South Australian training partnership Shane and Cassie Oxlade have continued a near-unbeaten preparation for four-year-old Sghirripa with victory in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield. With a record that now stands at six wins and five placings in 13 starts, the Oxlades had no hesitation in booking Craig Newitt for the mount… Read More »
The Magic Millions staying feature could be ahead for Zennzella after the mare returned to the winners’ list for the first time since October 2022 with victory in the Listed Lord Stakes at Caulfield. Positive things were ahead for the then three-year-old filly by Snitzel when she took out the Group… Read More »
Having broken a drought of more than a year at Werribee, Keats will chase back-to-back wins when he contests Tuesday’s Lord Stakes at Caulfield. The tenacious on-pacer recorded his first win since October 2022 in the Werribee Cup (1600m) on December 10 at his third start for the campaign and trainer… Read More »
Well-travelled jockey Louis Beuzelin has made an almost perfect start to his Australian career with a Randwick victory aboard the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained So United at just his second local ride. Originally from Barbados, Beuzelin has ridden around the world, most recently in Singapore before heading to Australia six… Read More »
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Storm Boy will derive a lot of benefit from his victory at Eagle Farm in his bid for success at the Gold Coast. Storm Boy took out the Group 3 B J McLachlan Stakes (1200m) on Saturday to cement his place in the Magic Millions 2YO… Read More »
John O’Shea’s confidence in Waihaha Falls had ebbed and flowed all week and just as it reached its lowest level, Tommy Berry produced a riding masterclass to drive the gelding to a stunning Randwick win. Connections began the week bullish about Waihaha Fall’s chances, knowing the backmarker was ready to peak third-up… Read More »
David Eustace will be able to head to Hong Kong content that Kettle Hill has broken through for his maiden win in Australia. Kettle Hill took out the Mitty’s Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday to land his first victory since scoring in the UK at Sandown in September 2021. Eustace,… Read More »
Five years ago, Jake Barrett turned up at Tulloch Lodge armed with determination and a dream, but zero experience with horses. Fast forward to Randwick on Saturday and the 24-year-old apprentice celebrated his first metropolitan win aboard Belleistic Kids for training trio Barbara Joesph and her sons Paul and Matt Jones. “I… Read More »
At the corresponding meeting 12 months ago, trainer Enver Jusufovic left Moonee Valley scratching his head. Philosopher had just had his first start for Jusufovic after a career with Anthony and Sam Freedman which included a debut two-year-old win at Caulfield. While Philosopher contested Melbourne’s better two-year-old races, he failed to live up to… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse gets it right more often than not, and her prediction that juvenile Straight Charge would romp home with the opening race at Randwick has proven to be on the money. The $1.60 betting sites favourite was in a class of his own, dictating from the outset and extending his advantage… Read More »
The most powerful training partnership in Australian racing will end in January, with David Eustace confirming he is leaving Ciaron Maher Racing to take up a position in Hong Kong. Maher and Eustace made the announcement via a joint statement on Thursday, with both describing the news as “bittersweet”. Eustace will… Read More »
Clinton Taylor has enjoyed the easy wins that Astapor has had to start his career, but the Rockhampton trainer is happy to see his in-demand colt faced with a challenge at Eagle Farm this Saturday. The son of Tassort will put his Magic Millions credentials on the line in the Group 3… Read More »
Superbly related import Tazaral will bid to become the latest member of his family to win a stakes race when he heads to Eagle Farm for the Listed Bernborough Plate. The son of Fastnet Rock is a half-brother to two overseas Group 1 winners in Tahiyra and Tarnawa, and while he… Read More »
The retirement of Group 2 winning mare Barb Raider has left a hole in the stable of Jerome Hunter which he hopes Rich Fortune can step up and fill. Rich Fortune heads to the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Wednesday looking to add to her record of two wins and three… Read More »
Annual General Meetings held by the Cranbourne Turf Club and the Pakenham Racing Club has resulted in resolutions to merge the two clubs into one Super Club. Resounding support from the members of the two Clubs will result in the committees of both entities working towards the required regulatory approvals… Read More »
Champion jockey Damien Oliver has had a fairytail finish to his illustrious riding career riding three winners at his last three rides. Oli had a good book of rides at Ascot but had to wait until race seven to get his first winner steering favourite Devine Belief to win before… Read More »
Lee Freedman may keep lower profile nowadays at his Gold Coast base compared to the heady Melbourne Cup and Golden Slipper winning times three decades ago, but the old magic returned with Encoder ‘s win in the three-year-old highlight of the Queensland Summer Carnival at Eagle Farm. Encoder took out the $300,000… Read More »
Brisbane’s recent stormy weather still made an impact on the Eagle Farm meeting which had jockey Martin Harley concerned that Abounding may not appreciated softer ground, but the determination of her win settled anything he had earlier thought. Abounding ($2.70 favourite) put in a late drive to take out the $200,000 Listed… Read More »
As a two-year-old Ginger ‘N’ Pink showed glimpses of good ability and now aged three she’s starting to realise that potential, winning her second race from as many runs this preparation, successful in a benchmark 70 over 1200m. The Zoustar filly won her maiden first up at Sandown Lakeside and went… Read More »
It’s a strategy that champion trainer Chris Waller has employed for many years and it proved successful once more when Kapakiri ($3.20F) saluted in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap over 2000m. Having boxes based on the Gold Coast gives Waller the opportunity to transfer horses that aren’t competing up to Sydney metropolitan grade… Read More »
