Growing Empire drew comparisons with another of Ciaron Maher’s former star three-year-olds with his impressive first-up win at Caulfield. The son of Zoustar showed a stunning turn of foot to quickly put the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) away on Saturday. It was the return outing from Growing Empire after he… Read More »
Boom colt Storm Boy has made an early spring statement with a devastating first-up win in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill, prompting connections to reassess their plans and consider an Everest tilt. The hulking three-year-old, who started a $2.35 equal bookmakers favourite, showcased sustained speed to lead throughout in Saturday’s… Read More »
Giga Kick continued his build-up to a return to the track at Randwick on Friday, where the star sprinter won a talent-laden 900m trial. The dual Group 1 winner and 2022 The Everest champion sat fourth, improved from the midway point and was given slight encouragement from James Mcdonald to get alongside… Read More »
Two European imports that the Ciaron Maher stable has Cups ambitions for, are set to start their spring campaigns at Caulfield. St George kicks off in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) on Saturday with Okita Soushi set to run in the Quayclean Handicap (2000m). Both are entered in the Group 1 Caulfield… Read More »
Most racing fans have been eagerly anticipating Pride Of Jenni’s return since her head-spinning Queen Elizabeth Stakes win, but Declan Bates has spent much of the time in the interim directing his attention elsewhere. The regular rider for the mare who has risen to become one of the most popular horses… Read More »
Bred to be a superstar, Federer has kept his record intact with an impressive victory at start number two at Sandown. A Ballarat maiden winner on debut earlier in the month, Federer stamped his authority on the IVE> Handicap (1600m) on Wednesday, racing to a six-length victory. Sent out the $1.65… Read More »
Mr Brightside and Gentleman Roy have been stable stalwarts for Lindsay Park since the days when David Hayes left for his return to Hong Kong. When Ben and J D Hayes took over at the helm of Lindsay Park before Will joined the training ticket at the beginning of the 2023-24 season,… Read More »
Adrian Bott has confirmed boom colt Storm Boy will make his seasonal return in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill as he gears up towards his major spring assignments. The Tulloch Lodge three-year-old is among eight acceptors for Saturday’s sprint, along with stablemate Mayfair and brilliant first-up winner Gatsby’s for Chris Waller. Bott… Read More »
Caulfield Cup favourite Fawkner Park has been given his first look at the track where the Group 1 race is set to be held. The Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained galloper had his first look at Caulfield on Tuesday as part of his build up to the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on… Read More »
Jockey Jamie Kah can’t wait for the official opening of the Spring Carnival which coincides with the first Group 1 race of the new season in Melbourne. Kah will ride Queensland visitor Antino in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, her first ride on the gelding under… Read More »
Yulong claimed the first Group 1 of the season with Via Sistina in Sydney last Saturday and while it will not be represented in the Memsie Stakes, the Caulfield meeting is likely to feature a colt it has Group 1 aspirations with later in the year. Untapped Ciaron Maher-trained colt… Read More »
A collection of colts who spent time at the head of Golden Slipper betting last season are a chance to square off in this season’s San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill. Storm Boy and Shangri La Express are among four nominations for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the $250,000 Group 3, while… Read More »
Melbourne Cup-bound runners competing in the Ebor Handicap is a well-worn path towards the first Tuesday in November and jumper-turned flat performer Magical Zoe has earned a place at Flemington by winning York’s staying feature. It was through the encouragement of the ownership group, some of which had already planned to… Read More »
Joliestar has stamped her claims to a coveted Everest slot with a breathtaking return in the Show County Quality, winning with such ease that jockey James Mcdonald had time to give her a pat before the finishing line. While Chris Waller was playing down the Everest hype after the performance, bookmakers were quick to… Read More »
Victorian raider Ameena has put the writing on the wall for a fruitful spring, finishing powerfully to win a competitive Silver Shadow Stakes in a driving finish. With less than a length separating the first five fillies across the line, Ameena ($4.80) arrived just in time to nail Silmarillion ($21) by… Read More »
Daggers is likely to be Sydney bound for his next outing after keeping his record intact with an all-the-way win at Moonee Valley. A maiden winner at Sandown on debut, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained colt added the Brooks Running AU Plate (1200m) to his record on Saturday. The Group… Read More »
Former European mare Via Sistina has already provided a taste of her talents in Australia, and her stable is seeing all the right physical signs to suggest there is more to come. A devastating winner of the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at her Sydney debut in the autumn, the high-class… Read More »
Hall Of Fame trainer Les Bridge says a tilt at The Everest is almost certainly off the table for Celestial Legend, confirming the Golden Eagle as his stable star’s primary mission. Speaking on Queensland’s RadioTAB on Thursday, Bridge revealed the horse’s owner Bon Ho had never been overly keen on pursuing… Read More »
A past Everest experiment that backfired is shaping Chris Waller’s early spring agenda for Group One winner Joliestar as he bids to ensure history doesn’t repeat. Twelve months ago, connections of stablemate Zougotcha considered the mare an Everest contender and Waller designed her program accordingly, training her as a sprinter and launching… Read More »
The Mark Walker stable did not expect the transformation Sans Doute made during her initial campaign in Melbourne. Sans Doute raced her way from a handicap rating of 72 when she landed at Walker’s Cranbourne stable and six months later, after eight starts, Sans Doute had increased that to 98. That was… Read More »
