Peter Snowden fought back tears as he described his honour in winning Saturday’s Nathan Berry Tulloch Stakes, named in honour of the late jockey. The Darley trainer has known the Berry twins since they were born and like many in the industry was struggling to come to terms with Nathan’s… Read More »
Catkins has taken another step out of the shadow of her stablemate Red Tracer with her third Group win from four starts this campaign in the Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill. She has now joined her Chris Waller-trained stablemate as the equal favourite for the Group One Queen Of The Turf… Read More »
Chad Schofield embodied the grace of two families in mourning following an emotional victory in a support race on Saturday’s Golden Slipper day program. Two days after losing his brother-in-law and fellow jockey Nathan Berry to a rare epilepsy-related illness called NORSE syndrome, Schofield was thoughtful and composed both on… Read More »
A horse bought in Europe with a major country Cup in mind has once again proved he is above average with victory in the Group Three Neville Sellwood Stakes at Rosehill. At the same time, Junoob proved trainer Chris Waller wrong when he handled the wet track better than expected… Read More »
Gerald Ryan will reserve his decision on immediate plans for Bachman, but long-term he rates the colt a Caulfield Guineas candidate. The two-year-old ploughed through heavy conditions to win the opening race on Golden Slipper day. However, the victory is unlikely to tempt Ryan to back him up in the… Read More »
Jockey Brad Rawiller’s first task on Trust In A Gust at Flemington will be to negotiate a wide barrier. His second will be to capitalise on any good fortune which may come his way in the VOBIS Gold Reef on Saturday. The VOBIS Gold concept has been a cash cow… Read More »
Robert Smerdon has altered Shamal Wind’s path towards a Group One sprint to take in a race at Flemington. Smerdon was set to run Shamal Wind against mares at Moonee Valley last Saturday but decided to wait a week for the open Braybrook Handicap. The Caulfield trainer said he wanted… Read More »
Tommy Berry has reconfirmed he will ride at the Golden Slipper meeting where the Group Two Tulloch Stakes will be renamed in a tribute to his late twin brother and fellow jockey Nathan. Tommy and Nathan’s father-in-law Glyn Schofield and brother-in-law Chad Schofield, are all scheduled to ride on Saturday… Read More »
If not for a wide barrier, trainer Nigel Blackiston would be quietly confident about the chances of Suavito in the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes. The filly has placed in all three attempts at stakes level and her trainer is convinced she will relish a rise to 2000-metres in Saturday’s… Read More »
It has been a rollercoaster journey towards the Golden Slipper for connections of speedy Victorian filly Eloping. A hamstring injury meant Eloping missed the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in January and led to the two-year-old skipping the Blue Diamond Stakes. But Eloping got her campaign back on… Read More »
Eleven horses have accepted for the $1.5 million BMW with last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente and five-time Group One winner It’s A Dundeel out to restore their reputations as superior weight-for-age stayers. A much-touted Ranvet Stakes match-race between Fiorente and It’s A Dundeel didn’t eventuate as New Zealand mare… Read More »
The odds of Earthquake winning Saturday’s Golden Slipper have eased from $2.10 to $2.30 at Sportingbet after the unbeaten filly drew barrier 13, a gate that no horse has ever won the race from. $300 GOLDEN SLIPPER FREE BET Second favourite Mossfun remains a $6 chance at Sportingbet.com.au after landing barrier 11, in front… Read More »
Trainer Kelso Wood will have to use all his renowned skills to get his underestimated sprinter Benny’s Buttons into the Group One Stradbroke Handicap. Benny’s Buttons confirmed his rating as Brisbane’s best off season speedser when he lumped 59kg to beat a quality field in the Silk and Speedy Open… Read More »
A surprise phone call could be the catalyst for Sistine Demon to be a Brisbane winter carnival contender. Sistine Demon went from a benchmark 64 win at Donald to a Listed victory at Flemington in a profitable summer/autumn campaign. After winning at Donald, Sistine Demon won another five races and… Read More »
A ground-saving ride from Hugh Bowman helped Criterion to an effortless Group One win in the Rosehill Guineas on Saturday. Criterion ($14) settled worse than midfield but Bowman took short cuts on the turn and the David Payne-trained three-year-old had the race won soon after. “He was aided by a… Read More »
Irish galloper Gordon Lord Byron has upstaged some of Australia’s best weight-for-age sprinter-milers to win the $1 million George Ryder Stakes. Coming from midfield for jockey Craig Williams, Gordon Lord Byron ($19) finished strongly along the inside to beat Speediness ($26) at Rosehill on Saturday. New Zealand three-year-old El Roca… Read More »
Talented colt Sidestep has snapped a year-long absence from the winners’ circle and could have earned himself a shot the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes. The three-year-old had not won since the Pago Pago Stakes at the corresponding Rosehill meeting last year but trainer Peter Snowden is hoping the victory… Read More »
Trainer Joe Pride has collected his second Group One win in seven days with Tiger Tees taking out the $400,000 Galaxy. One of three Pride-trained runners in 1100-metre sprint at Rosehill on Saturday, Tiger Tees ($13) was given a perfect run by jockey Nash Rawiller. He surged to the front… Read More »
Two-year-old Bullpit pushed an obscure stallion to fore with a narrow Moonee Valley win on Saturday. The Danny O’Brien-trained gelding is one of eight progeny to race by New Zealand-bred stallion Speed `N’ Power. A son of the great sire Zabeel, Speed `N’ Power was a high-priced yearling as a… Read More »
A lack of suitable races in Adelaide led Avoid Lightning to Les Bridge’s Sydney team and the move reaped a stakes reward at Rosehill on Saturday. Having her second start since being transferred to Bridge from trainer David Jolly in South Australia, Avoid Lightning ($6.50) got through the heavy going… Read More »
