Paul Messara doesn’t know where Clear Thinking’s ceiling is, but he is looking forward to finding out after the up-and-coming mare lit up Randwick with a breathtaking Highway Handicap win. Clear Thinking slipped at the start and had to muster quickly to find a position midfield, forcing apprentice Zac Lloyd to… Read More »
Imported stayer Berkshire Breeze has quickly established a liking for Flemington and Ciaron Maher is hoping it is an affinity that extends until later in the year. The grey gelding made it two wins from as many starts at Australia’s most famous racecourse when he spaced his rivals as a $1.30 betting… Read More »
Michael Hawkes is an unabashed fan of first season sire Exceedance, who has provided the stable with its second Sydney Saturday metropolitan two-year-old winner in the space of a month. Brave One ($8) showed his class to get the better of Mayfair ($2.30 betting fav) by three-quarters of a length in… Read More »
Trent Busuttin always planned to let Craig let him know if he should run in Saturday’s Silver Bowl Final at Flemington, but that stopped the trainer asking a few leading questions. Busuttin and his co-trainer Natalie Young have looked hard for signs to suggest the import might be coming to… Read More »
Not only does Bjorn Baker coax the best out of his horses such as recent Stradbroke Handicap winner Stefi Magnetica, but he has an uncanny knack for getting them to maintain form once they find it. Two horses who showcase that particularly well are Iknowastar and Highlights, the duo preparing to vie… Read More »
Once touted as an Everest contender before being struck down by soundness issues, Showmanship will be looking to prove that he still packs a punch when he returns to Sydney for the first time in almost two years. The eight-year-old, who will line up in Saturday’s Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at… Read More »
Gavin Bedggood understands Windstorm was beaten fair and square by Munhamek last start at Flemington, but he is still clinging to the hope he can turn the tables in Saturday’s Winter Championship Final. The geldings, who were separated by half-a-length when first and second in the 1620-metre The David Bourke on June 22,… Read More »
The newest member of the Schofield clan has proven to be a lucky charm for his father, Sydney jockey Chad, even if he didn’t stick around to see it. Chad Schofield and his wife Hannah, who already have two-year-old Archer, welcomed baby Cooper just under three months ago with the latter… Read More »
Vow And Declare added another chapter to his remarkable career when he won Saturday’s $200,000 Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm The Danny O’Brien-trained galloper etched his name onto the honour roll for the second time, five years after his initial victory, which came in its final edition as… Read More »
Troy Corstens issued himself some homework after remarkable gelding Baraqiel on Saturday added another picket to the fence he has constructed to start his career. The late-starter made it four wins from as many starts when he won the $130,000 Lamaro’s Hotel Handicap (1200m). Cortens is unsure if he has had… Read More »
Chris Waller has become the first Australian trainer to break the $50 million prizemoney barrier in a season and fittingly, he has achieved the feat with a filly owned by long-time clients the Ingham family. Waller started the day needing just over $210,000 to reach the mark and got off to… Read More »
Mick Price added another job to his winter to-do list on Saturday, after First Settler launched his career in devastating style at Caulfield. The Cranbourne trainer and his partner Michael Kent Jnr will now prioritise working out how best to give the high-priced colt his best shot at establishing himself as one of… Read More »
She is the roughest of Chris Waller’s three Tatt’s Tiara runners but from the inside draw, Vienna Princess is capable of landing a Group 1 upset if she can reproduce her best form. The winner of the Silver Eagle in the spring, Vienna Princess wasn’t disgraced when sixth to Japanese raider… Read More »
Blake Shinn did not last long on the Tattersall’s Tiara interchange bench with the star Melbourne hoop called up to replace the indisposed James Mcdonald aboard C’Est Magique. Shinn thought his Group 1 season had come to a premature end on Thursday, when Mike Moroney scratched his original mount Coeur Volante from the… Read More »
Last year’s Tattersall’s Tiara will go down as one of the great pieces of pre-race shopping. The race was won by Palaisipan, who was having her first start in Katsumi Yoshida’s famous colours after a deal to purchase the daughter of So You Think was finalised in the week leading… Read More »
The first time Ciaron Maher set eyes on Bella Nipotina, he could see instant parallels with another of his grand mares. Those similarities will take on a new dimension at Eagle Farm on Saturday if Bella Nipotina can emulate the horse she has revived memories of, Srikandi, by winning the Group 1… Read More »
The presence of Bella Nipotina means the task facing Opal Ridge in this Saturday’s Tattersall’s Tiara is no easier than last year, but Luke Pepper is confident his stable star heads in to the Eagle Farm feature off the right preparation. The daughter of Rubick finished fifth, beaten 1-1/2 lengths, as $4.20 favourite… Read More »
If there is any merit to the theory that racing against Pride Of Jenni takes more out of horses, no galloper has been exposed to potential ill-effects more this year than Mr Brightside. The Ben, Will and Jd Hayes-trained gelding has been a rival of Pride Of Jenni four times in… Read More »
Doubters of the old saying ‘babies bring good luck’ might be forced to rethink their position after Lindsay Park dominated Saturday’s nine-race card at Flemington. Brothers Ben, Will and JD Hayes celebrated their first metropolitan four-timer as a training team. It came six days after Will Hayes celebrated the arrival of… Read More »
The combination of a return to a dry track and light weight have helped the Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained Red Wave post a determined win in the $250,000 Ipswich Cup. Ridden by Angela Jones, Red Wave ($17) hit the front inside the final 200m and was too strong for London Banker ($17)… Read More »
