A star-studded field is expected to line up in Australia’s first Group One race of the season with seven elite-level winners among the Memsie Stakes nominations. Saturday’s Memsie Stakes at Caulfield has attracted 18 nominations including Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance who is one of four entries for Victoria’s… Read More »
Almoonqith will spearhead the Lindsay Park team for the big spring Cups with the imported stayer ready to begin his campaign. The seven-year-old is set to line up in the Listed Heatherlie Handicap (1700m) on Saturday. Tom Dabernig, who trains in partnership with David and Ben Hayes, said Almoonqith was… Read More »
Hidden Pearl’s latest Eagle Farm win has given her trainer further encouragement ahead of her upcoming trip to Sydney. The Barry Lockwood-trained mare scored an easy win over 1000 metres on Saturday after a few anxious moments during the race. Hidden Pearl was surprisingly headed by Tibrogargan Miss and then… Read More »
Impressive Brisbane three-year-old Oink is expected to have his lead-up race to the Group One Golden Rose in Brisbane rather than Sydney. Trainer Kelly Schweida has a big opinion of Oink who resumed from a short break with a strong third at Doomben last week. Schweida had considered running Oink… Read More »
Highly talented sprinter Heatherly has shown her liking for the Moonee Valley circuit by outspeeding her rivals to register a first-up victory. The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained mare was having her first run since February in taking out the Listed Carlyon Stakes on Saturday. Ridden by Damian Lane,… Read More »
Apprentice Jordan Childs has made the most of a pick-up ride on Royal Rapture, steering the in-form gelding to a convincing win at Moonee Valley. Michael Dee had ridden Royal Rapture to victory in his past two starts and was booked to ride him again in Saturday’s Westar Trucks Isuzu… Read More »
As a reminder of what came before and a portent of things to come, Australia’s best racehorse has put on an awesome display in front of an adoring crowd at Randwick. Winx cruised to her 10th consecutive win at her first start since the Doncaster Mile in April in Saturday’s… Read More »
Co-trainer Troy Corstens says Sweet Sherry is way short of her top despite a narrow first-up win at Moonee Valley. Having her first start for Corstens, Sweet Sherry ($6.50) took out the Cleanaway Plate by a half-head from Tan Tat Beauty ($9). Mowtown Lil ($5) ran on to finish third,… Read More »
The breeding barn can wait for Tycoon Tara who has backed up a Group win on the heaviest Randwick track in memory with another on the first good surface for months. The former Victorian has now had two starts for Peter and Paul Snowden for wins in the Group Two… Read More »
Omei Sword’s slashing Silver Shadow Stakes win has trainer Chris Waller considering giving her a shot at the Group One Golden Rose. Jockey Brenton Avdulla showed the Randwick crowd a beaming smile as he guided Omei Sword to a 3-1/4 length win over Bacarella ($18) with Quick Fee ($13) third… Read More »
The strength of the Hawkes Racing spring team has again been stamped with Divine Prophet claiming the Up And Coming Stakes to cement favouritism for the Golden Rose. A week ago, Star Turn showed his improvement from his juvenile season with victory in the San Domenico Stakes. Divine Prophet ($7.50)… Read More »
Richard Laming is 12 months ahead with Refectory after the Irish-bred galloper recorded a tough victory at Moonee Valley. Laming has a jumps career in mind for Refectory and in particular the Grand National Steeplechase. After a fighting win at Sandown on August 7, Refectory again showed his toughness 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 Randwick.
On any other occasion, Gary Portelli would be saddling up Rebel Dane for a Group Two race thinking he could win. On Saturday against Winx in the Warwick Stakes at Randwick, he will be happy to settle for second. “The fantasy is we do beat her. The reality is we… Read More »
The owners of Australia’s best racehorse, Winx, are feeling the pressure as the mighty mare looks for her 10th consecutive win. The five-year-old will kick off her spring campaign in the Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday. Part-owner Debbie Kepitis said the pressure for Winx to perform… Read More »
As the dust settles on Capitalist’s first-up defeat, Peter and Paul Snowden head to Randwick in search of Sydney stakes atonement. Capitalist’s poor showing in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday mystified his trainers in the aftermath. The Golden Slipper winner’s program has been altered and he is… Read More »
On a day Derryn bids to stamp himself as a Golden Rose contender in Sydney, a couple of Lindsay Park’s other three-year-old spring hopefuls begin their campaigns in Melbourne. Derryn impressed with his recent fast-finishing win at Caulfield and is favourite for his first run in Sydney in Saturday’s Group… Read More »
Luke Nolen has notched his first winner since returning to the saddle from a three-month injury absence. Best known for his association with champion Black Caviar, Nolen rode on Monday for the first time since his fall from Miss Promiscuity in the Group One Robert Sangsetr Stakes in Adelaide on… Read More »
For all the meticulous planning involved in Winx’s return, race tactics are not a major consideration. The i’s have been dotted and the t’s crossed, but tactics for the Group Two Warwick Stakes will rest solely with jockey Hugh Bowman. Winx will have just six rivals including three stablemates at… Read More »
Michael Costa often spends Saturdays listening to major races on the radio while cleaning out boxes at his Warwick Farm stables. The 28-year-old trainer will be in the thick of the action on Saturday when Manaya lines up in the Group Two Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick. Costa is approaching… Read More »
