Chris Waller does not see the barrier draw being a disadvantage for Caulfield Guineas favourite Militarize. The $2.80 top elect with most online bookies drew barrier 12 in Saturday’s field of 15 three-year-olds over the 1600m journey. Militarize had his first look at Caulfield on Tuesday morning and Waller said the… Read More »
Star mare Amelia’s Jewel was given a trip across town from her Flemington base for a look at Caulfield ahead of the Toorak Handicap. Saturday’s Group 1 handicap over 1600m is the race that will determine whether Amelia’s Jewel stays in Melbourne to run in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October… Read More »
Future History has become the first winner of The Bart Cummings in six years to escape a Melbourne Cup penalty after Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping David Hegan elected to not amend his weight for the November 7 contest. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained gelding remains on 50kg for the… Read More »
Gold Trip rocketed up Cox Plate markets after his jaw-dropping Turnbull Stakes win, but Saturday week’s Caulfield Cup remains the favoured next option for the imported entire. David Eustace on Monday morning said he and co-trainer Ciaron Maher on Sunday spoke with owners Australian Bloodstock, who remain interested in the 2400-metre Group… Read More »
Legarto has rubber-stamped the fact that she is right on track for the $10 million Golden Eagle by posting a resounding win in the Listed Matamata Cup over 1600m on Saturday. The Ken and Bev Kelso trained four-year-old daughter of Proisir had missed a scheduled run last week at Matamata… Read More »
The extravagant salute said it all. Apprentice Bailey Wheeler has been having a ball recently riding winner after winner and his salute on the Annabel Neasham trained Fancy Man in the featured Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm was just part of a continuation of that run of success, although Wheelerâs… Read More »
Gold Trip has shown he is on track for another tilt at the Melbourne Cup after staging a last to first win in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner was in last place when the field swung for home in the Group 1 race over 2000m on Saturday… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Future History has won the ‘Golden Ticket’ into the Melbourne Cup with his all-the-way win in The Bart Cummings at Flemington. Success in Saturday’s Group 3 contest over 2520m provides the winner a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7. Future History joins Goldman and Lunar… Read More »
Lightly raced filly Makarena has successfully made the giant leap from winning a midweek maiden to taking out the $500,000 Tapp-Craig at just her third start. Trained by John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes and raced by their wives, Makarena ($4.40) vindicated the belief of her trainers, sitting handy to the speed before… Read More »
Paul Snowden will almost certainly resist any temptation to back-up brilliant Roman Consul Stakes winner King’s Gambit in The Everest, but he won’t be surprised to see the colt in the $20 million sprint next year. One slot remains to be filled with Yulong yet to confirm its runner for next week… Read More »
A quick back-up coupled with a rise in distance has paid dividends for Godolphin filly Zardozi who claimed her maiden Stakes win with a stylish performance at Flemington. Zardozi took out the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) on Saturday to potentially forge a path towards the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at… Read More »
An overseas runner has commanded much of the attention in the lead-up to Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes, but Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior is not the only international flavour to the $750,000 Group 1. Simon and Ed Crisford-trained gelding West Wind Blows brings form from European races containing some of the world’s… Read More »
The $2 million Hill Stakes will be a fork in the road for import Hoo Ya Mal with connections hoping he can prove himself worthy of another Melbourne Cup bid. Co-trainer Adrian Bott has been rapt with the five-year-old’s two runs from a spell, including his midfield effort in the 7… Read More »
Former French galloper Athabascan has been sent from the Sydney stable of trainer John O’Shea in a bid to secure a Melbourne Cup start. Success in The Bart Cummings (2510m) at Flemington on Saturday provides the winner with a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7. Athabascan will be… Read More »
While there are pundits wondering if Lunar Flare has returned in the same vein of form she was in over the previous 12 months, her trainer Grahame Begg is far from disappointed. Lunar Flare will be lining up for the third run of her campaign when she runs in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington Saturday, all part… Read More »
Danny Shum had an ominous warning after watching his stable star Romantic Warrior work live for the first time at Werribee on Wednesday morning. But it is not the horses the Hong Kong superstar will face in this Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes at Flemington who should be most concerned, rather those targeting… Read More »
A start in the Melbourne Cup is up for grabs in The Bart Cummings at Flemington and Perth trainer Daniel Morton is eyeing off that spot. Morton will saddle Alaskan God in the 2510m Cup qualifier on Saturday where the winner obtains a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7. But Morton… Read More »
Racing Victoria’s search for a new chairman is gathering pace, and all eyes are on former AFL head, Gillon McLachlan. As the state government prepares to open board vacancy applications this week, the departure of former chairman Brian Kruger in June has intensified the search. McLachlan, having recently exited his… Read More »
The Melbourne Cup is likely to have a strong list of international runners after first declarations closed on Tuesday. Five horses remain in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 7 under the care of their overseas trainers while a sixth, Lastotchka will run for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr when she arrives in Melbourne within the next… Read More »
The dream of competing in this year’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) has been shattered for the connections of the reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year, Sharp âNâ Smart. After an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance at the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings, a subsequent veterinary examination revealed… Read More »
