Chris Waller has been a ground breaker on many fronts but there would be few more satisfying moments than getting Nature Strip back to his brilliant best for a record fourth TJ Smith Stakes triumph. The champion trainer has experienced racing’s highest moments through Winx, won at Royal Ascot with… Read More »
He bumped into one better in the Golden Slipper but Cylinder will get the chance to finish his two-year-old season as a Group 1 winner when he lines up in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes. The colt was run down late by Shinzo in Australia’s premier juvenile race, but James Cummings felt he… Read More »
Former UK and Hong Kong galloper Munhamek will be lining up for the 12th start of his Australian career when he heads to Bendigo on Saturday. The seven-year-old has remained in work throughout his time at Nick Ryan’s Flemington stable and the Listed Golden Mile (1600m) on Saturday will be his first shot at Stakes company. Munhamek started… Read More »
He was bred to be a miler before showing early promise as a sprinter, but Tapildoodledo might just turn out to be a classic winner. The unheralded Queenslander confirmed his spot in Saturday’s $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick with a sweeping come-from-behind victory in last weekend’s Tulloch Stakes… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are in a race against time to have Converge fit for the Doncaster Mile after the four-year-old presented with a leg issue. The two-time Group 1 winner was found to have swelling in his off-hind leg after completing a routine workout on Wednesday. Bott confirmed… Read More »
Victorian trainer Julius Sandhu can never be accused of doing things by halves. Sandhu will have his first Sydney runner at Randwick on Saturday and it will be in the cauldron that is the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m). Lofty Strike will take his place alongside three-time race winner Nature… Read More »
He had to contend with barrier 18 when saluting in last year’s Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick but defending champion Mr Brightside has fared much better drawing gate two of 24 in this year’s edition of the $4 million feature. The son of Bullbars, and already winner of over $5.8 million… Read More »
Darby Racing’s Scott Darby says the door has been left ajar for Overpass to run in the $4 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot next month. According to Scott Darby, if the Bjorn Baker-trained four-year-old performs to expectations on his return in Saturday’s G1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick,… Read More »
Twelve months ago Arapaho was getting beaten in Country Cups, now he is a Group 1 winner and Sydney Cup-bound following a tough Tancred Stakes performance. Trainer Bjorn Baker has been amazed by the six-year-old’s journey, not only his rise through the grades but his resilience. Arapaho’s last campaign started with a… Read More »
An emotional Roger James has declared Prowess the best horse he has trained after the star New Zealand filly’s explosive win in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill. But he won’t be tempted into keeping her in Sydney for the ATC Australian Oaks (2400m), believing she is not… Read More »
Untapped former New Zealand galloper Goldman has earned himself a start in the Melbourne Cup with an all-the-way win at Flemington. Success in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) on Saturday has provided the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper with a ballot exemption into November’s Melbourne Cup. After four starts in… Read More »
Rejuvenated gelding Zeyrek might have earned himself a shot at the country’s best middle-distance horses after racing to his second win from three starts this preparation. Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said the horse would now be considered for a start in next month’s $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes after outclassing his rivals… Read More »
Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise has been retired following another injury setback. Trainer Peter Moody announced the horses retirement on Twitter this morning. Media Release – Incentivise Retirement It’s with great sadness that we announce the immediate retirement of our champion racehorse, Incentivise. Like a blazing comet ripping through the night… Read More »
Star New Zealand mare Imperatriz has provided Mark Walker with his first Group 1 victory in Melbourne taking out the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. Prior to Friday night’s victory in the 1200m sprint, Walker had only one Australian Group 1 win to his credit, in Brisbane back in 2005, along with 26… Read More »
Trainer Symon Wilde and the connections of Sirileo Miss made the right call in electing to head to the final night meeting of the Moonee Valley season. Sirileo Miss collected her fourth ‘black type’ victory and first at Group 2 level when she was successful in the Sunline Stakes (1600m) on Friday night. Wilde had considered… Read More »
Peter Moody is prepared to give Pounding one last attempt at a feature autumn race while the tracks remain on the good side. Pounding heads to Flemington on Saturday to run in the Group 1 Australian Cup, only his second attempt at 2000m. The four-year-old has had a long, drawn-out campaign that started over 1200m at… Read More »
Just two days out from the race that was his defining performance on the racetrack, Darley has announced that Lonhro has been retired from stallion duty. Vin Cox, managing director for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Australian operation, announced it late on Thursday afternoon. “It is with great appreciation… Read More »
Evergreen Godolphin galloper Cascadian almost pulled off the impossible in the All-Star Mile and is set to back-up at Flemington. The Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) on Saturday came on the radar for Cascadian after the eight-year-old pulled-up in terrific order following his performance in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at… Read More »
The clash between New Zealand’s best middle-distance filly Prowess and Sydney’s leading light Pavitra is shaping as one of the match-ups of the afternoon at Rosehill. A last-start Group 1 winner against the older horses, Prowess arrives in Sydney with quite the reputation while Pavitra, runner-up in the VRC Oaks… Read More »
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is expecting to see a big improvement from Hezashocka at Flemington. The New Zealand-bred son of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking will have the second start of his campaign in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) on Saturday. Hezashocka has been a slow mover through the… Read More »
