Autumn Boy is likely to be without blinkers for his first-up assignment in the Hobartville Stakes with champion jockey James McDonald convinced he doesn’t need them. McDonald partnered the three-year-old in a 1000m exhibition gallop between races at Randwick on Saturday, Autumn Boy clocking 1:08.25 for his solo workout and stretching… Read More »
Tropicus and Point Barrow will target the Oakleigh Plate in search of another Group 1 sprint win for Anthony and Sam Freedman. The 1100m sprint on Saturday has been the autumn speed test in Melbourne for the handicappers and like last Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning winner Tentyris, both horses enter the Caulfield the race first-up. Tropicus has not been sighted since running sixth to Giga Kick in the… Read More »
James McDonald won’t yet put Autumn Glow in the same bracket as Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior, but he concedes she is on the way. Turning in a performance that McDonald admitted gave him goosebumps, the mare swept to a 2-1/2 length win over Aeliana in Saturday’s Apollo Stakes (1400m)… Read More »
Sydney colt Sixties used Saturday’s $200,000 C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington to flash his Australian Guineas bona fides, completing a day out for star rider Damian Lane in the process. The Chris Waller-trained colt proved a class above his rivals in the 1400-metre Group 3, overcoming sitting three-wide without… Read More »
Chris Waller declared Joliestar was finally the complete package after the mare enhanced her already dynamic first-up record to win the Expressway Stakes at Randwick. When former stablemate Caballus ($4.60) skipped to a commanding lead halfway up the straight, Waller admitted he was unsure if Joliestar ($2.60 fav) could bridge the gap. But… Read More »
Savvy Hallie has caused a minor Light Fingers Stakes upset, outsprinting odds-on favourite Apocalyptic to take out the first three-year-old fillies feature of the Sydney carnival. After dominating the Princess Series in the spring, Apocalyptic was sent out a $1.50 favourite with Savvy Hallie considered her only serious threat as… Read More »
Improving filly Ciaron’s Star has edged closer to a berth in the Golden Slipper after a tough victory in the Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick, although connections are keen to see her reaffirm that form before locking in a start in the $5 million feature. Settling prominently under Tommy Berry,… Read More »
The day after the death of one of the great two-year-olds in Lindsay Park’s storied history, the Hayes family unearthed a juvenile who could be destined to be its next top-liner. All Too Hard gelding Hard Kick launched his career in the best possible fashion, dominating his rivals in the… Read More »
A lacklustre piece of work earlier in the week by a stablemate will see Ole Dancer take on the filly’s version of a Stakes race at Flemington. The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Sheza Alibi had been scheduled to kick off her autumn campaign in the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) on Saturday with Ole… Read More »
Trainer John McArdle has long held Group 1 aspirations for talented filly My Gladiola right from the time she posted her debut victory. But those Group 1 dreams have been shattered twice, once by a poor barrier in the Blue Diamond Stakes and then by drawing an inside barrier in the Coolmore Stud Stakes… Read More »
Space Rider will be out to build his Australian Guineas credentials when he lines up at Flemington. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr -trained galloper runs in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday as the lead-up to the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington… Read More »
Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan is mindful of what lays ahead in his bid to win the Adelaide Cup with Berkeley Square. After a placing over 2000m at Caulfield last Saturday, Berkeley Square is on the quick back-up at Flemington on Saturday in the Be Captivated Trophy (2500m). O’Sullivan said it was… Read More »
The Golden Slipper is just five weeks away, and no two-year-old has yet stamped themselves as a clear frontrunner for the showpiece race. Equal favourite Warwoven hasn’t raced since being ruled lame by Queensland Racing veterinarians on the eve of the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast last month, impressive… Read More »
Phar Lap, Bart Cummings, Makybe Diva and Roy Higgins are immortalised at Flemington racecourse with statues dotted around the famous course. While a statue of Black Caviar may be located at Caulfield, the Victoria Racing Club on Thursday unveiled a fitting history of the champion mare in The Forum at Flemington racecourse ahead of… Read More »
Less than a length separated stablemates Joliestar, Angel Capital and Lady Shenandoah when they clashed in The Everest, and ahead of their Expressway Stakes showdown, trainer Chris Waller is having difficulty splitting them. “Joliestar has come back really well. James (McDonald) has been on her in a few pieces of work and her… Read More »
The Black Caviar Lightning can lay claim to being Australia’s premier speed test and this year’s edition, which will be run at Flemington this Saturday, will help sort the pecking order of a generation creating plenty of attention. Last year’s Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Golden Rose record-breaker Beiwacht and Coolmore… Read More »
Joe Pride has one burning question he wants Ceolwulf to answer this autumn – is he a Group One horse over 2000 metres? The gelding’s record offers conflicting data. His four majors have come over a mile, but he does have an Australian Derby placing at three, and a narrow win… Read More »
A field of eight is set to go around in the first Group 1 contest of the Melbourne Autumn Carnival, the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. And in something that is rarely seen in an open age and open sex race, three-year-old fillies hold the most numbers. Three-year-old fillies have three of… Read More »
Champion jockey James McDonald has been successful in getting his suspension for a whip infringement reduced on appeal and will now be free to ride at the Silver Slipper meeting at Rosehill. Racing NSW stewards suspended McDonald for 10 days and fined him $20,000 for excessive use of the whip… Read More »
Cool Archie, Queensland’s Two-Year-Old Horse Of The year has been officially retired to stud. The star QLD colt bypassed the Spring with eyes on an Autumn campaign however an injury leading into the Gold Edition Plate has proven to be worse than first thought with the connections of the son… Read More »
