Nick Ryan had no qualms about running two-year-old Highvol in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) on debut and his confidence was justified as the son of Microphone scored a tough win, the first horse to do so on debut. Ridden on speed by Jamie Melham, Highvol ($9) held off $4.60… Read More »
It is 24 years since Gai Waterhouse tasted success in the Australasian Oaks when Tempest Morn took out the 2000m Classic. Now in a training partnership with Adrian Bott, the pair will have dual representation in Saturday’s Group 1 contest for three-year-old fillies. Too Darn Lizzie and Phenom will line up in the… Read More »
In racing circles, Glen Thompson has been a journeyman. He has worked as an assistant trainer with Michael Freedman in Singapore, his brother John Thompson and had a go at training in his own right based in Queensland last decade. More recently he was the assistant trainer for Mike Moroney before… Read More »
It has been a long time between drinks for the connections of Charm Stone, but the mare is primed for a return to winning form in a Group 1 contest at Morphettville. Charm Stone returns from a break in the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, having not raced since… Read More »
It isn’t the path Tulloch Lodge planned to take to the VRC St Leger with Format, but Adrian Bott sees positives in the one he and training partner Gai Waterhouse have been forced to plot. The three-year-old colt heads into Friday’s $200,000 Listed event at Flemington almost four weeks between runs, having… Read More »
Matthew Smith has been pleased the preparation of emerging sprinter Headwall, who lines up as a key chance in the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. Placed in both the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes this time in, Smith needed to see the… Read More »
The Ciaron Maher stable is returning to Adelaide with Estriella in search of a maiden Group 1 win with the mare. Estriella and stablemate A Little Deep will leave for Adelaide on Wednesday night to compete in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday. A year ago, Estriella was… Read More »
Broadsiding will not race on as a four-year-old, with Darley announcing on Tuesday morning that the son of Too Darn Hot would be joining its stallion roster for 2025. The James Cummings-trained colt bows out a winner of seven of his 15 starts, the last of which was a 10th placing in last… Read More »
One of racing’s phenomena can add another chapter on Saturday as Overpass sets sights on a third win in as many editions of Western Australia’s richest race, The Quokka. Four starts at Ascot have delivered two wins in the $5 million slot race feature over 1200-metres and a pair of victories… Read More »
Another trip to Brisbane is on the cards for six-year-old Mazu after he took out the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick for the second-straight year. With star Melbourne-based jockey Jamie Melham reuniting with the gelding in Saturday’s 1200m race, Mazu ($4.40) was able to settle just behind the lead… Read More »
Bankers Choice has secured a berth in the Caulfield Cup with a fighting win at Mornington. A ballot exemption was up for grabs in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October for the winner of Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup over the same journey. Bankers Choice provided his trainer Glen Thompson with… Read More »
Nepotism, a two-year-old colt with family links to the late champion Black Caviar, has stamped himself as a rising star in his own right with a last-to-first Group 1 win in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Backing up an impressive win in the recent Group 3 Baillieu (1400m), the Michael,… Read More »
Champion trainer Chris Waller is likely to chase a second win in the Australasian Oaks after Movin Out registered her maiden Australian win at Mornington. Movin Out was explosive as she rounded up the opposition to take out the Mornington Guineas (1600m) on Saturday. Sent out the $4.40 favourite under Ben Melham,… Read More »
A Queensland Derby campaign awaits improving Tulloch Lodge three-year-old Shangri La Spring after he led throughout to claim the Frank Packer Plate at Randwick. Adrian Bott revealed he and training partner Gai Waterhouse had initially hoped to pursue an ATC Australian Derby (2400m) tilt with the colt but the timing didn’t… Read More »
The David Brideoake and Matt Jenkins stable is already looking towards the spring after the win of Prestige Snitzel at Mornington. Victory in the Mornington Sires (1200m) on Saturday was Prestige Snitzel’s maiden victory, but Brideoake has high hopes for the filly. Already Stakes placed after running second at Flemington in the… Read More »
Superbly bred colt State Visit has shown enormous promise in just a handful of runs and will be bidding to convert that into Group One success in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick. By hot stallion Wootton Bassett, whose progeny includes Canterbury Stakes winner Royal Patronage and Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton, State… Read More »
Chris Waller isn’t reading too much into Joliestar’s defeat as favourite in the T J Smith Stakes, adamant the mare is going well enough to make amends at Randwick. Joliestar finished ninth, beaten two lengths by Saturday’s All Aged Stakes (1400m) rival Briasa, after jockey Damian Lane was left with little option… Read More »
It only seems like yesterday that Billy Egan was partnering Young Werther to the gelding’s second ever career win. That win at Flemington was 22 months ago, and Egan was then associated with the Danny O’Brien-trained galloper in Young Werther’s next four starts. Egan reunites with Young Werther in the Listed Mornington… Read More »
It has already been a momentous year for Rachel King and she is hoping to parlay that into more top level success on the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival. In February, King became the first female jockey to win a Grade 1 race on the JRA circuit during a… Read More »
Tyler Schiller finds himself in the enviable position of being aboard the favourites for the two Group One races at Randwick but more significantly for him, they’re both trained by Team Hawkes. John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes have been among his biggest supporters and he will again link with them when… Read More »
