Gai Waterhouse is pinning her hopes of an eighth Epsom Handicap win on French lightweight Johan Victoire in his first Australian Group One race. The Frenchman will launch his Australian Group One career on Saturday in the $1 million Epsom Handicap riding five-year-old gelding Fabrizio. But regardless of the result… Read More »
Jockey Brenton Avdulla was neither happy nor clapping after the barrier draw for the Group One Epsom Handicap. That’s because Happy Clapper drew gate one for Saturday’s $1 million race over 1600m at Randwick. “It’s probably the only draw I didn’t want with him,” Avdulla said. “I love the Randwick… Read More »
After creating debate last week over Under The Louvre’s eventual scratching from a Group One race, trainer Robert Smerdon again has a decision to make with the classy sprinter. And, with his tongue firmly planted in cheek, Smerdon suggested he might have to use social media to see when his… Read More »
Henry Dwyer has had to alter Leotie’s Thousand Guineas path but the trainer doesn’t believe missing the Prelude will affect her chances. Leotie was scratched from Saturday’s Group Two race after being treated for a minor respiratory infection. Dwyer will now take the filly to Bendigo on Thursday to run… Read More »
Racing Victoria board member and now chairman, David Moodie, has been named as the person who told Peter Moody of fellow trainer Danny O’Brien’s cobalt positive, a hearing has heard. O’Brien said he received a phone call from Peter Moody who the day before found out about his own high… Read More »
The world’s top-ranked sprinter Chautauqua is favourite to make a winning return in the Group One Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley. Chautauqua is at $2.25 in the early market for Friday night’s 1000m weight-for-age sprint which has attracted 10 nominations including five Group One winners. Nominations have been extended until… Read More »
Golden Rose winner Astern is odds-on favourite for the Group Two Roman Consul Stakes ahead of Capitalist. Astern is at $1.60 to win Saturday’s $300,000 race over 1200m at Randwick while Capitalist is on the second line of betting at $3.50. Astern’s only defeat came at the hands of Capitalist… Read More »
Hartnell headlines the nominations for the Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington which will be the in-form gelding’s first Melbourne appearance for the spring. The Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on Sunday has attracted 20 entries with Hartnell and last year’s winner Preferment the highest-rated. Preferment has been beaten eight… Read More »
Omei Sword is set to start the Group One Flight Stakes at Winx-like odds after being rated the $1.60 favourite in first markets. The Chris Waller-trained filly was runner-up to Astern in the Group One Golden Rose at her most recent start. She heads to Saturday’s $500,000 race at Randwick… Read More »
Over the culture shock of his first Group One runner a year ago, trainer Jason Attard is having trouble keeping things normal ahead of this year’s Epsom Handicap. Attard’s stable star Sons Of John is set for his second crack at the $1 million race at Randwick on Saturday. “I’m… Read More »
Legal counsel for the two trainers appealing their cobalt disqualifications has alleged Racing Victoria may have “manipulated evidence”. Damian Sheales is representing trainers Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanagh as they fight their respective four and three year bans on cobalt charges. Forensic IT analyst Brendan McCreesh was being cross examined… Read More »
Peter Snowden is adamant Golden Slipper winner Capitalist is in form as he prepares for his clash with Astern in the Roman Consul Stakes, but his co-trainer is desperate for the colt to get on a good track. Capitalist was beaten in his season return on soft ground in the… Read More »
Hugh Bowman might have been sitting at home for Sydney’s premier spring race day but instead will be front and centre at Randwick. Bowman had one meeting shaved from a careless riding suspension on appeal, enabling him to ride on Saturday when there are three Group One races up for… Read More »
Michelle Payne has claimed her first win since returning to the saddle after a sickening injury which left the Melbourne Cup winning jockey hospitalised for weeks. Payne rode Birds Of Tokyo to a classy front running victory in the Coleraine Cup for trainer Luke Oliver. The win didn’t come without some drama when her… Read More »
Astern will get his spring campaign back on track in the Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick after the star colt’s Caulfield Guineas hopes were dashed when he had to be treated from for a temperature. The Golden Rose winner was the favourite for the Caulfield Guineas on October 8 but… Read More »
For the second time in as many years Alpine Eagle will be missing from the Melbourne spring carnival. His devastated trainer Tony McEvoyi says the horse has a throat issue and will undergo surgery to fix a soft palate problem. Alpine Eagle missed most of last year’s spring carnival after… Read More »
Black Heart Bart has continued his march towards a spring carnival appointment with Winx in winning the Group One Underwood Stakes at Caulfield. Expected to be given his chance against Winx in next month’s WS Cox Plate, Black Heart Bart eased some doubts about his middle-distance prowess with a clear-cut… Read More »
Bon Aurum has emulated his sire Bon Hoffa in winning the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. Coming from midfield for Sydney jockey Kerrin McEvoy, Bon Aurum held off a spirited finish from Voodoo Lad to claim his first Group One victory on Saturday Bon Hoffa won the 2007 Sir… Read More »
Moral Victory has refused to act his age with the seven-year-old putting in a career-best performance to win the Group Two Shannon Stakes. Trainer Tim Martin said the horse continued to improve with age after putting back-to-back wins together in Saturday’s race at Rosehill. Moral Victory will get his chance… Read More »
The best-laid plans of horses and men sometimes go awry and result in a Group Three victory. Veladero found himself leading Saturday’s Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill despite trainer Chris Waller giving jockey Rory Hutchings instructions to settle worse than midfield. The tempo slowed in the middle stages allowing Veladero ($14)… Read More »
