The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Surfin’ Bird had to endure a tough run from a wide barrier draw but she gamely held off a series of challenges to score a career-best win. Star jockey Tim Clark revealed post-race that he “wasn’t overly concerned by the draw.” “It’s a good… Read More »
Voynichese made the quantum leap from an Albury maiden win to a stakes success in the Listed $160,000 The Show A Heart (1500m) look routine, stamping herself as a two-year-old filly with above average ability. “We’ve had a big opinion of this filly for a while now,” Olive said. “She’s… Read More »
Trainer Bjorn Baker singled out jockey Rachel King for particular praise after she partnered improving mare Monte Supreme to a crucial stakes win at Eagle Farm on Saturday. “Rachel rode a brilliant race on Monte Supreme,” Baker enthused. “There are not many riding better than her, I’m certain of that,… Read More »
In horse ownership it is always good to get a quick return on investment. Trainer Danny O’Brien got that on Saturday when debutant Aethera took out the TAB We’re On (1100m) at Flemington. O’Brien bred the now two-year-old daughter of Shamus Award and races the filly with wife Nina and… Read More »
Trainer Grahame Begg is looking to use a former multiple Stakes winner as a yardstick for promising filly Biologics. The Listed Creswick Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington on July 4 is potentially on Biologics’ agenda, but first there is the VRC Community Race Day Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. Biologics created… Read More »
Past and present will collide when jockey Rachel King teams up with young trainer Jack Bruce to partner his first Group One runner, Highgrove Rose, in the Queensland Oaks. King is an integral part of the Bjorn Baker stable and rides predominantly for him in Sydney, while Bruce formerly worked… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher stable is banking on a benchmark 100 race at Flemington being a springboard to spring riches for an Irish-bred import. Zahrann and stablemate Shockletz run in the Flemington Community Plate (2000m) on Saturday with expectations of a spring campaign, especially for the former, to come later in the year. Jack Turnbull, the National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron… Read More »
A first-up run that didn’t go to plan has had Oh Diamond Lil on the backfoot, but trainer David Pfieffer is confident the mare is ready to rebound in the $500,000 Magic Millions National Classic at Eagle Farm. A Group 3 winner in the spring, Oh Diamond Lil was solid… Read More »
If Joe Pride has one reservation over the first-up chances of Accredited in the Bob Charley AO Stakes at Randwick, it is the presence of two stablemates. The six-year-old will clash with Dragonstone and The Black Cloud In Saturday’s Listed sprint, and given two of Accredited three minor placings over… Read More »
Taking on more seasoned sprinters in the Magic Millions Sunlight might have come too soon for the promising Ice Kool, but trainer David Pfieffer says the horse has gleaned plenty of positives from the experience. The three-year-old resumes in Saturday’s Cornerstone Risk Group Handicap (1000m) at Randwick after an initial… Read More »
It’s a story of patience or maybe blind persistence but one that former trainer David Brideoake hopes will have a happy ending at Eagle Farm. Brideoake, who retired from training just shy of 12 months ago, is a part-owner of Grand Omaha that runs in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday. The story begins… Read More »
In Flight won’t be at Randwick to defend her Bob Charley AO Stakes title with trainer Joe Pride confirming he will stick to his original plan and take her to Queensland for the Moreton Cup. Pride said the Group 2 assignment in Brisbane was always his preference with Sydney a… Read More »
Fireball Miss will aim to become the third horse to complete The Roses – Queensland Oaks double when she lines up in the Group 1 feature over 2200m at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The daughter of Bivouac rocketed into Oaks contention with a decisive victory in the Group 2 The… Read More »
Chris Waller has turned to the Melhams as he strives to add to his imperious Group 1 record this season in Saturday’s Queensland Oaks. Australia’s leading Group 1 trainer will have three runners in the $700,000 event, Panova, Chispa and Soverato, with the first two in need of new pilots… Read More »
Jockey Luke Currie felt a different horse underneath as he paraded to the start aboard The Western Front at Sandown. The Western Front contested the Sandown Cup (3200m) on Sunday and Currie said the stayer was a more relaxed individual to the one he rode in the Andrew Ramsden (2800m)… Read More »
Champion jockey James McDonald has equalled one of the most enduring riding records in Australian racing with his win on Providence in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Providence gave McDonald his 16th Australian Group 1 of the season to equal “Miracle” Mal Johnston’s all-time… Read More »
Winona Costin defied riding instructions and duly delivered a career-best win for Portland in the Listed $200,000 Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. “I did everything you told me not to do,” Costin told Portland’s connections after the race. “I was supposed to be one-off and let… Read More »
When barriers were drawn for the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield, Beau Mertens was a touch apprehensive about the chances of talented mare Hearcomesthestar. The five-year-old mare drew the widest barrier for the $175,000 feature which ended up being a blessing as riders tracked progressively wider throughout the… Read More »
Unheralded three-year-old Regal Award has booked a berth in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap and delivered his trainer-jockey combination of Phillip Stokes and Lachie Neindorf a black-type double with a courageous win in the Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm. Starting at $18, the gelding turned the tables on his… Read More »
Trainer Michael Freedman is keen to give promising two-year-old Berzelius his chance in the Group 1 JJ Atkins after the colt’s powerful win at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Berzelius finished strongly to run down the previously unbeaten Vantorix in the Group 2 $1 million BRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m). Freedman… Read More »
