James McDonald flew into Melbourne on Saturday night and the thought of a sunrise spin around Flemington aboard headline Hong Kong galloper Romantic Warrior saw him wake early even without the need of an alarm. That excitement was vindicated when the gallop confirmed for him that despite having ‘a few… Read More »
“Girls are taking over.” That was the statement from Rachel King after she and Kathy O’Hara made history at Randwick on Saturday by becoming the first female jockeys to ride Group 1 winners on the same program in Australia. O’Hara got the ball rolling with victory aboard the Chris Waller -trained Rediener in the… Read More »
Think About It has reaffirmed his Everest favouritism with a determined victory in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick as Hawaii Five Oh put his hand up for a slot with a slashing second. Sent out a $1.85 Ladbrokes favourite, Think About It hit the front halfway up the straight and pulled out… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse’s love affair with the Flight Stakes has continued as racing’s leading lady collected her eleventh win in the Group 1 feature courtesy of lightly raced filly Tropical Squall. Waterhouse now sits just two shy of the record 13 Flight Stakes winner prepared by her father, legendary trainer T… Read More »
Unfulfilled potential as a force in feature races in his three-year-old year, as a five-year-old Rhinoceros may be coming to hand at just the right time as firmer tracks are likely to be a common feature of Victorian racing over the summer months. Notching his first win since January in the… Read More »
Trainer Mark Walker has reiterated the intention to remain in Melbourne with Imperatriz after the mare bettered her own track record in winning the Group 1 Moir Stakes. Imperatriz stopped the clock at 56.47 seconds in winning the 1000m sprint at Moonee Valley on Friday night, taking 0.21 seconds of the time she recorded in winning the… Read More »
Ballarat trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy will press on with plans to run Veight in the Caulfield Guineas. The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 14 has been the target for Veight since the colt entered the Ballarat stables of the father-and-son training team this campaign. Veight was explosive winning first-up in the McNeil… Read More »
When the Kiwi’s travel, it pays to keep a close watch. In the case of Mark Walker, he is in a slightly different situation establishing an Australian base at Cranbourne, but he does have an Australian first-starter set to run at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Unbeaten in New Zealand, Zourion runs in the Group… Read More »
A good performance in a Group 1 sprint at Moonee Valley could land Queensland sprinter Rothfire a start in The Everest. Trainer Rob Heathcote and connections of Rothfire have twice previously given up a berth in The Everest, once due to injury and once due to poor form. Heathcote said there had been brief discussions… Read More »
Pressure, nerves, excitement. Joe Pride is feeling all of them as he prepares nominal Everest favourite Think About It for his seasonal return in the Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. It comes a fortnight after stablemate Private Eye booked himself an Everest slot with an outstanding victory in the Shorts and while Sydney’s showpiece… Read More »
When it comes to racing thoroughbreds, Phil Ward is proving to have a Midas touch. Not only does he share in the ownership of Group-winning three-year-olds Libertad and Autumn Ballet, he also happens to have a stake in exciting Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stayer Just Fine. Unbeaten in two Australian… Read More »
Perth trainer Simon Miller holds no fears about his star mare Amelia’s Jewel handling Moonee Valley. Amelia’s Jewel runs in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) on Friday night as a potential lead-up to the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 28. Miller gave Amelia’s Jewel a look at The Valley… Read More »
It has been a tough start to the week for Annabel Neasham, but her luck could turn for the better when she bids for back-to-back wins in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Neasham confirmed on Tuesday that Sunshine In Paris had suffered a leg injury which, while minor, had… Read More »
Trainer Annabel Neashamâs mare, Sunshine in Paris, has been withdrawn from The Everest due to a minor foreleg injury identified in a veterinary examination. Neasham informed Racing NSW Stewards that Sunshine in Paris will miss The Everest 2023 and all other Spring Carnival events. Consequently, betting operators are to remove… Read More »
Trainer Paul Preusker has ended speculation as to who will ride unbeaten colt Steparty in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. Dean Yendall was the incumbent until he was injured at the Colac jump-outs earlier this month, sidelined with a broken collarbone and replaced by John Allen. Steparty won with Allen aboard on debut at Ballarat in May… Read More »
Race favourite Pericles has been scratched from Saturday’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m). Trainer James Cummings reported the gelding had “blood in the near side nostril” after completing trackwork on Tuesday, and a subsequent endoscopic examination detected blood in its trachea. Racing NSW Stewards have approved the withdrawal, and Pericles… Read More »
One of Randwick’s two big Group One mile handicaps will likely see a full field this year and the barrier draw has done little to narrow down the key chances, with $6 favourite Pericles drawing 14 for the $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m). The stable also have last start Group… Read More »
James Harron did not take long to lock in a replacement runner in this year’s The Everest with the prominent bloodstock agent on Tuesday morning announcing that Cylinder would be his runner in the $20 million race. The James Cummings-trained son of Exceed And Excel is a three-year-old, as was last… Read More »
Cylinder is confirmed as a contender in the upcoming $20 million The Everest, securing a slot thanks to slotholder James Harron. Harron made the move after Giga Kick’s withdrawal created an opening. While Cylinder’s participation is confirmed, the jockey’s identity remains undisclosed. Australian jockey Zac Purton has been confirmed as… Read More »
Star mare Amelia’s Jewel had her first track gallop at Moonee Valley this morning (Monday) and passed it with flying colours, according to trainer, Simon Miller. “She went around 1000 evens and home in 400 and was good, she scooted around,” Simon Miller told Tabtouch. “I must admit I thought she may… Read More »
