A gritty performance form the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained El Padrino has seen him salute in the $400,000 Inglis Nursery at Royal Randwick. It wasn’t the easiest of watches for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace camp, but their two-year-old El Padrino ($10) has taken out the Restricted Listed Inglis Nursery… Read More »
Five-year-old former French galloper Seawhatyouthnk staked a strong case towards a start in the Listed Bagot Handicap (2500m) on New Year’s Day with victory in the Vale Mahogany Handicap over the same distance at Flemington. Lightly raced with nine starts for now four wins and one placing, Seawhatyouthink ($3.20 favourite) strongly… Read More »
You’d love to own a stable full of horses like Savabeel gelding Mightybeel ($3.90) who has never missed the top five in 13 career starts, and he franked that consistency by saluting in the Listed Christmas Cup over 2400m at Royal Randwick. The four-year-old was too strong on the line for… Read More »
Two-year-old colt Stupendo notched a win at his first start in impressive fashion by taking out the Greg Miles Trophy over 1100 metres at Flemington. Danny O’Brien, who also saddled up fourth-placed Hell Hath No Fury, seemed surprised at their finishing order and said post-race that Stupendo’s quick progression in… Read More »
Christophe Soumillon returns to the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races with a score to settle this Sunday (12 December) at Sha Tin after missing out on riding in last year’s end-of-year showcase due to an unfortunate COVID-19 mishap. Engaged to ride Normcore in the 2020 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup… Read More »
A firm Sha Tin track is the biggest concern British trainer William Haggas has for his exciting youngster Dubai Honour in the G1 HK$30 million LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on Sunday (12 December). A question mark over the visitor’s ability to cope with fast ground is also shared by… Read More »
Last year’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) winner Mogul returns on Sunday (12 December) to defend his title and leads a three-pronged attack on International Day at Sha Tin from the formidable Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore training and riding combination. Mogul, a four-year-old son of Galileo, has not… Read More »
The stablemates head to Randwick on Saturday with the full backing of Scone trainer Mark Schmetzer for what is sure to be a soaked Highway Handicap. Having already experienced Saturday success with stable favourite Leo during the spring, Schmetzer is buoyant regarding the chances of his two runners heading into Saturday’s Highway and… Read More »
Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams believes his imported galloper Seawhatyouthink requires more competition to understand what racing is about. Seawhatyouthink, a six-year-old son of dual Cox Plate winner So You Think, will be lining up for only his ninth start on Saturday when he runs in the Vale Mahogany Handicap (2500m) at Flemington. After three starts in France, including… Read More »
The calming effects of country trails and life away from major training centres has had a profound effect on South Australian galloper Arran Bay. The son of All Too Hard had tested the patience of his trainer Phillip Stokes but on Saturday will be chasing a third straight win when he lines… Read More »
South Australian sprinters will be out in force at Flemington as they try to take home the Listed Kensington Stakes. Parsifal, Free Of Debt and Tequila Time will make the trip over from Adelaide for Saturday’s race over 1000m while Mileva and Shamino are in the care of now Melbourne-based Phillip Stokes but have… Read More »
As Ellsberg and Steely continue to vie for Villiers Stakes favouritism, Ellsberg’s jockey Tim Clark has given his mount a vote of confidence. The Festival Stakes winner is yet to triumph over the 1600 metre Villiers journey, placing at his only two attempts at the trip when third in the… Read More »
Richard and Michael Freedman-trained gelding Luvoir has won four races and there has been a common denominator each time – jockey Keagan Latham. Latham has ridden Luvoir in each of his career wins and he reunites with the five-year-old in the Catanach’s Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday. “He was… Read More »
One of the great training careers of the modern era will officially come to an end on 31 December when Alain de Royer-Dupre heads into retirement, the winner of more than 70 G1s around the world, including 19 French Classics. The man who will be forever identified with the careers… Read More »
Gearing up for his toughest test to date and the chance to create history, Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year Golden Sixty will step away from barrier two in Sunday’s (12 December) HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), much to the satisfaction of trainer Francis Lui at this… Read More »
Jockey Shaun McGruddy is keen to continue his successful association with Marocchino and complete a feature race double at Ascot on Saturday. Shaun Mcgruddy answered the call to ride Marocchino in last fortnight’s JRA Trophy (2100m) and he’s hoping for a repeat victory in the G.A.Towton Cup (2200m). The Lou Luciani-trained Marocchino… Read More »
Sydney’s wet weather has turned the Villiers Stakes from a summer stepping stone into a realistic target for Stockman, as he and stablemate Brutality bid to deliver Joe Pride the trifecta of feature Randwick miles. With two Doncasters courtesy of Vision And Power (2009) and Sacred Choice (2011), and an Epsom Handicap trophy thanks… Read More »
The lack of two-year-old races in Victoria has forced Danny O’Brien to start two youngsters at Flemington in preparation for the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast. Stupendo and Hell Hath No Fury clash in the Greg Miles Trophy (1100m) on Saturday with the potential of then heading to trun in the Magic… Read More »
Glint Of Silver will be conceding race experience to several of his more fancied rivals but trainer Matt Dunn says the debutant is not lacking in ringcraft. A delay in naming the son of Rubick meant he had to wait to trial officially, so Dunn gave him a couple of… Read More »
He is best known for his prolific success riding over the jumps, so it is no surprise Steven Pateman ‘s first Sydney runner as a trainer will be in a feature staying race. A dual licence holder for the past four seasons, the Victorian-based Pateman heads to Randwick on Saturday hoping… Read More »
