Victoria Derby winner Riff Rocket is now a Group One winner in two states after adding the Rosehill Guineas to his Victoria Derby triumph. Trainer Chris Waller had been keen to see if the three-year-old could bring his best form to Sydney as the bulk of his career had been spent in… Read More »
A carefully laid plan to follow the successful template of UK trainer William Haggas has delivered an immediate reward, with Via Sistina claiming the Group One Ranvet Stakes at her Australian debut. Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller had been forced to watch from afar as Haggas plundered the Ranvet-Queen Elizabeth Stakes double with… Read More »
The disappointment of missing out on a Blue Diamond Stakes start will be all but forgotten if Bodyguard can stage an upset in the $5 million Golden Slipper. A smart winner of the Blue Diamond Prelude, the colt was one of the top fancies for Melbourne’s premier juvenile event before he… Read More »
With racing retirement looming and a date in the breeding barn with I Am Invincible, the connections of Hypothetical are chasing a Group 1 win. Those connections, along with trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman, would like to see that come on Saturday in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley…. Read More »
Everest winner Think About It has returned an elevated white blood cell count during routine testing and is in doubt for the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill. Trainer Joe Pride notified Racing NSW stewards of the results on Thursday but said a subsequent endoscopic examination came back clear. With… Read More »
The Newmarket Handicap victory by Cylinder has given Bjorn Baker a timely confidence boost as Ozzmosis prepares to tackle the older sprinters for the first time in The Galaxy. There had been a school of thought that the three-year-old form wasn’t as strong this season, however, Baker pointed to Cylinder’s rousing win over… Read More »
Gold Trip, the 2022 Melbourne Cup champion, has encountered a setback in his racing career due to a tendon injury, casting uncertainty over his future. Trainer Ciaron Maher confirmed on Wednesday that the Group 1 star will be sidelined for the remainder of the autumn season, although the injury has… Read More »
Beau Mertens has picked up the ride on Godolphin sprinter Cylinder in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. The James Cummings and Godolphin team went on a search for a jockey to ride the last start Newmarket Handicap winner in Saturday’s Group 1 sprint. With Damian Lane and Jamie Kah in Sydney… Read More »
Star mare Imperatriz will bid to keep her unbeaten record at Moonee Valley intact when she seeks a second win in the William Reid Stakes. Imperatriz won the 1200m Group 1 sprint last year before going on to take the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m), the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m)… Read More »
Lindsay Park Racing has ended speculation Craig Williams would be replaced aboard Mr Brightside, confirming the star rider had been booked for the Australian Cup. Williams’ ride aboard the six-time Group 1 winner in last Saturday’s $4 million All-Star Mile, in which the pair finished second to Pride Of Jenni, was… Read More »
Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir pleaded guilty to seven charges in a tribunal hearing concerning the use of a jigger on his former racehorses. Weir’s defense entered not guilty pleas on charges related to race outcome corruption but admitted guilt on welfare and conduct charges. CCTV footage displayed Weir using… Read More »
Dual Guineas runner-up Veight is set to take on the older horses in the George Ryder Stakes in his latest bid to snare a valuable Group 1 win. The George Ryder on Saturday will also be an important exercise as Veight’s connections eye a longer-term aim of the $10 million Golden… Read More »
The shadow of Imperatriz looms large, but Shane Oxlade is not shying away from the challenge of this Saturday’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes with Queman . The Oakleigh Plate winner will look to continue his progression when he takes to weight-for-age at the highest level for the first time in the… Read More »
An injury to stable favourite Fangirl made for a tough week in the Chris Waller stable, but Zougotcha provided the perfect balm with a determined victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic. Zougotcha ($3.30 fav) defied a recent hoodoo for favourites and topweight of 57kg to deny all challengers in Saturday’s $1 million… Read More »
Teaming up with owner Tony Ottobre has changed the fortunes of former Irish jockey Declan Bates. Two Group 1 wins in the spring aboard Pride Of Jenni have been added to on Saturday when the Ciaron Maher-trained mare led throughout to claim the $4 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield. “Tony,… Read More »
James Cummings is welcoming a clash with star New Zealand filly Orchestral after Zardozi served a reminder of her talents with a dashing victory in the Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill. The pair is on a collision course towards the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in two weeks and Cummings believes it… Read More »
Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes will hold talks with the ownership group of Bold Bastille over a potential Golden Slipper start after her impressive win at Caulfield. The filly led throughout to claim the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1100m) on Saturday to keep dreams alive of starting… Read More »
Father-and-son training combination Mark and Levi Kavanagh are looking for a fortuitous autumn campaign with First Immortal after his first-up win at Caulfield. First Immortal’s autumn campaign launched with victory in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) on Saturday which may lead to the gelding heading towards two ballot exempt races for the… Read More »
Filly Drifting and Victorian colt Dublin Down are the final two horses to earn Golden Slipper spots, but whether they take up the challenge is yet to be decided. The Tony and Calvin Mcevoy -trained Dublin Down secured a berth with his upset win in Saturday’s Pago Pago Stakes (1200m), staving off Anode and relegating short-priced favourite Gatsby’s into… Read More »
Fangirl, one of Chris Waller’s leading chargers towards The Championships, has had her autumn campaign declared over after a Friday morning incident required her to be transported for veterinary treatment. Waller announced via X (formerly Twitter) that a wound to one of the five-year-old mare’s legs was enough to end… Read More »
