Co-trainer Simon Zahra is convinced Heatherly will strip a fitter mare in the McEwen Stakes as she continues on a path to the Group One Moir Stakes. Heatherly was chased down by another quality mare, Missrock, in the Listed Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley first-up two weeks ago and that… Read More »
Caulfield Guineas favourite Royal Symphony will make another race day appearance for an exhibition gallop as he builds towards his spring return. The unbeaten Tony McEvoy-trained colt will have a work-out at Moonee Valley on Saturday between the second and third races on the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes program,… Read More »
Godolphin colt Kementari has been challenged to prove the worth of a burgeoning reputation in a dress rehearsal race for the Golden Rose. The Lonhro three-year-old heads to Saturday’s Run To The Rose among the favoured runners though trainer James Cummings says Kementari must make a statement. “He’s going into… Read More »
Chris Waller is considering options for Foxplay, including the possibility of missing a Theo Marks Stakes clash with stablemate Egg Start. Sydney’s premier trainer has Foxplay in Saturday’s Group Three race at Rosehill but admits her second-up run could be delayed until Randwick next weekend. He said Foxplay’s effort in… Read More »
Shoals has risen to every challenge so far and the unbeaten filly begins her push towards the Group One Thousand Guineas in a stakes race at Moonee Valley. The Anthony Freedman-trained Shoals has her first start as a three-year-old in Saturday’s Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) for fillies when she… Read More »
After an encouraging season return, He’s Our Rokkii is an early favourite to land his first victory since last year’s spring carnival when he runs in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes. Saturday’s Group Two weight-for-age race at Moonee Valley has a field of 11, with last year’s Group One… Read More »
Long-term friends and rival jockeys Brenton Avdulla and Tommy Berry won’t just be comparing Australian and Hong Kong racing in the lead-up to the inaugural $10 million Everest. Sydney-based Avdulla keeps in regular contact with Berry, who started riding in Asia last weekend, and talking shop has taken on an… Read More »
A foot abscess has been blamed for Diamond Tathagata’s dismal return to racing but trainer Mark Newnham is still taking no chances ahead of the Run To The Rose. The Mark Newnham-trained colt was unable to replicate encouraging barrier trial form in the Rosebud Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill last month,… Read More »
Co-trainer Adrian Bott admits Siege of Quebec faces another significant test at Rosehill in the lead-up to the focal point of his preparation. The colt makes another step up on Saturday when he takes on several of his highly rated potential Golden Rose rivals in the Group Two Run To… Read More »
The second wave of a leading New Zealand stable is ready to begin the road to the Cups. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained mares Bonneval and Lizzie L’Amour run in Saturday’s Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on a path leading towards the Caulfield Cup… Read More »
The McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley will see potential Everest contenders put their credentials on the line. Saturday’s Group Two 1000m race has attracted eight nominations with Houtzen already a starter in next month’s $10 million The Everest at Randwick. Co-trainer Paul Snowden said he and his father Peter are… Read More »
The Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill will be a defining race for the in-form Deploy. Trainer Gerald Ryan will assess how tracks in Sydney and Melbourne are playing over the next few weeks before deciding where the gelding will go. “I’m not going to run him on rock-hard tracks and… Read More »
The Australian Turf Club have announced a shortlist of 5 horses who are in contention for their slot in the $10 million The Everest. Brave Smash, Clearly Innocent, Global Glamour, Le Romain and Redzel have made the shortlist for the Australian Turf Club’s slot in The Everest. The ATC received around… Read More »
Red Excitement, the horse who gave Winx a fright in the Chelmsford Stakes, is among 89 nominations for the Group One Epsom Handicap. The Gerald Ryan-trained Red Excitement led until the final 50 metres of Saturday’s Group Two Chelmsford until the champion ran him down to win by a length…. Read More »
Blue Diamond winner Catchy has been nominated for the Atlantic Jewel Stakes at Moonee Valley but is expected to wait another week for her next start. Catchy closed strongly in her first-up run at Caulfield on August 19 and just failed to reel in Crown Witness when second in the… Read More »
Caulfield Cup contender Gingernuts has come through an encouraging first-up run in New Zealand in good order. The winner of the Rosehill Guineas in Sydney during the autumn, Gingernuts came from the back of the field to run fifth in the Group One Tarzino Trophy after copping a check at… Read More »
Punters have been quick to take the $3 on offer early for Menari to win the Run To The Rose and the colt is already in to $2.80 for the Group Two race. Trained by Gerald Ryan, Menari is the $6 equal favourite for the Group One Golden Rose alongside… Read More »
Premier Melbourne jockey Craig Williams has won a sixth Scobie Breasley medal for riding excellence. Williams made a late charge in the premiership battle with apprentice Beau Mertens and his consistency throughout the 2016/17 season won him the award named for the late champion rider. The voting for the Scobie… Read More »
Comparisons to Winx are premature but Egg Tart is ready to step out in a spring preparation that mirrors that of her illustrious stablemate two years ago. As he often does with Winx, trainer Chris Waller took Egg Tart to Randwick on Saturday for a raceday gallop, a week out… Read More »
Her trainer admits he was worried and her jockey has had a few anxious moments but Winx has remained cool under pressure to record her 19th-straight win. Josh Parr on Red Excitement ($26) took the bull by the horns and cleared out to a lead of about 10 lengths in… Read More »
