Godolphin trainer James Cummings is expecting the big, flat track at Flemington to suit Pericles when he lines up in the Victoria Derby. Pericles will be having only his fourth race start when he fronts up for the gruelling 2500m trip in Saturday’s Group 1 contest for three-year-olds. That is in stark… Read More »
Melbourne Cup second favourite Loft has been scratched from the Melbourne Cup with a tendon injury. Racing Victoria stewards said the stayer had failed its veterinary inspection prior to being eligible to accept for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. All 32 horses remaining in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington underwent a veterinary… Read More »
It is said that good barriers win races and if that rings true, it is little wonder Tommy Berry is yet to taste success in the Golden Eagle. The top jockey hasn’t missed the race since its inception in 2019 but each year, his mount has drawn one of the widest… Read More »
John O’Shea is at a stage of his life and career where he has come to accept the highs and lows of racing. While he was bitterly disappointed when Lost And Running had to be scratched from the $15 million The Everest on race morning, he took it on the chin, even… Read More »
Colin Webster is concerned by Trix Of The Trade’s wide gate in Saturday’s Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m), with the exciting four-year-old drawing barrier 18. The experienced Ascot trainer says Trix Of The Trade will need to replicate last fortnight’s run when from a wide draw he had to be… Read More »
The Fields have been released for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup day apart from the feature race itself with the final field to be finalised after the running of Saturday’s Lexus Archer Stakes. As we have come to expect on Melbourne Cup day the fields are big and even with lots of… Read More »
Bendigo Cup winner High Emocean has escaped a rehandicap for the Melbourne Cup and remains outside the safety limit of 24 runners. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace -trained mare is on the limit weight of 50kg for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday. Victory in Wednesday’s Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m)… Read More »
James Ferguson gathered significant intelligence on previous trips from the UK when working with Godolphin that he hopes will lead to success in the Melbourne Cup. Now training in his own right, Ferguson travelled to the Melbourne Spring Carnival with a number of Charlie Appleby’s team when they won the Geelong, Bendigo and Sandown Cups and Queen… Read More »
Julius Sandhu does not let nerves get the better of him, but he admits he was on edge when Lofty Strike made his return to racing at Caulfield. After having his two-year-old season cut short by Racing Victoria vets on the eve of the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, Lofty Strike pleased Sandhu with his third-place… Read More »
South Australian-based jockey Barend Vorster is making a rare trip across the border to ride in a Group 1 race for his old boss. Vorster rides Belle Plaisir in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday for Tony and Calvin McEvoy. Tony McEvoy was instrumental in luring Vorster from Singapore to become his stable rider in… Read More »
Tommy Berry and Masked Crusader have had an on-and-off again relationship, but they will reunite in the $3 million Nature Strip Stakes at Rosehill on a mission to resolve some unfinished business. Berry rode the now six-year-old in his first race start in 2019 when he was beaten in a… Read More »
Andrew Forsman has been associated with many Derby winners in his time as travelling foreman for Murray Baker and when in a training partnership with the New Zealand conditioner. It was 12 years ago that Forsman was in Melbourne overseeing the preparation of Lion Tamer who won the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) for… Read More »
La Crique does not quite hold the lofty rating of Melody Belle but she is well-positioned to emulate the 14-time Group 1 winner and claim Saturday’s Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. That’s the belief of Racing And Sports senior handicapper Adam Blencowe, who said La Crique repeating her peak rating would… Read More »
A change to the spring programming has led Joe Pride to put a fresh spin on an old school formula for his Melbourne Cup hopeful Stockman. The Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) was traditionally used by the likes of legendary trainer and 12-time Melbourne Cup winner Bart Cummings to finalise the preparations of his… Read More »
Caulfield Cup winner Durston has been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup after a ‘grey area’ showed up in a CT scan taken on the stayer. As part of Racing Victoria’s requirement for all Melbourne Cup contenders, Durston underwent a scan at Werribee last Friday. In a statement posted on social media, Chris Waller Racing posted there… Read More »
As a Group 1 winner of one of Australia’s eminent mile races, Private Eye has been a surprise packet in the sprinting ranks this spring. But trainer Joe Pride says the horse’s campaign has been anything but an afterthought as he heads towards Saturday’s $3 million Nature Strip Stakes (1300m) at… Read More »
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is tackling the major three-year-old sprint of the Melbourne Cup Carnival with three representatives. Jacquinot, Grand Impact and Bews will line up in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Saturday as they chase honours in the stallion making race. Price and Kent… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained High Emocean has moved a step closer to a Melbourne Cup start following her win at Bendigo. Success in the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on Wednesday has moved the mare into 26th spot in the Order of Entry for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday…. Read More »
Racing Victoria has advised that an electronic re-draw of the barriers for this Saturdayâs Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes will be undertaken at approximately 4.30pm this afternoon by RV Racing Operations in accordance with the standard barrier draw process. Having considered a report from RV Chairman of Stewards, Robert Cram,… Read More »
After several false starts, Zoustar filly Kazou has finally made it to the races, living up to her barrier trial form with an accomplished debut win on the Kensington circuit. The three-year-old has been paid up to run several times, including at Kembla Grange on Saturday, but was scratched due to track… Read More »
