Prince Cheri could figure in a change to trainer David Vandyke’s end-of-spring plans for the accomplished stayer. A barrier trial winner on Monday, Prince Cheri is firming to run at Rosehill on Saturday, putting in doubt a start in the Ballarat Cup. Vandyke took advantage of an extended deadline for… Read More »
A rollercoaster spring carnival for New Zealand trainer Murray Baker has culminated in another Group One win with Turn Me Loose leading all the way in the Emirates Stakes. It was one of two Group One successes for Baker during the Melbourne spring, the other Mongolian Khan’s Caulfield Cup victory…. Read More »
For the second time in as many weeks the Chris Waller stable has played giant killer in a Group One race at Flemington. On the opening day of the Melbourne Cup carnival the Waller-trained Japonisme relegated the odds-on favourite Exosphere to fourth place in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. It was… Read More »
The two country stables of Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir have complemented each other with the win of Palentino at Flemington. Having just his third race start, Palentino graduated from a Stawell maiden success to victory in a Listed race on Saturday. Weir said he could step up in grade… Read More »
Darren Weir’s amazing Flemington carnival has continued with Dandino providing the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer with another feature win. Dandino missed out on a Melbourne Cup start but gained a consolation with a 1-3/4 length win in Saturday’s Group Three Queen’s Cup (2600m). Weir prepared Prince Of Penzance to win the… Read More »
The Melbourne Cup is the one race on the Australian calendar that means the most to Lloyd and Nick Williams. And with that thought the long-range plans for Saturday’s Flemington winner Divan is next year’s famous race. A son of Zabeel and an emerging stayer, Divan was having just his… Read More »
Having knocked back a significant offer for two-year-old Power Trip this week, the owners of the gelding have celebrated a Group win during the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington. The John McArdle-trained juvenile Power Trip, a $42,000 yearling, made his debut in Saturday’s $150,000 Group Three Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) and… Read More »
Dwayne Dunn goes from one extreme to the other in the final two Group One races of the Melbourne Cup carnival. He rides odds-on favourite Chautauqua in the Darley Classic while in the Emirates Stakes he partners the $51 outsider Messene at Flemington on Saturday. Both are prepared by the… Read More »
Lumosty is ready to run the race of her life when she tackles the Darley Classic. Trainer Robert Smerdon says he could not have Lumosty in any better shape for her tilt at the $1 million sprint race at Flemington on Saturday. The daughter of Fastnet Rock takes on established… Read More »
Part-owner Anthony Rix has the family star up against the family favourite in the $1 million Darley Classic, both trying to beat a superstar sprinter. Family star Terravista has already proven his credentials in the sprint feature at Flemington but will have to again get past the dominant favourite Chautauqua…. Read More »
She is on the seven day back up, but that hasn’t stopped Sportsbet.com.au punters from backing Politeness in the Emirates Stakes (1600m) this Saturday at Flemington. The Robert Smerdon trained mare overcame track bias and a firm track to win the Myer Classic (1600m), and with the drop in weight… Read More »
Jockey Blake Shinn has had to settle for second in a Group Three race at Flemington behind a horse trained by his family. Shinn had ridden Pittsburgh Flyer, trained by his stepfather and stepbrother Lee and Shannon Hope, in her two spring starts but was aboard rival Dublin Lass in… Read More »
Damien Oliver has posted his fourth VRC Oaks win after Jameka ploughed through a rain-sodden Flemington track to outstay her rivals in the $1 million Classic. Put on the speed right from the start, Jameka raced outsider the leader Muzyka for most of the race before taking the front at… Read More »
Trainer Mick Price has maintained his average with a winner on each day of the Melbourne Cup carnival. The jewel in the crown was Saturday’s Victoria Derby win by Tarzino but Price was also pretty happy to win a three-year-old sprint with Invincible Heart on Cup day. He continued the… Read More »
Plenty of punters are hoping for a boilover in Saturday’s Darley Classic with smart mare Srikandi receiving more support than Chautauqua. Chautuaqua commands top billing with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au at the very short quote of $1.50. Terravista holds down second spot, on $8.50 and Srikandi has firmed from $11 into $9.00. In the other Flemington Group… Read More »
Injured race horse Red Cadeaux has successfully undergone surgery and is standing and eating. The three-time Melbourne Cup runner-up was pulled out of Tuesday’s race in the final stages after suffering an injury to his left fore fetlock. Trainer Ed Dunlop said three experts had conducted the surgery on Wednesday… Read More »
Jim Cassidy had already won the VRC Oaks four times before James McDonald was born. That puts the longevity of Cassidy into perspective as he prepares for his final day of race riding at Thursday’s Oaks meeting at Flemington. “Is that right?” the 23-year-old McDonald responded when told Cassidy had… Read More »
Sacred Eye is currently a $3.50 favourite with CrownBet in the Crown Oaks tomorrow, yet Wakeful Stakes winner Ambience is attracting the majority of early money on the second line of betting at $3.80. “Ambience’s run in the Wakeful Stakes on Derby Day was eye-catching and certainly deserves the short… Read More »
Australian jockey Tim Bell has reportedly died in Singapore after a fall from a high-rise building. Sydney’s Sky Sports Radio said an investigation was underway into the death of the 22-year-old who began a three-month riding contract in Singapore last month. Bell won the 2013/14 Brisbane jockeys’ premiership, the same… Read More »
Michelle Payne knew Prince of Penzance would transform her into a Melbourne Cup princess. Country Victorian trainer Darren Weir thought the equal rank outsider had a realistic chance of finishing in the top 10, but his jockey was more hopeful. “I had a feeling we were going to win the… Read More »
