Phillip Stokes as long had this year’s Adelaide Cup in mind as a season goal for Amade, but he didn’t expect it would be the continuation of a campaign that started in September. The 10-year-old will be given the chance to go two spots better than last year’s third placing when… Read More »
Adrian Bott feared the resuming Tropical Squall might have been vulnerable against race-fit horses in the Surround Stakes, but the filly’s class has been enough to get her through and top an outstanding afternoon for the stable. After watching Golden Slipper fancy Storm Boy toy with his Skyline Stakes (1200m) rivals earlier… Read More »
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller is favouring bypassing the All-Star Mile with Atishu despite the mare taking the last ‘win and you’re in’ contest into the $4 million race. Atishu took out the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday to book a ticket into the All-Star Mile (1600m) at… Read More »
Another audacious Nash Rawiller ride has propelled grand campaigner Think It Over to an upset win in the Verry Elleegant Stakes, the giant killer claiming the scalp of Fangirl to notch his third Group One title. While Rawiller and Think It Over went to the outside fence to beat the country’s best middle-distance… Read More »
Gai Waterhouse and Adrain Bott don’t just have their sights set on the Golden Slipper with Storm Boy, they are also eyeing off a clean sweep of the juvenile triple crown. As the raging Slipper favourite made light work of his Skyline Stakes (1200m) rivals at Randwick on Saturday, Bott was already… Read More »
Lindsay Park collected their fourth win in the past eight runnings of the Furphy Trophy when Bold Bastille took out the Listed race at Flemington. The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained filly led throughout to claim the 1000m dash, backing up the form she showed when successful at Moonee Valley… Read More »
The Te Akau racing team has officially announced that the next challenge for their star mare, Imperatriz, will be the prestigious Newmarket Handicap. The nine-time Group 1 victor, who was a top contender for the Canterbury Stakes in Sydney, will instead showcase her talent in Melbourne. Following the Newmarket, plans… Read More »
James Cummings predicts VRC Oaks winner Zardozi to belie her early spring form over sprint trips and potentially give her rivals a fright when she resumes in the Group 1 Surround Stakes at Randwick. The filly was beaten more than 12 lengths first-up in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) in August and… Read More »
The inaugural running of the Verry Elleegant Stakes has taken on a fresh poignancy with the sudden and tragic death of the incredibly talented race mare last week. For her trainer Chris Waller, who will be represented by up to four runners including odds-on favourite Fangirl, a victory would be… Read More »
Mike Moroney is not shocked connections had to tinker with the name of his classy three-year-old who will make his Australian debut this Saturday at Flemington. The son of U S Navy Flag had seven starts in New Zealand as Pendragon, but will race as The Pendragon in the $1… Read More »
Heavily supported with betting sites, Excelleration and jockey Harry Coffey took advantage of a light weight to outstay their rivals in the 160th edition of the Launceston Cup. Bushfires in Ballarat prevented trainer Richard Cully from making the trip across Bass Strait to see the seven-year-old win the Group 3 highlight… Read More »
Trainer Clayton Douglas says he is in no hurry to see Giga Kick back at the racetrack despite the gelding being back in work for nearly a month. Giga Kick has been off the scene since finishing third to Imperatriz in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley last September. The… Read More »
When asked how Zipaway and Bustler were ahead of their group races in Melbourne on Saturday, trainer Neville Parnham’s response was unequivocal. “Both horses are absolutely thriving and have improved,” Neville Parnham said. Parnham will saddle up Zipaway in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and Bustler in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes… Read More »
When finishing down the track as the well-supported beaten favourite in the Hobart Cup overs two weeks ago, from trainer to jockey – and punters – they were all disappointed at the outcome of Alhambra Lad’s effort that day. When it comes to the climax of the Tasmanian Summer Carnival,… Read More »
Early shoppers are sometimes rewarded with the coveted over the odds successes and although he admits to not usually partaking in the punt, Lindsey Smith believes that Yellow Sam may be in that category on Launceston Cup Day on Wednesday. Smith has targeted the Tasmanian Summer Carnival with Yellow Sam and Kaliuwaa… Read More »
Forty years after winning his first Hobartville Stakes with Sir Dapper, octogenarian Les Bridge has captured his second, this time with the horse he believes might be the heir apparent to his Everest winner Classique Legend. Celestial Legend ($8.50) unleashed a withering finish from midfield to triumph in Saturday’s three-year-old feature, the… Read More »
It wasn’t with the member of their stable most expected, but Shane and Cassie Oxlade celebrated their maiden Group 1 success after Queman led home a longshot trifecta in Saturday’s Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield. The Strathalbyn five-year-old, who started $17, nosed out $11 chance Hypothetical in a race that strayed from the script with… Read More »
Chris Waller might have got it wrong in trying to mould Zougotcha into a sprinter, but he has wasted no time putting her back on the right path. The classy mare made a brilliant return to win the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill, stalking leader and $2.35 betting site favourite Lady… Read More »
Golden Slipper favourite Storm Boy might be waiting until next week to serve a reminder of his talents, but two of his stablemates have done their Slipper chances no harm with outstanding performances at Rosehill. Straight Charge ($2.45 fav) turned the tables on Breeders’ Plate conqueror Espionage ($2.80) to dazzle in Saturday’s Silver… Read More »
James Cummings and the Godolphin team has elected to keep Pericles to a shorter trip with the prospect of securing an All-Star Mile berth. Pericles had the option of stepping up to 1800m to run in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday but instead will chase Group 1… Read More »
