Anthony and Sam FreedmanĀ realise you cannot be giving away big starts if you want toĀ be successfulĀ at the highest level. While ArtoriusĀ wasĀ victoriousĀ at Group 1 level as a two-year-old, the Freedman stable has worked on getting the son of Flying Artie to be cleaner at the start. They hope that will be… Read More »
Bjorn BakerĀ will use the Premier’s Cup as an important spring stepping stone for emerging stayer Harpo Marx, with the race set to provide the import with his most significant class test. The Darby Racing gelding struck form during the winter, posting victories over 2000m at Randwick in July and 2400m… Read More »
Trainer Mike Moroney is entering unchartered waters with multiple Group 1 winning mare Tofane ahead of her return run at Caulfield. TofaneĀ is chasing a fourth Group 1 win when she lines up in theĀ MemsieĀ Stakes (1400m) on Saturday. The mare’s previous three Group 1 wins have all been overĀ Saturday’s trip, but… Read More »
Tulloch Lodge has already struck an early-season blow in one of the three-year-old features and they will be out to continue that trend with unassuming colt In The CongoĀ in the San Domenico Stakes. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott produced Swift WitnessĀ to outmuscle her rivals in a rough-house renewal of last… Read More »
Leading Perth owner-breeder Bob Peters won’t be setting the bar too high with Inspirational Girl and is taking a cautious approach ahead of her interstate debut on Saturday. The six year-old mare gained a trip to Melbourne after last year’s breakout Ascot campaign that reached its peak with a Group… Read More »
Racing Victoria Stewards have this afternoon opened an inquiry into the conduct of licensed jockeys Jamie Kah, Ethan Brown and Ben Melham and apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray upon receipt of information of possible breaches of COVID-19 protocols. All four jockeys have been given a 14-day ban from race tracks and… Read More »
All wins in racing are special, but when Type Won gets up and scores in her races, it holds added sentimental attachment for trainer, Kieran McDonagh. Justifying warm favouritism Wednesday, Type Won, ridden by William Pike, skipped away in the straight to win her 1000m event by 1 Ā¾ lengths…. Read More »
Josh ParrĀ will be the new jockey forĀ Montefilia in the Chelmsford Stakes after Jason CollettĀ opted to partner She’s Ideel. Montefilia’s trainer David PayneĀ confirmed the rider switch on Thursday and said while he had no issue with Collett’s decision, Parr now had the frontrunning to stick with the mare throughout her spring… Read More »
Trainer Gary Portelli will start three genuine contenders in the Midway Handicap, led by three-year-old Royalzel. The chance to secure the services of champion hoop James McDonald has proven too big a drawcard for Gary PortelliĀ to resist. The Warwick Farm trainer could have opted to nominate stakes winner Royalzel for… Read More »
Tim ClarkĀ believes there is a sense of timing surrounding progressive stayer No CompromiseĀ ahead of his latest assignment in the Premier’s Cup at Kembla Grange. The former New Zealander has scored a hat-trick of wins in five Australian starts and was given a freshen-up following his latest 2400m victory at Rosehill… Read More »
It was obviously no easy decision to turn away from the ride on the Caulfield Cup favourite and one of the top Melbourne Cup fancies in Incentivise but, in the end, the logistics of trying to find the right path in the maze of strict state Covid-19 protocols that engulfs… Read More »
Warwick Farm trainerĀ Gary PortelliĀ has been forced into plan B with his sprinterĀ SpaceboyĀ after missing out on a run at The Valley. SpaceboyĀ was due to start in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) last Saturday but just prior to being loaded on the truckĀ for the travelĀ to Melbourne, the sprinter became cast in his… Read More »
Co-trainer Michael FreedmanĀ will continue to monitor track conditions but he is optimistic Golden Slipper winner Stay InsideĀ will kick off his preparation at Kembla Grange. The surface was rated a heavy 9 on Thursday after rain earlier in the week and Freedman is keen to see it improve into the slow… Read More »
Aaron Purcell is daring to dream big with stable newcomer Constantinople. Former Coolmore galloper ConstantinopleĀ arrived in Melbourne for a Cups campaign asĀ aĀ leading hope. Purchased by a large syndicate of Lindsay Park clients, Constantinople ran an unlucky fourth at his Australian debutĀ in the 2019 Caulfield Cup thenĀ wasĀ second favourite in the Melbourne… Read More »
Lindsey Smith’s classy six-year-old Too Close The Sun has been a key firmer with Tabtouch for the Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m) at Belmont Park on Saturday. Runner-up in last years Railway Stakes and racing second-up this preparation, the Carlton House gelding opened at $4 and in current markets he… Read More »
Nature Strip has taken the first formal step in his Everest campaign with a Rosehill barrier trial win. Chris Waller has given Nature Strip the thumbs up after the top sprinter cruised around Rosehill to open his Everest preparations with an effortless barrier trial win. In his first public appearance… Read More »
New Zealand galloper AegonĀ hasĀ taken no harm fromĀ what turned out to beĀ longer than expected travel to Melbourne to run at Caulfield. Aegon and his Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained stablemate The Chosen OneĀ were delayed on the tarmac in New ZealandĀ ahead of their departure. The Group 1Ā MemsieĀ Stakes (1400m)Ā on SaturdayĀ will be Aegon’s debutĀ in… Read More »
One way or another, the Listed Goldmarket, which will be run at the Gold Coast over 1200m on Friday, will be all about Alligator Blood. The high profile, well performed son of All Too Hard resumes after a ten month break from race action at the track which produced his… Read More »
Jason CollettĀ has bought up an early double on Wednesday’s Randwick-Kensington card with two impressive maiden victories. The first race of the day saw the Matthew Dunn-trained RocklilyĀ lead all the way for a dominant 1.87 length victory. The daughter of Exceed and Excel was narrowly edged out a fortnight ago at… Read More »
Damien OliverĀ has a healthy opinion of Godolphin colt VilanaĀ whoĀ has broken through for his maiden victory at Sandown. Headed by main rival in bettingĀ FrontmanĀ in the straight, Vilana fought back to claim the Ladbrokes Punter Assist Plate (1200m) on Wednesday in aĀ tightĀ photo. Pushed forward early by Oliver, Vilana, the $3.60 favourite, registered… Read More »
