Unstoppable trainer Chris Waller has continued a spring carnival to remember with Japonisme winning the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. In Waller’s first Group One win for one of Australia’s best-known racing families, Japonisme carried the cerise silks made famous by champions Octagonal and Lonhro who were raced… Read More »
Happy Trails has returned to the “scene of the crime” in top shape as he defends his title in the $1 million Mackinnon Stakes. The eight-year-old has not won a race since his victory in the 2000m Group One on Derby Day last year but trainer Paul Beshara predicts his… Read More »
Exosphere is a giant colt with a motor to match. And former champion jockey Darren Beadman can also see similar traits between the rising star three-year-old and his sire Lonhro. “He’s got a great turn of foot and a great presence about him – 600 kilos of horse flesh,” Beadman… Read More »
Barrier 10 may not always seem ideal but for Victoria Derby favourite Tarzino it’s close to ideal. At least that’s how trainer Mick Price sees it. And the first thing Price did after he came up with the 10 gate was to make the race tactics clear to chief steward… Read More »
In-form New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson will pull on the Godolphin blue in the Group One Mackinnon Stakes. Bosson will ride Magic Hurricane, who will be joined by stablemate Contributer in Saturday’s 2000m weight-for-age race at Flemington. Godolphin’s Australian retained jockey James McDonald rides Contributer who runs in the Mackinnon… Read More »
Royal Descent’s long last in the Caulfield Cup might not look like much of a form guide but her trainer Chris Waller can draw many positives. The mare will run in Saturday’s Myer Classic over 1600m, a distance her record says is her best despite her 2013 Australian Oaks win… Read More »
Gust Of Wind will not race again before the Melbourne Cup with trainer John Sargent confident she is at her peak. The Australian Oaks winner worked with stablemate Thunder Lady on Tuesday morning on the course proper at Flemington and Sargent was delighted with the hit-out and, more importantly, Gust… Read More »
Exciting sprinter Exosphere has opened a short priced favourite for Saturday’s Coolmore Stakes at Flemington. Online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au has posted the potential superstar sprinter at $1.40 for the Group 1. Keen Array and Mogador, both $8.00 are the only other runners under double figures. The Peter Moody trained Bassett has… Read More »
Despite six rounds being shot into his door last night, a shaken Terry Bailey has stated it is business like usual in lead up to the start of the Flemington carnival. “(I’m) absolutely committed,” Bailey told racing.com “There’s 900 trainers in Victoria – there’s a lot of people relying on… Read More »
The Victoria Derby is looming as a one-act affair at Flemington on Saturday. Tarzino, following his eye-catching run at Moonee Valley last Saturday, has firmed from $3.50 into $2.25 favourite with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au. While Tarzino dominates betting, there is very little support for Extra Choice at $9.00. Pay Up… Read More »
Chris Waller’s first Cox Plate win turned out to be easier than he thought – both physically and emotionally. The physical element was taken care of by brilliant mare Winx who won Australia’s premier weight-for-age event on Saturday by a widening 4-3/4 lengths. And her trainer, who wears his heart… Read More »
Sydney mare Winx has treated an international field with contempt to race away with the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Capitalising on a rails run at the 600m, Winx sprinted away from her rivals to draw a comparison with Sunline, one of the weight-for-age race’s most famous winners. “It was… Read More »
Bookmakers have been quick to react to the record-breaking win of The United States in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, but he still faces a battle to get into the Melbourne Cup. The TAB slashed his price from $101 to $31 on Saturday after the Lloyd Williams-owned six-year-old took more… Read More »
Track specialist Tawteen has landed another Moonee Valley victory in the City Jeep Handicap on Cox Plate day. The speedy mare notched her fifth win from eight starts at the track in Saturday’s 955m sprint, fighting off favourite Diamond Oasis after sitting outside him. “She really does love it here,”… Read More »
Chautauqua overcame a difficult passage to provide Sydney jockey Tommy Berry with his first Group One success in Melbourne. The Team Hawkes-trained Chautauqua added the Manikato Stakes to his record with a last to first victory at Moonee Valley on Friday night. After being in last position with 600m to… Read More »
We take a look at the big bets the online bookmakers have taken on the weekends horse racing around the country with the big money being placed at Moonee Valley.
He meets everything from the Toorak better at the weights for beating them home, so it’s no surprise to see Sportsbet.com.au punters single out Lucky Hussler as the best supported runner to take out the Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600m) this Saturday at Moonee Valley. The Darren Weir trained runner opened… Read More »
A Kermadec win in the Cox Plate will be Glen Boss’ fourth in the weight-for-age championship. After victories on Makybe Diva (2005), So You Think (2009) and Ocean Park (2012), Boss will join Jack Purtell and Brent Thomson on four wins, one behind Darby Munro if successful on Saturday. Kermadec… Read More »
A year after being snubbed at the selection table, eight-year-old Mourinho returns as a battle-hardened Group One winner for his shot at the Cox Plate. Connections of the Peter Gelagotis-trained Mourinho accepted for the Cox Plate 12 months ago but the Moonee Valley Racing Club committee used its discretion and… Read More »
Every time Michael Walker sits on Criterion’s back, his confidence in the horse grows. The laid-back jockey is mindful of the task the Lindsay Park galloper faces to win the Cox Plate on Saturday, but he also believes he has the horse to do it. “I said to (trainer) David… Read More »
