Peter Snowden resisted the “I told you so” response after Guelph emerged as his stable’s No.1 Blue Diamond contender at Caulfield on Saturday. But he was entitled to gloat somewhat after the filly turned in a stunning performance in the fillies’ division of the two Blue Diamond Preludes. Snowden-trained runners… Read More »
Leigh Childs is happy to travel wherever his horses can win but he hopes the city success of Zlatan on C F Orr Stakes day at Caulfield is the start of more metropolitan excursions. Cranbourne-based Childs, 32, has been successful with his past four starters, two of whom he took… Read More »
Until a couple of months ago trainer Mike Moroney had the stakes-winning filly Octavia almost entirely to himself. But as she hit the line in the Listed Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, the roar was deafening. Thanks to Moroney’s persuasive powers, Octavia now has around 30 owners, most of… Read More »
As King Mufhasa kicks off the New Zealand raid on Australia’s major autumn races in Saturday’s C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield, some classy compatriots will be at home doing their best to follow him. Victoria Derby winner Sangster, Queensland Derby winner Shootoff, crack sprinting mare Fleur De Lune, NZ… Read More »
Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman has joined the Lloyd Williams stable as director of training and racing. Freedman, 56, who recently ended his brief partnership with trainer Graeme Rogerson, will oversee most aspects of the Williams operation at Macedon, north of Melbourne. Williams son Nick said the appointment would… Read More »
Bendigo race fans could be in for a treat on Sunday week with trainer Shaun Dwyer keen to give Golden Slipper favourite Villa Verde an exhibition gallop between races. The unbeaten filly was installed as the $8 favourite with TAB fixed odds on Friday in its opening market for the… Read More »
Glen Boss isn’t unhappy to have linked up with Victoria Derby winner Fiveandahalfstar at Caulfield on Saturday, if only to clarify his thoughts on the form of last spring’s staying three-year-olds. Boss rode Hvasstan into fourth place behind Fiveandahalfstar in the Derby and although he has a good opinion of… Read More »
Chris Waller isn’t heading into Saturday’s Expressway Stakes expecting veterans Danleigh and Albert The Fat to come away with the top prize. But he won’t be surprised if either of them do. The pair will resume in the Group Two Warwick Farm sprint, which also marks the stable debut of… Read More »
Dwayne Dunn goes into the first Group One race of the year knowing he’s on a colt capable of taking him on the ride of a lifetime. Caulfield Guineas winner All Too Hard returns in Saturday’s C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, a race that will kick-start the autumn… Read More »
Quarantine regulations have ruled Happy Trails out of a trip to Dubai and the Emirates Stakes winner will do his autumn racing in Sydney. His Adelaide trainer Paul Beshara said the long trip coupled with the stringent requirements to get the horse back to Australia made the exercise too hard…. Read More »
Star colt Pierro is among the nominations for the BMW released on Tuesday but his program is still up in the air. The three-year-old made his first public appearance since his Cox Plate third with an impressive barrier trial win at Rosehill on Tuesday. In the absence of an injured… Read More »
Classy import Manighar seems unlikely to run in Melbourne this autumn with trainer Peter Moody having difficulty finding an ideal kick-off point for the horse. While a firm program is yet to be set for the horse whose spring was cut short after only two runs, Sydney options appear to… Read More »
A freak barrier trial injury has put a start in Saturday’s Listed Kevin Hayes Stakes in serious doubt for promising filly Miss Softhands. In an incident that only became apparent after she won her trial at Werribee by eight lengths, Miss Softhands suffered a cut above the off-side hock when… Read More »
Maintaining the unbeaten record of his exciting galloper Callanish will be of secondary importance for trainer Mick Price to giving the horse its best chance of winning his major autumn target, the Australian Cup. Callanish came through a significant test in a trial at Werribee on Monday that Price believes… Read More »
The Challenge Stakes is back on the agenda for outstanding sprinter Hay List as he moves closer to a return from injury and illness. Trainer John McNair took Hay List for a day out at the Wyong races last week and Glyn Schofield gave him a leisurely canter around the… Read More »
The unbeaten gallopers Philippi and Callanish are among more than 100 autumn prospects to be put to the test in what promises to be Melbourne’s most revealing set of trials of the season at Werribee on Monday. The 23 trials also include four Darley-owned two-year-olds from the Peter Snowden stable,… Read More »
Tony Gollan will use historical weather patterns as a guide to autumn carnival targets for Spirit Of Boom and Temple Of Boom. Spirit Of Boom will be aimed at sprints in Melbourne because it is traditionally dry and warm during the autumn and the stallion prefers to race on firm… Read More »
Chris Waller-trained Group One winners Albert The Fat and Danleigh could be joined by new stablemate Tougher Than Ever in Saturday’s Expressway Stakes. Last season’s champion two-year-old in New Zealand where he raced at Warhorse in the care of Jason Bridgman, Tougher Than Ever pleased his new trainer with his… Read More »
Joe Pride is a man on a mission. That mission is to prove the naysayers wrong by winning a Group One race with Rain Affair this autumn. The free-wheeling frontrunner, twice a runner-up at the top level, underwent a knee operation after two uncharacteristic performances in the spring. He has… Read More »
Trainer Bjorn Baker could be forgiven for thinking that it just wasn’t meant to be his day at Rosehill. Two close seconds from Twilight Royale in the Spotless Handicap (1200m) and Burbero in the Norm Snowden Handicap (1500m) were accompanied by a seventh place from Great Dansaar in Saturday’s TAB.com.au… Read More »
