Some things rarely change, like the Hayes name and imports in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. With Lindsay Park now under the care of Ben and J D Hayes, they too are likely to be relying on imports to be their main hopes in this year’s Cups. The boys’ grandfather… Read More »
Mick Price is delighted with the way Illation is going ahead of what could be a lucrative four-year-old season, but that does not mean he is not providing the trainer with some headaches. An official rating of 83 means Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, has to be… Read More »
To borrow a line from one of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky movies, it’s not how hard you get hit it’s how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. Jockey Renee Forrest is a living embodiment of that. Small in stature big in heart, she’s suffered as many hits as any other… Read More »
James Cummings has Anamoe up and running for an early season return with the first group 1 race of the Sydney season his likely starting point. A brilliant winner of the Rosehill Guineas in the autumn, Anamoe was spelled after he missed a place for only the second time in his career… Read More »
The decision to move the washed-out Winter Challenge back a week has proven fortuitous for connections of emerging miler Cross Talk, who has run his rivals ragged to claim the final stakes event of the season. The race has also been a happy one for the owners of high-class import… Read More »
Trainer Alex Rae is unlikely to be tempted to press on into the spring despite the stylish win of Shock ‘Em Ova at The Valley. Success in the Dominant Plant Powered Cleaning Handicap (2040m) on Saturday followed the debut win by Shock ‘Em Ova earlier in the month. Rae held pre-race concerns the… Read More »
The Peter and Paul Snowden stable completed a clean sweep of the final two-year-old races in Melbourne when Winnertakesitall scored at The Valley. And Peter Snowden said the win of Winnertakesitall in the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Handicap (955m) on Saturday was extra special for two part-owners of the filly. “Brian Walsh, he’s not well… Read More »
Misadventure and misfortune had dogged Shades Of Rose this campaign, but the breaks finally went the filly’s way on Saturday and she responded by streeting her Rosehill rivals. The winner of her first three starts, Shades Of Rose lost any chance of extending her unbeaten record when her saddle slipped first-up,… Read More »
The decision to send Alpha One to Melbourne by trainers Peter and Paul Snowden has paid an immediate dividend with the two-year-old scoring at The Valley. After victories on the provincial circuit in NSW at Newcastle and Hawkesbury, Alpha One came to Melbourne on Saturday to outspeed his rivals in the Luna Hand Care… Read More »
Promising apprentice Reece Jones has orchestrated a pre-race plan to perfection, rating Troach beautifully in front to guide the Godolphin filly to a strong Rosehill win. Carrying just 52.5kg after Jones’ claim, Troach ($11) was ridden positively out of the gates and dictated from the front, extending her advantage on… Read More »
Theresa Bateup and her hardy mare Monegal are in for a busy week but if history can repeat, it will all be worthwhile. Monegal will step out in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday before backing up five days later in the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) where she will… Read More »
Immaturity cost Written Swoosh being an autumn player with her trainer Phillip Stokes hoping the filly may prove up to spring company. Phillip Stokes erred on the side of caution after a promising debut by Written Swoosh with a view to the filly being a spring contender. After finishing second… Read More »
Producing Keysborough on the second-last day of his juvenile season was not how Hawkes Racing initially planned to launch the career of Black Caviar’s grandson. Had all gone smoothly at Ballarat earlier this year, the colt out of Black Caviar’s first foal Oscietra would already have at least one run… Read More »
Outstanding five-year-old gelding Superstorm, a Group 1 winner of the Cantala Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last October, has been ruled out of the Melbourne spring carnival. Perth owner-breeder Bob Peters, who confirmed the news on Tabradio, said it was a disappointing outcome as Superstorm was displaying encouraging signs before his setback…. Read More »
Lost And Running has been announced as the TAB’s representative in The Everest. Another piece in The Everest jigsaw puzzle has been completed with TAB securing Lost And Running as its representative in this year’s $15 million race at Randwick. The five-year-old son of Per Incanto trained by John O’Shea at… Read More »
Trainer John Moloney would like to add some more ‘Black Type’ to the CV of Scorched Earth before the end of her three-year-old campaign. Scorched Earth officially turns four on Monday and Moloney has his sights on the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on Saturday, a race restricted to two… Read More »
Steve O’Dea narrowly missed out on feature success with Scallopini at Caulfield last Saturday and Victorian racing fans should get used to seeing more of his team in Black Type sprints before winter ends. The Brisbane trainer, who operates in partnership with Matthew Hoysted, has two other horses he will… Read More »
Jockey Brad Rawiller is confident Living The Dream can deliver trainer Rob Gulberti a third Darwin Cup (2050m) in four years, following his win in the Metric Mile (1600m) on Saturday. Living The Dream enjoyed a cosy run behind race leader Starouz in the $50,000 event and was too classy over… Read More »
Bypassing the staying race for three-year-olds in preference for one against older horses has paid a dividend for the connections of Teewaters at Caulfield. Trainer Archie Alexander elected to tackle the VOBIS Gold Stayers (2400m) on Saturday rather than the MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap over the same distance for three-year-olds. And Alexander was extremely confident after… Read More »
Trainer Nigel Blackiston has continued his good luck with New Zealand’s Cambridge Stud with Passione scoring at Caulfield. Victory in the Royal Meeting Is All Class (1400m) on Saturday came at Passione’s second Australian start after crossing from New Zealand. Blackiston pointed to the better prize money of offer in Australia… Read More »
