Champion trainer Ciaron Maher declared Fireball Miss on target for the Queensland Oaks after her impressive win in the Group 2 $300,000 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday. “Fireball Miss has thrived since coming up here to Queensland,” Maher said. “She stays at Tony Gollan’s yard and I can’t thank… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher stable have aspirations of a winter series of races with their quinella pairing at Sandown. Siriusly Hot and Kaleo ran one-two in the Sportsbet Fixed Odds Exotics Handicap (1600m) on Saturday. The race was a qualifier for the Silver Bowl Series and the Mahogany Challenge which have a final for each series of races at… Read More »
Hall of Fame jockey Darren Beadman gave emerging apprentice Siena Grima some simple advice before her ride on Tazima at Royal Randwick on Saturday. “Tazima has drawn ‘bad’ so go back and ride for luck,” Beadman said. “You got the turn through on Declichy Boulevard near the inside so copy… Read More »
After almost 14 months on the sidelines, Group One placegetter Declichy Boulevard has made a triumphant return from a tendon injury to stamp her class on a low-key meeting at Randwick. The mare hadn’t raced since finishing third behind Treasurethe Moment in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) on April 1 last year,… Read More »
Agent Zero gave leading syndicators Dean and Adam Watt of Dynamic Syndications their 999th winner when he took out the PF Civil Handicap (1800m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. But Dynamic’s Adam Watt was lukewarm on backing up with Agent Zero in next Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Queensland Derby (2400m) at… Read More »
Trainer John Mcardle has some thinking to do after Divine Dot registered her maiden city win at Sandown. A trip north to Queensland or chase another win in town before a freshen up for a Stakes race early in the new season are things McArdle will contemplate after Divine Dot… Read More »
So, it’s worth noting his lofty opinion of promising youngster Friendly Fire, a tough winner of the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. “Friendly Fire still has a lot to learn but that was a really strong win,” Portelli said. “He is not there physically yet… Read More »
The Brisbane Cup will be among the options considered for emerging stayer Thebudgiesmugla after he maintained his unbeaten 2400 metre record with a hard-fought win at Randwick. Purchased out of New Zealand by syndicators Darby Racing, Thebudgiesmugla has now won three of his six starts for Bjorn Baker, all over… Read More »
Tributes have poured in across the country following the passing of Queensland country jockey Shane McGovern, who died on Saturday after a heartbreaking health battle stemming from a freak trackwork accident. The 67-year-old had been placed in palliative care just a day earlier, after complications from injuries sustained when he… Read More »
Racing Victoria stewards have disqualified licensed farrier Umesh Joseph for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to multiple sexual harassment-related charges under the Rules of Racing. Joseph admitted to two offences under AR 233(c) relating to sexual harassment and a further charge under AR 232(i) for providing false or misleading… Read More »
The Next Episode is still about $2 million short of recouping his purchase price, even after his win in Friday night’s $1 million feature on the Gold Coast, but there would be few rising three-year-olds in training that connections would swap him for. The Ciaron Maher-trained son of Snitzel enhanced… Read More »
The racing community is bracing for the loss of Queensland country jockey Shane McGovern, who has been transferred to palliative care following a tragic trackwork incident. The Australian Jockeys’ Association confirmed the 67-year-old was moved to the palliative care unit at Townsville Hospital due to ongoing complications. “He has been… Read More »
Trainer Nick Ryan is likely to resist the temptation of a trip to Brisbane with Highvol to concentrate on building the three-year-old’s bank balance. Highvol registered the third win of his career when successful at Caulfield last start and will look to add to that tally in the Sportsbet Fixed Odds Exotics Handicap… Read More »
A year can be a long time in racing especially with a horse on the sidelines. It will be a year and one week by the time Just Folk makes it back to the racetrack for the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1400m) at Sandown on Saturday. The last time Just Folk… Read More »
One of the headline acts of this year’s Doomben Cup will need to pass a race-morning veterinary inspection before being cleared to take his place in the race. Half Yours was deemed to be mildly lame by Queensland’s racing vets when inspected on Friday morning. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained… Read More »
Chris Waller has run into Pride Of Jenni enough times to know that taking on the front-running mare will bring most horses undone, and leaving her to her own devices will play into her hands. Finding a happy medium is something not even the champion trainer can attest to having… Read More »
His current connections can’t lay claim to coming up with his name, but they are hoping Thebudgiesmugla can continue making a name for himself as a stayer of promise. The former New Zealander rises to 2400 metres for the first time this preparation in Saturday’s Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation Handicap… Read More »
Banknote Hustler is unlikely to ever scale the heights hoped for earlier in his career, but the son of Capitalist gets his shot at completing a winning hat-trick this weekend. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained gelding will be out to back up wins at Geelong and Pakenham in… Read More »
Racegoers at Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben Cup will have extra reason to cheer, with Brisbane Racing Club and XXXX offering a complimentary drink if either Pride Of Jenni or Half Yours claims victory. The “XXXX Cheers to the Champs” promotion is built around a highly anticipated rematch between two of… Read More »
Racing NSW stewards have fined co-trainers Richard and Will Freedman a total of $5,800 following a hearing into three separate rule breaches. The inquiry examined the detection of oxazepam and temazepam in a post-race urine sample taken from Luna Bay after she finished second at a provincial meeting in September,… Read More »
