Still smarting from a narrow defeat in a head-bobbing finish to the Dulcify Stakes, co-trainer Will Freedman is hoping a seven-day back-up can prove the right recipe for talented colt Genesis Runner. The three-year-old went down by a short half-head to Wonka, and both will turn up again in Saturday’s… Read More »
A trip to Sydney in late August to trial The Next Episode led jockey Mark Zahra being in the hunt to win a second Caulfield Guineas. The trials on August 28 at Randwick allowed Zahra to partner Call Me Coach in a 1045m heat, in which the Dundeel colt finished… Read More »
Four-year-old Love Story is only two starts into her career, but co-trainer Adrian Bott believes her belated arrival to racing might be a blessing in disguise. While the daughter of Justify always showed ability, knee chips and an untimely illness prevented her from making her debut until last month when… Read More »
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Sheza Alibi will get a relatively easy initiation at 2000m when she runs at Caulfield. Group 1 contests are never easy, but Sheza Alibi will have only five opponents when she runs in the Might And Power on Saturday. It should be the ideal… Read More »
The Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield is set to be the final outing for Zakouma ahead of the Melbourne Cup. The Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) on Saturday was chosen by trainer Grahame Begg as the stayer’s final outing before the Flemington showpiece over 3200m at Flemington on November 3. Zakouma won… Read More »
On the same weekend star mare Sheza Alibi will be tested beyond a mile for the first time, so too will her younger half-brother, Nomadic. The latter will get an opportunity to put his name in lights when he chimes into the Sydney spring carnival at Rosehill, ahead of a… Read More »
The good news for Chris Waller on his Caulfield Guineas runners after a trip to Caulfield was how they handled the experience. Tron Bolt, Diameter, Central Europe and Somethings Burnin’ all galloped at Caulfield on Tuesday morning in preparation for the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday. The quartet got to… Read More »
But never trainer or jockey were concerned after Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising was beaten by Ninja in a 1000m barrier trial on the Royal Randwick course proper this morning. Ka Ying Rising, the world’s best racehorse, bounded out of the gates and quickly crossed in front of his… Read More »
Trainer Chris Waller is aware of the task awaiting Birdman when he confronts Sheza Alibi at Caulfield. Birdman and Sheza Alibi clash in the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) on Saturday and on ratings Waller says Sheza Alibi has Birdman’s measure. In Birdman’s favour though is the gelding has… Read More »
Ka Ying Rising has completed his trial preparations for The Everest with a narrow second behind Ninja at Randwick on Tuesday morning. The Everest favourite cruised through the 1000m hit-out on a Soft 7 track, with the Michael Freedman-trained Ninja edging him out by a long head. Ninja stopped the… Read More »
Juja Kibo moved a step closer to a start in this year’s Melbourne Cup after being rehandicapped for the $10 million event following his brilliant win in last Saturday’s The Metropolitan. Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper David Hegan issued the Ciaron Maher-trained stayer a 2kg penalty for his dominant 1-3/4-length win… Read More »
Crescent King is yet to be tested in Saturday grade, but he might have earned himself a shot at Stakes company with a big win at Warwick Farm on Monday. The three-year-old son of Written Tycoon made it two wins from as many starts this time in when he wore… Read More »
Mitch Freedman’s focus at Flemington last Saturday was on the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes, which he won with Skybird, but he was an interested observer of the Turnbull Stakes. The Ballarat trainer was excited to see Cosmic Crusader score a dominant 1-3/4-length win in the 2000-metre Group 1. The Freedman-trained… Read More »
Bjorn Baker is not taking up the opportunity to send Warwoven to Caulfield for Tuesday morning’s traditional Guineas Week track gallops, but the star colt will continue his familiarisation with another strong workout the Melbourne way of going at home in Sydney. The Golden Rose winner ramped up preparations for this… Read More »
Depending on when you are reading this, trainer Mitchell Freedman and favourite backers may only just have exhaled as a unique characteristic nearly brought Skybird undone in the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington. Sent out the $2.90 market elect, Skybird looked set for an easy victory as jockey Ben Melham eased… Read More »
Chris Waller trained his 207th career Group 1 winner and a record-equalling seventh Epsom Handicap success with God’s Window but he was the first to admit apprentice Siena Grima was the story. Siena Grima, 24, Sydney’s reigning premier apprentice, was competing in her first Group 1 race and became only… Read More »
Tempted has laid down the challenge to Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising with a devastating performance to win the Premiere Stakes at Randwick and all but secure owner Godolphin’s Everest slot. While not announced officially, Tempted will represent the global operation in the October 17 showpiece provided she comes… Read More »
The Metropolitan’s downgrade to Group 2 status wasn’t an issue for jockey Sam Clipperton after he scored his biggest win since coming out of retirement when successful aboard Juja Kibo in the Randwick staying feature. Clipperton hung up his saddle just over a year after he captured the 2023 Everest… Read More »
While many had been questioning how The Next Episode had come up following his two-year-old season, the Ciaron Maher stable had not lost faith. That faith was vindicated on Saturday when The Next Episode took out the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington, which in turn will set the… Read More »
John Sargent, the master trainer of three-year-old fillies, unearthed another rising star in Global Goal, an exciting winner in a three-way thriller for the Group 1 $750,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Sargent has trained many outstanding fillies over the years including Kirramosa, Quintessential, Four Moves Ahead,… Read More »
