Top jockey Tommy Berry believes a summer trip to Queensland has rewired former bad boy Ninja and is putting his faith in the gelding to measure up to the topline three-year-olds at Rosehill. Ninja had three starts during his interstate sojourn, capturing the Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) at Eagle Farm before enduring… Read More »
Trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton are sweating on a start for new recruit Sam Hawkens in the Parramatta Cup, although stablemate and fellow Sydney Cup-bound gelding Athabascan is safely in the field. Formerly trained by William Haggas, Sam Hawkens is first emergency for Saturday’s 1900-metre feature and Charlton is keen to… Read More »
Trainer Danny O’Brien will not hear of the lack of race experience counting against Closer To Free when he lines up in Victoria’s premier two-year-old race at Caulfield. Closer To Free won his way into Saturday’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield off the back of a debut victory in… Read More »
A canter at Cranbourne followed by x-rays has ruled favourite Big Sky out of Victoria’s premier two-year-old race. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained colt was favourite to win the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, but Price was not happy with the colt after he cantered… Read More »
The Willaim Kropp-trained Prince Levi, the track record holder for the Doomben 2000m, will face the starter in a BM80 Handicap over 2200m at Doomben on Saturday, two weeks after lowering Antino’s track record when trouncing his field over the 200m shorter trip. The 2200m distance is not unfamiliar territory… Read More »
Jace McMurray gave everybody … but particularly his fellow apprentices … notice that he was back in South-East Queensland in the strongest possible terms by riding a double at Eagle Farm on Wednesday in his first meeting back in the Sunshine State since December 27 … the same way he… Read More »
Victoria has farewelled one of its most influential stallions with the passing of Bel Esprit at the age of 26 at Widden Stud’s Victorian base. The revered sire succumbed to old age, drawing to a close a career that encompassed racetrack excellence and a profound legacy in the breeding barn…. Read More »
Blue Diamond Stakes favourite Big Sky has been sensationally scratched from Saturday’s Group 1 feature, with co-trainer Mick Price confirming the colt will not take his place in the $2 million race. Price said he was unhappy with how the two-year-old trotted on Friday morning, prompting connections to err on… Read More »
Glenn Thornton knows that Run Lucy Run has ability but getting her to perform at those levels is a matter of patience which he hopes can go on and pay dividends. The former Victorian-based trainer who now calls the Gold Coast home is building his 12-strong 2026 team into form and Run… Read More »
Super Seth, sire of four Group 1 winners from his first two crops, has been purchased by Coolmore from Waikato Stud to stand at its Hunter Valley base. The Caulfield Guineas-winning son of Dundeel was purchased as a yearling by Dean Hawthorne on behalf of leading owner/breeder Jonathan Munz who… Read More »
Staying three-year-old Autumn Mystery will kick off his South Australian Derby campaign against older horses at Caulfield. Last seen when finishing eighth in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington in November, Autumn Mystery lines up in the Lamaro’s Hotel Handicap (1400m) on Saturday, a benchmark 84 grade race. Trainer Rory… Read More »
The Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale burst into life on Thursday, highlighted early by the sale of Lot 25 – a Zoustar half-sister to Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes aspirant Chayan – who realised $525,000. Presented by Ridgeport Holdings, the striking bay filly boasted an elite pedigree and attracted strong… Read More »
Predicting the trajectory of a lightly raced two-year-old isn’t an exact science, especially when they’ve had a campaign hiccup. But jockey Tommy Berry is erring on the side of hopeful as Incognito prepares to reignite his Golden Slipper campaign in Saturday’s Silver Slipper (1100m) at Rosehill. The one-time favourite for the… Read More »
The three-time winner Fabulantes will be looking to further enhance the already rich vein of on-going form emanating from horses directly involved in his family tree when he steps out to bid for back-to-back wins at Doomben on Saturday. The Robert Heathcote trained gelding could not have been more impressive… Read More »
After 18 months of planning, connections of Don’t Hope Do will get to see the fruits of their labour in a Group 1 sprint at Caulfield. Trainer Simon Zahra said the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday was the best chance for Don’t Hope Do to become a Group 1 winner. When in… Read More »
Emerging filly Mareth will face an autumn carnival litmus test when she takes on the older mares in the Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill. The three-year-old has raced just five times, breaking her maiden at Canterbury in December before beating all but boom filly Caffe Florian in the Listed Gosford… Read More »
Lloyd Kennewell only needed one look at Eternal Warrior to deem him a precocious type who could be a contender in the early two-year-old features and the colt has backed that belief by getting to the Blue Diamond Stakes. The youngster will chase the first Group 1 on offer to… Read More »
Evaporate has yet to taste success at Group 1 level but the team behind the Lindsay Park-trained galloper says his turn is not far away. The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained four-year-old makes his autumn return in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Ben Hayes… Read More »
Since bursting onto the Australian scene with a hat-trick of impressive wins, Just Fine has been in and out of form. However, co-trainer Adrian Bott is getting the sense that the lightly raced eight-year-old is ready to turn back the clock this autumn. Along with Hoo Ya Mal and last… Read More »
Trainer Clayton Douglas will bite the bullet and head to Adelaide despite the poor draw for recent acquisition Mr Waterville. The Irish-bred galloper who was prepared by Chris Waller when he first came to Australia, is headed to the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville on Saturday. Douglas… Read More »
