Trainer Joe Pride had mixed emotions as he watched a stable favourite fade in the straight while watching an up-and-comer collect his first Group 1 prize at Eagle Farm. Think About It extended his record to eight wins from nine starts with his victory in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on… Read More »
Kovalica has underlined his star quality and put to bed any doubts over his stamina with an emphatic performance in the Group 1 Queensland Derby. After missing a scheduled start in the Rough Habit Plate due to a foot abscess, the three-year-old showed his class with an admiral third against the… Read More »
A horse that was finally diagnosed as being allergic to hay has given trainer Carly Cook her biggest success in racing. One-time stakes winner Pintoff upset the more highly fancied sprinters in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1000m) on Saturday in a shock result for punters. Ridden by John Allen, Pintoff ($26) scored by a short neck from Starry Legend ($17)… Read More »
Education time is over as a number of the two-year-olds on the books of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace are about to hit the racetrack. Two fillies from the powerful stable stepped out for the first time at Sandown on Saturday with Axzelina scoring in the Ladbrokes Racing Club Handicap scoring while stablemate Links finished in fifth… Read More »
Improving colt Tannhauser will be given the chance to attempt a feat achieved by Prince Fawaz and The Autumn Sun after securing a berth in the JJ Atkins Stakes with a stylish victory at Randwick. Tannhauser finished strongly from back in the field to capture Saturday’s Wilson Asset Management Handicap… Read More »
Chris Waller is satisfied he pulled the right rein in running Kovalica against the older horses in the Doomben Cup, fearing the odds-on Queensland Derby favourite might have otherwise gone into the Classic underdone. The exciting stayer missed a run in the Rough Habit Plate (2000m) two weeks ago due to a… Read More »
John Sadler was a relieved trainer when Sartorial Splendor showed a glimpse of the form that has won the sprinter six races. After running fourth at Flemington last week, Sartorial Splendor is on the quick-up back-up at Sandown on Saturday to run in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1000m). If successful on Saturday, Sartorial Splendor will complete… Read More »
South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott is making the trip over the border looking to add another Stakes race to the record of Taunting. Successful in the Listed Hills Railway Stakes (1100m) at Oakbank last month, Taunting is set to run in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on Saturday…. Read More »
Joe Pride says it is now up to Think About It as the gelding is about to embark on his first assault at Group 1 level. Defeated once in eight starts, Think About It is a dual winner in Stakes company but will need to lift the bar on Saturday in the Kingsford Smith… Read More »
Ben Hayes will chase Group 1 success this weekend in Brisbane, but the Lindsay Park co-trainer can’t help but be excited by what will take place in Victoria this week. Stable star Mr Brightside returns to work as he strives to assert himself as Australia’s premier middle-distance performer. The son of Bullbars hasn’t… Read More »
New kid on the block Campbell Rawiller showcased his skills as a jumps jockey with a double at Sandown over hurdles. After winning aboard the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Teofilo Star in the Ladbroke It! Hurdle (3400m) on Sunday, Rawiller was back 35 minutes later to claim one of the day’s features, the Australian Hurdle (3900m) aboard Circle The Sun for… Read More »
In a campaign that began with winning a midweek maiden at Canterbury in November, three-year-old filly Royal Merchant has run at least once in each month since, and has crowned the preparation by winning the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville. The victory also capped a successful Adelaide carnival for… Read More »
Daytona Bay’s frustrating campaign finally enjoyed a high point at Flemington on Saturday when the gelding won the $130,000 In Memory Of Dean Holland, which was one of the headline events on the National Jockeys Trust Raceday. The spotlight shone brightly on the 1800-metre benchmark 84 due to the appearance… Read More »
Enver Jusufovic’s connection with Flemington goes back to when he was a paperboy so it was fitting the revered track was the scene for his greatest moment in racing, which came via a winning double on Saturday. The popular horseman prepared Vongole to score a blowout win in the $150,000 3AW… Read More »
Annabel Neasham’s knack with imported stayers was again on show at Rosehill with Bois D’Argent getting the verdict in a thrilling three-way finish to the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup. Previously with Marco Botti, Bois D’Argent joined Neasham’s team after finishing third in last year’s Rosehill Gold Cup and has been a… Read More »
Huetor has capped a remarkable comeback from a life-threatening injury to land back-to-back wins in the Group 1 Doomben Cup as odds-on favourite Zaaki was beaten out of a place. The gelding suffered a serious eye injury last year that not only ruled him out of the spring but had his career… Read More »
David Browne has always felt Le Zebra would be worth of Group 1 appearances at some stage this year, but the raising of the bar might happen earlier than first thought after his win at Flemington on Saturday. The Cranbourne trainer will now consider sending the two-year-old north for next month’s $500,000… Read More »
Hall Of Fame trainer Les Bridge looks to have another promising horse on his hands in Celestial Legend, who has a classic pedigree but enough raw ability to be winning races at two. After an eye-catching second to $3 million colt Kandinsky Abstract on debut, the Dundeel youngster went one better, justifying… Read More »
Trainer Mike Moroney is banking on a course of dressage having the desired effect on Not An Option when he travels to Adelaide for The Goodwood. Not An Option will be going into Saturday’s Group 1 1200m sprint at Morphettville having not raced in four weeks after finishing third behind Jigsaw in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington. Moroney said he had used dressage… Read More »
Thalassophile has been a work in progress for much of her career but the four-year-old has blossomed into a genuine black-type performer this season. After working through her grades and distances, the daughter of Not A Single Doubt had the bar raised over the summer and put the writing on the wall… Read More »
