Tony Gollan is acutely aware of the task confronting Baller in Saturday’s $1 million Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning, but Queensland’s leading trainer is confident the benefit of his spring campaign will stand him in good stead. Baller returns to the track that he ran so well at last spring, a campaign… Read More »
With one target having already been achieved, trainer Simon Zahra is eyeing another with Krakarib. Standing in the way is the performance of the two-year-old in the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday. Krakarib won the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and Zahra would like to add the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes to… Read More »
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have had a lot of faith in Uncle Bryn who starts his build up towards an All-Star Mile start at Flemington. The Listed Elms Handicap (1400m) on Saturday is the starting point for Uncle Bryn who Busuttin and Young hope gains an All-Star Mile (1600m) start at Moonee Valley on March… Read More »
Ringing endorsement from jockey Chris Parnham and confidence in Street Parade has trainer Russell Stewart brimming with high hopes that he can take out the Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (1200m) at Pinjarra on Saturday. “You don’t get much out of Chris, he’s laid back and cruisy, but he was… Read More »
John Sargent hasn’t given up on Owen County developing into a classics contender despite a head-scratching loss of form in the spring. The gelding produced some eye-catching performances as a two-year-old when he typically did his best work late, stamping him as a horse to follow over longer distances at… Read More »
An outside barrier draw has done little to diminish the confidence of James Cummings as he looks to Aft Cabin to build on his reputation as one of the country’s most exciting three-year-olds. After resuming with a dominant win in the Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m), Aft Cabin heads to Saturday’s… Read More »
Lightly raced filly Papillon Club faces her biggest test when she lines up in a stakes race at Flemington for the first time. The Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday will be Papillon Club’s third race start and her first since winning over the same course and… Read More »
The Victorian racing industry and participants across Australia are mourning the passing of Deane Lester who over a career spanning more than three decades became one of the country’s most popular racing form analysts. Lester passed away peacefully at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital on Thursday after a short battle with an… Read More »
Jockey Pat Carbery hopes Champagne Street can show enough improvement to give him a record-equalling Magic Millions victory at Pinjarra on Saturday. A three-time winner of the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic, Pat Carbery is one win away from joining Shaun McGruddy at the top of the leader board. Carbery won his… Read More »
Group 1 dreams of a winning major three-year-old race with Muramasa kick off at Flemington. The Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) on Saturday is where the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained colt kicks off his autumn campaign in the colours of Ozzie Kheir, John O’Neill and partners. The Group 1 Australian Derby… Read More »
Less than 18 months ago, Lyle Chandler was struggling to make ends meet. Having relocated to Scone and taken out his trainers’ licence at the start of the COVID pandemic, he had barely any horses, little interest from owners and had found himself a regular at the local Bunnings as he… Read More »
Trainer Brian Mcgrath is comfortable with his decision to keep D’Jumbuck fresh for an attempt at a second win on the Flemington straight course. D’Jumbuck provided McGrath with his maiden Flemington victory when successful on January 14 and returns to the course to contest the World Pool Handicap (1200m) on Saturday. McGrath had Saturday’s benchmark… Read More »
Trainer Darryn Weatherley admits he isn’t sure how New Zealand Group 1 winner Pier will measure up against some of Australia’s most promising three-year-olds in the Hobartville Stakes, but he is happy to roll the dice and find out. Racing is a family affair for the Kiwi horseman, who trains in partnership… Read More »
Brian Kruger, the Racing Victoria Chairman, clearly is an optimist. Most would say that to be involved in the racing game you have to be optimist, because it is a game that will test you almost at every turn whatever your role in the industry, and, arguably, the higher up… Read More »
Grahame Begg won’t have to consider a Blue Diamond start for Maharba who has his first run for the trainer at Flemington. The former Sydney-trained two-year-old runs in the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday after one start in Sydney but is not entered for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Sandown next Saturday. Maharba’s solitary run came up in a good form race where the wayward gelding finished fourth in the Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill on November 5. Barber,… Read More »
The relationship between Racing NSW and Racing Victoria has been balancing on a precarious edge for some time now. You wouldn’t even have to read between the lines to reach what would seem to be a fair conclusion … namely, that those involved in this particular power play don’t like… Read More »
It is said to have choice is great, that is unless you are a jockey. Craig Williams had to choose between three horses as his ride in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday. In the end he settled on topweight, the Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained See You heaven, despite having won his only two rides… Read More »
From a debut defeat at Goulburn to Flemington Group 1 placegetter, VRC Oaks runner-up Pavitra came a long way in a short time at her first preparation. Co-trainer Will Freedman is bullish about the filly’s chances of again featuring in the three-year-old classics this autumn, although he admits his confidence has been… Read More »
An infection has ruled Carbine Club Stakes winner Perfect Thought out of the Sydney autumn carnival with trainer John Sargent instead turning his sights towards Queensland. After missing the Eskimo Prince Stakes due to an elevated temperature, Perfect Thought had been slated to re-route to this weekend’s Hobartville Stakes (1400m) but was… Read More »
Matthew Smith had a feeling Supido would leave a mark on Australian racing and he is hoping his faith in the bloodline will be rewarded as soon as this Saturday. The Warwick Farm trainer prepares untapped colt Buenos Noches, who runs in the $1 million Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at… Read More »
