Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes have revised their plans of winning one of the Derby races in Australia with Apulia. Narrowly beaten in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington last November, Apulia was originally aimed towards the Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday. But an early… Read More »
A quick flick through the media guide Inglis has prepared for this weekend’s Easter Yearling Sale underlines the significance of Winx’s daughter being part of the catalogue. Thoroughbred auction houses are traditionally reluctant to single out specific lots, but Inglis has no option but to with the filly who will… Read More »
The Caulfield and Melbourne Cups are still six months away, but those two races are clearly in the focus of father-and-son training duo Mark and Levi Kavanagh. First Immortal was bound for those races last year, but with a less than satisfactory rating he was forced to try and win his… Read More »
Peter G Moody fears a lack of recent match practice could come against defending titleholder I Wish I Win when he resumes against a crack field of race-fit sprinters in the T J Smith Stakes at Randwick. A forecast for drenching rain in Sydney has many expecting a heavy track on Saturday… Read More »
Michael Freedman might be preparing to saddle up his first Australian Derby runner in his own right, but the Randwick trainer has plenty of experience when it comes to the time-honoured race. Freedman will start Tulloch Stakes winner Wymark in Saturday’s blue riband, 30 years after strapping 1994 winner Mahogany and 32 years… Read More »
Italian-born jockey Stefano Cherchi had died, two weeks after suffering head and internal injuries in a race fall at Canberra. The NSW Jockeys’ Association announced the devastating news on Wednesday on behalf of the 23-year-old’s family. “With deep sadness, the Cherchi family have announced their beloved son Stefano passed away… Read More »
Connections of Bella Nipotina have welcomed the forecast for heavy rain in Sydney ahead of her rematch with benchmark sprinter Imperatriz in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick. Bella Nipotina has finished behind the Te Akau Racing star in all three starts this preparation but significantly, the runs have all… Read More »
Having successfully converted Private Eye from a Group One-winning miler into one of Australia’s best sprinters, Joe Pride will attempt the reverse with his Everest hero Think About It. Private Eye won the 2021 Epsom Handicap over the famous Randwick mile and wasn’t disgraced when stretched out to 2000m two starts later… Read More »
A quick back-up into the ATC Australian Derby holds no fears for connections of high-class filly Zardozi, who has scored two of her most significant wins off a short turnaround. The Godolphin three-year-old won the Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) six days after finishing unplaced over 1400m at Sandown, while her… Read More »
The Lindsay Park team of Ben Will and Jd Hayes will press ahead with plans to head to Sydney with Mr Brightside for The Championships. After winning the Group 1 Doncaster Mile in 2022 and again last year, Mr Brightside is being aimed at the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick… Read More »
Another Wil rocketed to the top of betting for Saturday’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) after winning the Doncaster Prelude on Saturday and remains a firm favourite at $3.50 with online bookmakers despite drawing barrier 21, which could come in to 17 if the emergencies fail to get a run. The… Read More »
Star New Zealand mare Imperatriz will be kept to her pre-race routine in Melbourne before travelling to Sydney for the opening day of The Championships. The Mark Walker-trained mare will have her last piece of work at Cranbourne on Tuesday before being floated to Sydney on Thursday night to run in… Read More »
Another Wil has emerged as the new favorite for the upcoming Group 1 Doncaster Handicap at Randwick following his impressive performance in the Prelude at Rosehill. Securing his spot in the field with a dominant win, Another Wil has seen a remarkable shift in his betting odds, now priced at… Read More »
American author Mark Twain wrote of the Melbourne Cup nearly 140 years ago and a horse of the same name could write his own piece of history after a stunning victory at Flemington. New Zealand-trained Mark Twain came from near last in The Roy Higgins (2600m) on Saturday to claim a… Read More »
A last-minute decision to pay up for Kalapour in the Tancred Stakes has yielded the ultimate reward for Kris Lees with the Newcastle trainer landing his first Group One win in combination with stable apprentice Dylan Gibbons. Sent out a $31 outsider with betting apps, Kalapour stalked the speed and quickly accounted… Read More »
Trainer James Cummings and jockey Ben Melham have combined to claim back-to-back victories in the Australian Cup at Flemington. Like he did 12 months ago, Godolphin galloper Cascadian backed up from a placing in the All-Star Mile (1600m) to claim to the Group 1 2000m weight-for-age contest on Saturday. Cascadian ($7.50) wore down… Read More »
Star New Zealand filly Orchestral has lived up to the hype with victory in the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes, but not before Nash Rawiller almost pulled off the ride of the carnival on a rival runner. Rawiller took off on Tutta La Vita near the 600m, sooling her to the front… Read More »
Connections of Wymark will pay the $44,000 late entry to fee to run in next weekend’s Australian Derby after the up-and-coming gelding collected his fourth successive win in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill. The three-year-old has been a revelation this autumn, not least of all for his trainer Michael… Read More »
Nine-year-old top-level weight-for-age performer Zaaki has been retired from racing after a 48-start career and amassing more than $11 million in prizemoney. Annabel Neasham made the announcement on Friday praising the gelding who she attributes as a catalyst to her own success overall as a trainer. “It is a bittersweet day… Read More »
Despite finishing outside of the placings in the Rosehill Guineas last start, James Cummings is looking for the quick back-up to be a telling difference for Tom Kitten as the colt steps up to the 2400-metres for the first time in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes on Saturday. The three-year-old by sire… Read More »
