The one thing for certain is that Growing Empire’s will start his campaign in Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington, but what happens there will determine the remainder of his preparation. Trainer Ciaron Maher is desperate to secure a maiden Group 1 success for the son of Zoustar. The three-year-old came… Read More »
Chris Waller’s Apollo Stakes stars will be his headline acts at Randwick this Saturday, but the champion trainer has more-than-handy support acts resuming in the day’s other $300,000 Group 2s. Joliestar has been nominated for the 1400-metre Apollo, alongside Via Sistina, Fangirl and Atishu, but is primed to kick off her campaign… Read More »
Matthew Smith is hoping to catch some big-name sprinters off guard with speedy gelding Way To The Stars, who is set to have his first attempt at Group 1 level in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday. A last-start winner of the Listed Century Stakes (1000m) over… Read More »
Via Sistina is progressing nicely according to Chris Waller and a track gallop at Randwick on Saturday has switched the Cox Plate-winning mare and his team’s focus on and ready for her return next weekend. Via Sistina will be joined by stablemates Fangirl and Atishu in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) back at… Read More »
Jamie Kah rode 15 Group 1 winners but her first as Jamie Melham having recently married fellow jockey Ben Melham means a whole lot more. Melham partnered the Ciaron Maher-trained Another Wil to victory in the CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday saying there is a God in racing…. Read More »
Seeing out a strong 1200-metres and with the precedent of the family line reaching the mile, Mick Price has Randwick Guineas intentions with colt Public Attention after his win in the Eskimo Prince Stakes. A son of Written Tycoon, Public Attention ($5) held off the challenge from topweight Linebacker ($4.80) by… Read More »
Kris Lees knew that Rivellino had above average ability early on and his confidence in making sure that James Mcdonald was in the saddle had the paid off handomsely with victory in the $2 million Inglis Millennium. Restricted to horses bought at Inglis sales, the race still gives some prizemoney credit towards earning… Read More »
Trainer Clinton Mcdonald and jockey Ben Melham will chase Guineas redemption after Angel Capital’s impressive first-up win at Caulfield. Success in Saturday’s Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) will lead to Angel Capital running in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 1. Angel Capital was one of the main… Read More »
The Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes market has had a reshuffle after horses that headed betting leading into racing at Caulfield had their colours lowered in crucial lead-up races on the Saturday. My Gladiola was favourite for the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22 and was expected to… Read More »
The Lonhro Plate might have been somewhat of a consolation stakes after missing a run in the Inglis Millennium, but for the connections of Bellazaine, the listed race win reignited hopes of a Golden Slipper start. The daughter of Zousain was an emergency for the $2 million Inglis Millennium but… Read More »
Jamie Melham rides one of the leading chances in Australia’s first Group 1 of the year at Caulfield on Saturday, but she took time out on Friday morning to test out her ride in next week’s feature event. Melham partnered Traffic Warden to win an 800-metre jumpout at Flemington that contained a… Read More »
Ciaron Maher has hinted that it’s “possible” Pride Of Jenni could come out of retirement. Speculation has been circulating in racing circles for weeks, with the mare’s status on Racing Australia listed as “spelling” rather than “retired,” leaving the door open for a potential return. Owner Tony Ottobre has remained… Read More »
Jamie Melham’s quest for a second-straight Blue Diamond Stakes success ramps up this weekend at Caulfield. The recently-married jockey, who won last year’s $2 million Group 1 on the late Hayasugi as Jamie Kah, will team up with untapped Godolphin colt Aleppo Pine in the colts and geldings Prelude and Gin Spirit… Read More »
Top jockey Tim Clark says Mayfair only needs to reproduce his spring form to put himself in pole position for a first-up win in the Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick. The colt is a $4.40 third pick in early markets for Saturday’s Group 3 contest, behind $2.70 favourite Gatsby’s and the newly… Read More »
The Darby Racing team is spending the back end of this week scouring Inglis’s Riverside Sales Complex in search of more Classic Yearling Sale stars and if its 2025 team turns out as good as last year’s cohort it will have done well. The Scott Darby-led operation is inspecting the… Read More »
Trainer Clinton Mcdonald is hoping to strike while the tracks are dry and intends to keep Angel Capital to a three-run autumn campaign. That campaign kicks off in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. McDonald said depending on the colt’s performance on Saturday, the Group 1 Futurity Stakes… Read More »
John O’Shea isn’t anticipating Linebacker being ring rusty when he resumes for the first time as a gelding in the Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick. The Group 1 placegetter was only seen twice in the spring, most recently when sixth in the Golden Rose after a coltish pre-race display that resulted in… Read More »
Knight’s Choice is poised to become the first Melbourne Cup winner to run in an All-Star Mile after impressing in a trial at the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday morning. The five-year-old made his first public appearance since winning last November’s Melbourne Cup in the 1000-metre hitout and accelerated impressively along the… Read More »
The only thing missing from the CV of Schwarz is a Group 1 victory which his trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton hope to rectify as early as Saturday. Schwarz has yet to try his hand at Group 1 company but will get that opportunity in the C F Orr Stakes (1400m)… Read More »
Trainer Enver Jusufovic was happy with what he saw from Pinstriped in a Cranbourne barrier trial in preparation for a Group 1 return at Caulfield. Pinstriped is scheduled to contest the C F Orr Stakes (1400m) on Saturday. The gelding is one of 13 horses entered for the race that includes Angel… Read More »
