… Read More »
White Marlin’s unbeaten run might have ended at Pakenham last Thursday, but that has not dampened Gai Waterhouse ‘s enthusiasm for what the family might achieve in Australia. In the days following the defeat, the Hall of Fame trainer revealed that she and her training partner Adrian Bott have become further… Read More »
John O’Shea will stick to his plan to chase a weight-for-age double in Brisbane with Diamil despite a stronger than expected influx of class horses targeting Queensland. O’Shea declared his intention to head north after Diamil’s determined win in the JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick as the race had historically proven… Read More »
Grahame Begg says Passive Aggressive is ready to bounce back to winning form when she heads across the border to run in Adelaide. Passive Aggressive will line up in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday after giving Begg all the positive signs following a recent trip to Sydney…. Read More »
They’ve proven to be a gun stable for training stayers in recent times and the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace partnership have added more silverware to the cabinet with Affaire A Suivre ($7.50) taking out the Group One $500,000 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville. After drawing the widest barrier in a… Read More »
Brad Rawiller has served a reminder of his talent with a pinpoint frontrunning ride on Coal Crusher at Rosehill, although the win might not be enough to keep the heavyweight rider in Sydney. Rawiller had been based in Perth before making the move east a few months ago and while he was… Read More »
Cardinal Gem will head to Brisbane in peak form after lumping topweight to victory in the Listed Anniversary Vase at Sandown. The Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 10 is the target trainer Grahame Begg has in mind for Cardinal Gem following his win over 1400m on Saturday…. Read More »
When the call came through to trainers asking what distance they wanted the VRC St Leger run over at Sandown, Matt Cumani was open minded. Due to the death of Dean Holland in a race fall at Donald on Monday, the traditional Anzac Day meeting at Flemington the following day was… Read More »
Danny Williams will employ a formula he has used successfully with his Group 1 winner Shelby Sixtysix and back-up Rosehill winner Marsabit in next week’s Wagga Gold Cup. Shelby Sixtysix was one of the stars of last year’s autumn carnival when he turned up week after week and thrived, culminating in his 2022… Read More »
Trainer Peter Moody will look to the Melbourne Spring Carnival with Legacies who kept an unbeaten record with an impressive win at Sandown. A debut winner at Cranbourne on April 14, Legacies added the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) to her record on Saturday. The Anzac Day Stakes is traditionally run at Flemington but was rescheduled… Read More »
She didn’t execute the race to perfection, but Dipsy Doodle’s class shone through as she posted her second career win at Rosehill to book herself a shot at the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone. Bringing up James Cummings’ 27th two-year-old win of the season, Dipsy Doodle ($2.70 unibet fav) mustered… Read More »
The Muswellbrook Cup might have been worth one-tenth of the prizemoney on offer in Sunday’s running of The Archer (1300m) at Rockhampton, but trainer Kris Lees’ opinion is that the $775,000 feature has Gem Song in a better position to win. The now seven-year-old gelding made the trip north for the… Read More »
Peering across the historic Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club, there’s no other place racecaller Royce Newton would rather be. Royce has travelled over the State, and even abroad, to provide his commentary of thoroughbred meetings – however, the proud Goldfielder says nothing beats calling at his hometown track. “I am extremely grateful… Read More »
Trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock are content with the decision they made to extend the career of King Magnus who makes his return at Sandown. The Listed Anniversary Vase (1400m) on Saturday will be the first outing for King Magnus in 12 months. Griffiths said a year off the scene… Read More »
There is little doubt that Gai Waterhouse’s hunger for a winner is as keen as ever, and it stretches as far north as Rockhampton on Sunday when Surf Dancer lines up in Queensland’s richest regional race, The Archer. In its second year, The Archer – worth $775,000 over 1300m – has… Read More »
Trainers Toby and Trent Edmonds are looking to keep the ‘picket fence’ run of The Vowels going in the Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm. The Vowels will be aiming for his sixth straight win when he contests the Group 2 1600m race for three-year-olds on Saturday, his toughest test to date. Commencing his winning… Read More »
Country trainer Jackson Pallot fears for his liver should Highland Blaze win the rescheduled Listed VRC St Leger at Sandown. The Bairnsdale-based horseman has a previous engagement and will not be in attendance when Highland Blaze contests the 3000m race on Saturday. Pallot will be on a ‘party bus’ touring East Gippsland when the St Leger is run celebrating… Read More »
Black-type racing is the goal for any mare with above-average talent and stablemates Lekvarte and Kouklara are both in line for opportunities at that level, pending their return performances at Rosehill. The pair resume in the NSW Bookmakers Co-Op Handicap (1300m) on Saturday and trainer Joe Pride believes each has the upside to make… Read More »
