A traditional lead-up to the Golden Slipper, this year’s Pago Pago Stakes shed little light on the $3.5 million race with the winner Time For War headed in another direction. Fitted with a barrier blanket, pacifiers and a browband to help counter the problems which caused him to be scratched… Read More »
“Love you Nath.” Those were the words jockey Tommy Berry used to celebrate after winning the first race at Rosehill on Saturday, a day after he returned from his twin brother’s bedside. Nathan Berry has been in a Singapore hospital since collapsing at trackwork at Kranji racecourse last Tuesday week…. Read More »
A gear change, wet weather and a distance rise. It’s a combination trainer Colin Scott hopes can inspire Speediness to a breakthrough Group One win in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday . Disregarding Speediness’s last-start Canterbury Stakes failure, Scott expects the six-year-old to stamp himself as a… Read More »
Robert Smerdon has ruled out an interstate Group One assignment for Shamal Wind this weekend to concentrate on another next month. Smerdon nominated the mare for Saturday’s Group One Galaxy in Sydney but will instead stick to his original plan to run her at Moonee Valley. He believes the Melbourne… Read More »
Tulloch Lodge trainer Gai Waterhouse has backed the decision of her stable’s No.1 jockey Tommy Berry to ride at the George Ryder Stakes meeting at Rosehill. Berry has been at the bedside of twin brother and fellow jockey Nathan who has been in a Singapore hospital since he collapsed at… Read More »
Victorian colt Shamus Award has drawn the inside barrier in his bid to make a winning Sydney debut in Saturday’s Group One Rosehill Guineas. The Cox Plate winner will have 16 rivals including the Peter Moody-trained Dissident who has won his past two starts in the Hobartville Stakes and Randwick… Read More »
Outstanding mare Appearance will be retired after suffering a leg injury. The four-time Group One winner was unbeaten in three starts this campaign and was the favourite for next month’s Doncaster Mile. “It is an unusual injury,” trainer Guy Walter said. “She has a bit of a tear to a… Read More »
Shamus Award has established himself as the benchmark three-year-old in Australia but it’s a horse from across the Tasman his trainer Danny O’Brien rates the biggest danger in the Rosehill Guineas. Shamus Award, the Cox Plate and Australian Guineas winner, makes his Sydney debut in Saturday’s 2000m Group One as… Read More »
Glen Boss predicts Rebel Dane will announce his arrival as one of the country’s elite sprinters when he returns in next month’s $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes. Boss partnered the Gary Portelli-trained horse in a race day gallop at Rosehill on Saturday and came away adamant the four-year-old felt superior… Read More »
The Ranvet Stakes showdown between Fiorente and It’s A Dundeel didn’t eventuate but it might have announced the arrival of two new stars in Silent Achiever and Carlton House. While the two favourites failed to live up to expectations, Silent Achiever and the Queen’s horse exceeded them. Group One-placed in… Read More »
Daring tactics paid off for veteran jockey Jim Cassidy as Steps In Time held on to win the Group One Coolmore Classic at Rosehill on Saturday. Cassidy ignored a distance doubt on Steps In Time to set the mare alight in the middle stages. His catch-me-if-you-can plan had her rivals… Read More »
Stephen Theodore is prepared to follow the rain and aim high with Lady Lakshmi as the racing season draws to an end. A city win on a dry track at Sandown on Saturday has Theodore considering Group One options in Adelaide and Brisbane for the three-year-old who he says relishes… Read More »
The usually measured Michael Hawkes was searching for superlatives to describe Messene after he rocketed into Doncaster Mile calculations with his Ajax Stakes victory at Rosehill on Saturday. In an arrogant display, the well-backed $2.80 favourite stalked the leader Ecuador, ranged up at the top of the straight and from… Read More »
The Champagne Stakes appeared on the horizon for Veuvelicious after a five-length win at Sandown on Saturday. Veuvelicious went into the Sensational Springvale Plate as a maiden but emerged as a potential Group One contender for trainer Brent Stanley after leading throughout. Stanley said he would assess the filly’s recovery… Read More »
The $3.5 million Golden Slipper appears to be at Earthquake’s mercy with trainer Peter Snowden adamant she is yet to peak despite extending her unbeaten run at Rosehill on Saturday. Racing for the first time since her Blue Diamond Stakes win in February, Earthquake didn’t appear comfortable leading from an… Read More »
Ghibellines waited until his fourth start to show the rest of the world the talent his trainer Peter Snowden knew he had on the big stage at Rosehill. The colt is now Golden Slipper bound after winning Saturday’s Group Two Todman Stakes, something Snowden could not have contemplated a few… Read More »
Kencella has reaffirmed an affinity for the 1100-metre circuit at Rosehill with an all-the-way win in the Maurice McCarten Stakes. In a race that changed complexion when favourite and noted leader That’s A Good Idea bungled the start, Kencella ($4.20) made the most of his rival’s misfortune. He sustained his… Read More »
Tony Gollan went through a full range of emotions before he was able to celebrate a deserved Group One win with Spirit Of Boom at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Spirit Of Boom won the William Reid Stakes (1200m) by a nose over a fast-finishing Fontelina who was held up… Read More »
Trainer Colin Little will turn his attention to the spring with Text’n Hurley after the mare ended her autumn campaign with a Group Two win at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Text’n Hurley’s victory in the Sunline Stakes (1600m) brought up a third win on the night for jockey Craig… Read More »
Marianne has had to survive a protest to claim a breakthrough stakes win at Moonee Valley on Friday night. The Mick Kent-trained three year-old finished a short-half head in front of Suavito in the Listed Alexandra Stakes (1600m) but Suavito’s jockey Damien Oliver fired in an objection alleging interference in… Read More »
