Punters were dealt an early blow when odds-on favourite Ghaanati had her colours lowered by long-shot Thron Bone at Caulfield. Ghaanati looked to throw the Neds Punters Toolbox Handicap (1100m) away on Saturday when she ducked out badly near the 100m mark. Jockey Brett Prebble was forgiving of the filly… Read More »
Not all horses can go on Winx like winnings streaks, but then again there are a large group that don’t break of restricted grade. As the winner of a Group 2 race, expectations for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Grandslam have always been high. Grandslam won the Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at… Read More »
When David Pfieffer recently returned from suspension, there were several familiar faces waiting for him at his stable complex. His team of horses had been sent to other trainers during his enforced layoff, but many of them quickly found their way back to him. “I have been lucky to be greeted… Read More »
To the wider racing industry, the vast majority won’t know who Vivienne Leggett is and what she has done for racing, spanning three decades. She was a very successful sponsorship manager of the Hawkesbury Race Club (HRC). She joined in 1991 and worked there for 26 years, with her hard… Read More »
A kinder barrier is all Rob Heathcote is asking for as Startantes looks to build on her ‘enormous’ run in the Stradbroke Handicap to snatch the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Startantes drew barrier 12 in the 1400 metre Stradbroke and Heathcote is as effusive with his… Read More »
Having already cemented his spot in the final of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series, Tuvalu has scored a fighting win in another heat of the series at Flemington. The Lindsey Smith-trained galloper finished second in a series heat at Flemington on May 21 before returning to the same track on Saturday to… Read More »
Biometric has surprised Lindsay Park by landing his first win on soft ground at Flemington and in the process earning a start in the VRC-CRV Winter Championship Final. The Ben and JD Hayes-trained former UK galloper landed his second Australian win when he took out the Brian Beattie Handicap (1420m) on… Read More »
Passive Aggressive has maintained her unbeaten record in landing her first stakes race victory. The Grahame Begg-trained filly scored in the Listed A R Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday to follow victories at Werribee, Pakenham and Flemington. The Creswick Stakes has been a launching pad to Group 1 success in… Read More »
The Danny O’Brien-trained Grinzinger Bishop may have scored a knockout blow to punters with his victory at Flemington, but it was not totally unexpected by the stable. Grinzinger Bishop had finished last at his previous outing, his debut, at Geelong on June 5 and was sent out a $71 chance in the… Read More »
Trainer Gavin Bedggood has had considerable success buying horses on-line at a bargain price. Nasraawy, a $15,000 buy, landed his first city victory on Saturday taking out the Country Racing Victoria Handicap (1000m) at Flemington. It was Nasraawy’s fourth success for Bedggood after joining his stable following two starts for Lindsay Park and his prize money has… Read More »
Trainer Simon Zahra has been surprised at the longevity of the campaign of Zac De Boss. The campaign kicked off in December and Saturday’s Country Achiever Gwenda Johnstone (1100m) at Flemington will be Zac De Boss’ ninth start for the preparation. Initially starting his career with Mathew Ellerton and Zahra,… Read More »
It was always unlikely, but trainer Chris Waller has confirmed that Nature Strip will not run again at this year’s Royal Ascot carnival. The world-beating trainer shut the door on speculation the dynamic winner of Tuesday’s King’s Stand Stakes might back up alongside stablemate Home Affairs and fellow Australian sprinter… Read More »
An inglorious last-start performance by Spirit Ridge has prompted Mark Newnham to delve into his bag of tricks in a bid to reignite the gelding’s form. The seven-year-old finished second last and almost 40 lengths from winner Splendiferous in his attempt to defend his Premier’s Cup title in Brisbane last month. While Newnham… Read More »
Racing Victoria is set to lose chief handicapper Greg Carpenter who has resigned to take up a position with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Carpenter, who is the Executive General Manager â Racing, has been with RV for 17 years and will leave the organisation after he delivers the weights… Read More »
Newgate Farm will never be accused of resting on its laurels regarding stallion acquisitions, but it has little work to do on its reputation as a source of speed sires. The Hunter Valley operation boasts one of the most powerful rosters in the country, dominated by the likes of Extreme… Read More »
Most Australian racing fans are looking forward to this week’s Royal Ascot meeting more eagerly than at any time since Black Caviar’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes win a decade ago. Australia has had runners since the champion mare’s gripping win, even a winner in the Segenhoe Stud-born Merchant Navy but has lacked the potency it appears to possess in 2022. Eight-time Group 1 winner Nature Strip is pressing American star… Read More »
Controversy has followed Alligator Blood throughout his career but the horse was back in the headlines for all the right reasons after delivering Gai Waterhouse her first Stradbroke Handicap and her 150th Group 1 win. Disqualified from his 2020 Magic Millions Guineas victory due to a positive drug test, Alligator Blood has… Read More »
Champion jockey William Pike has put his stamp on the Brisbane Winter Carnival claiming a second Group 1 win when he guided Sheeza Belter to victory at Eagle Farm. Pike won the Queensland Oaks on Gypsy Goddess at Eagle Farm on June 4, giving the jockey his first Group 1 win since… Read More »
Having played the bridesmaid role at his past three starts, Dragonstone finally got his moment in the sun, outclassing his rivals to capture the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes at Randwick. The diminutive gelding had twice finished runner-up to the smart Andermatt before bumping into another promising galloper in Passive Aggressive when second… Read More »
Annabel Neasham has collected another big prize with a European import, taking out the Group 2 Q22 at Eagle Farm. Numerian led throughout to claim the 2200m contest on Saturday following his stablemate Zaaki who won the race last year for Annabel Neasham. Taken to the front by Tommy Berry, Numerian ($21)… Read More »
