Mark Zahra has switched from one Blue Diamond Stakes fancy to another. The jockey has been released by Godolphin from the ride on the James Cummings-trained Plague Stone so he can continue his association with impressive Talindert Stakes winner Prairie Fire in Saturday’s $1.5 million Blue Diamond (1200m) at Caulfield…. Read More »
Plans to lure Winx to England will intensify this week with Ascot officials set to meet with trainer Chris Waller and owners of the champion mare. Ascot’s director of racing Nick Smith has attempted to lure Winx to Royal Ascot twice previously and believes she would be a near certainty… Read More »
Trainer Gary Portelli and Ben Melham are anxiously waiting on Oakleigh Plate nominations to calculate whether the jockey will be able to ride She Will Reign in the Group One sprint. Melham was aboard when the filly won the Golden Slipper but had to forfeit the winning ride in the… Read More »
Victoria’s premier trainer Darren Weir is poised to have his first starter in the state’s premier race for juveniles. Weir has not concentrated on two-year-olds in the past but has Native Soldier primed for the $1.5 million Group One Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Native Soldier was bought… Read More »
A permanent move to Moruya on the NSW south coast is designed to inspire Fell Swoop to the heights the gelding experienced before The Everest. Canberra trainer Matt Dale first relocated the six-year-old to his rural base a fortnight before the world’s richest race on turf in October to stimulate… Read More »
Queensland’s Golden Slipper hopefuls Ef Troop and Outback Barbie will have a final hit-out beore heading to Sydney but the venue is yet to be finalised. Trainer Tony Gollan is keen to take Ef Troop and Outback Barbie to Sydney after they showed they were up to top class in… Read More »
Managing Alizee is a labour of love but it has had its rewards with the Godolphin filly making a triumphant return in the Group Two Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick. Trainer James Cummings said the headstrong Alizee took a lot of time from his staff but it was worth it… Read More »
Faraway Town is closing in on the Guy Walter Stakes after securing her long-awaited first black-type win at Randwick. The four-year-old mare withstood a withering burst by Zestful ($10) to claim the Group Three Triscay Stakes (1200m) by half a head and vindicate Matthew Smith’s modified training regime. Smith opted… Read More »
Redkirk Warrior could return to the country where he was foaled following his stunning first-up win in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington. Royal Ascot headhunter Nick Smith was at Flemington on Saturday and offered an invitation to Redkirk Warrior’s co-trainer David Hayes following the Group One win. Having won last… Read More »
Trainer Mick Price has bolstered his chances of winning a third Australian Guineas after promising colt Grunt confirmed his credentials in a traditional lead-up race at Flemington. Lightly raced Grunt, ridden by Damien Oliver, took his record to three wins from four starts when he edged past well-performed colt and… Read More »
A quick and daring move by Brenton Avdulla to take Kaepernick from last to first has given the gelding a Group Three win at Randwick. Kaepernick ($7.50) caught the field napping when he passed them in the straight and went on to record a long head win in Saturday’s Southern… Read More »
In the absence of Winx, Chris Waller has still won the Group Two Apollo Stakes at Randwick with Endless Drama giving the trainer a particularly satisfying result. Instead of running in Saturday’s Apollo (1400m), Winx showed off her wares in a special trial on the course proper against several stablemates…. Read More »
Rimraam has landed a betting plunge for Lindsay Park with her first-up victory in a stakes race at Flemington. The filly was backed from $16 to $7.50 before taking out the Group Three The Vanity on Saturday. Damien Oliver gained a run on the fence over the final 200m to… Read More »
A crack at the Group One Newmarket Handicap looms likely for Ken’s Dream after the four-year-old gelding impressed again over the straight course at Flemington. The Darren Weir-trained Ken’s Dream won an 1100m open handicap at Flemington second-up this campaign last month before finishing fourth in the Group Two Australia… Read More »
Winx has done what Winx does best even though there was no prize money or status involved. The champion came to Randwick on Saturday for a simulated race, taking the place of a start in the Apollo Stakes. Connections opted not to run her in the Group Two race because… Read More »
Trainer Darren Weir is loathe to spell a horse in winning form but is in a quandary over what to do with Kings Will Dream. The English import remains unbeaten in Australia after taking out the Goodwood Racecourse Handicap at Flemington on Saturday. Ridden by Mark Zahra, Kings Will Dream… Read More »
Winx has cruised to an easy trial win at Randwick which was dubbed the ‘Winx Rehearsal’. Due to jockey Hugh Bowman being suspended connections opted not to run Winx in today’s Group 2 Apollo Stakes instead organising a trial for her during the meeting which was made up of horses… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse’s prospects of a seventh Golden Slipper have spiralled dramatically upwards with the win of Santos at Randwick. The colt firmed from $51 to $11 in markets for the Golden Slipper on March 24 with his dominant victory in Saturday’s Pierro Plate (1100m), a race named for Waterhouse’s fifth… Read More »
Prairie Fire has clinched a Blue Diamond berth with victory in a Listed race at Flemington. The Mick Price-trained colt is raced by Sun Stud and was having his second start in Saturday’s The Asian Executive Stakes (1100m) for two-year-olds in a bid to secure a Blue Diamond start. Khulaasa… Read More »
Group l racing returns to Headquarters at Flemington this Sunday for Black Caviar Lightning Day, where Redzel is expected to kick off 2018 with a bang. The weather is fine, the track is good (3) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
