On a day of recognition for NSW country areas, two Highway Handicaps at Randwick have given connections something to cheer about. Saturday was dedicated to Racing for the Bushfires, comprising fund raising efforts to help livestock and other animals affected by the long-term drought and fires in the state over… Read More »
Canberra gelding Gunga Din has relished a hot tempo to street his Highway Handicap rivals and pull off another training coup for veteran horseman Keith Dryden. With Acquittal overdoing things in front, Nash Rawiller settled Gunga Din ($3.90 fav) midfield and the four-year-old quickly gathered in his rivals on straightening… Read More »
A run of bad luck in Highway Handicaps finally turned for Terry Robinson when Lady Demi got the decision in a deceptive photo finish at Randwick. Robinson was ruing his luck when Lady Demi and Rioli went to the line together and said he didn’t think she’d won. “No I… Read More »
Disappointment has quickly turned to joy for jockey Jason Collett who won the opening race on Winx Stakes day at Randwick after originally being earmarked to ride a rival runner. Collett had been pencilled in to partner Bellarina Magic for Brett Cavanough in the TAB Highway Handicap (1100m) but could… Read More »
Sometimes just watching the fields come out leads you to a tip. For instance when Saturday’s fields for Randwick arrived, and you looked through them, the TAB Highway shone brightly. This is because Greg Ryan had a ride. Why is that significant? Well, Greg Ryan is the winningest jockey in… Read More »
Todd Howlett has already received some good news this week and he’s hoping there’s more to come when he takes Siege Warfare to Randwick for the Tab Highway Handicap. The Hunter-based trainer welcomed the announcement earlier this week that Racing NSW would be boosting prize money for a number of… Read More »
Port Macquarie trainer Marc Quinn is already looking a long way into the future with Randwick winner Gumshoe who he believes can be a genuine Country Championship contender. The $500,000 final of the Country Championship series is not until next April and Quinn has to decide the right path to… Read More »
Danny Williams plans to have a significant representation in next year’s Country Championships and one of his leading contenders will be in action at Rosehill on Saturday. The Goulburn trainer has up to eight horses earmarked as candidates for the series, restricted to country-trained horses and culminates in a Final… Read More »
She may sound sweet but Iamacrumpet is one tough little mare. The four-year-old will run in the Highway Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday after winning by almost three lengths at Muswellbrook last week. It is the Jan Bowen-trained runner’s maiden trip to Sydney, and the first metropolitan meeting for her… Read More »
The Lion has claimed a second Highway Handicap win to ease the pain of what should have been his third. A post-race drug test after his victory at Randwick in June was found to contain an illegal substance and the gelding was stripped of his win. Trainer Michelle Fleming admitted… Read More »
Tristan De Angel has put Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn back on the Highway Handicap winners’ list and fuelled ambitions for the Country Championship. The gelding’s win in Saturday’s 1400m race stopped a run of Canberra winners since the ACT trainers returned to the country racing fold. Dunn said he had… Read More »
Favourite Sei Stella has blitzed the field to comfortably win the TAB Highway Handicap at Randwick. Sent out at $3.80, the Matthew Dale-trained four-year-old streaked away to claim victory in Saturday’s 1000m sprint by 3-1/4 lengths ahead of Lifesaver and Prince Planet. It was the second win in the past… Read More »
Training partners Keith Dryden and Scott Collings have celebrated the return of Canberra horses to the Highway Handicaps with Handle The Truth winning at Rosehill. Canberra was taken out of the series for country-trained horses last year when they were assessed to be provincial class but were reinstated from the… Read More »
Matt Dunn’s latest Highway Handicap winner has stamped himself as a contender for the $1.3 million Kosciuszko. Lifesaver has become the Murwillumbah trainer’s 18th winner of the Highway races for country-trained horses with his victory over 1100 metres at Rosehill on Saturday. The lure of the big prize on the… Read More »
Brett Cavanough isn’t sure if Star Boy is a Country Championships prospect this year despite winning the Highway Handicap at Warwick Farm. Star Boy ($6.50) was on speed throughout, kicked on the turn and held off the fast-finishing Under The Thumb ($14) to score by a short neck. Cavanough said… Read More »
Mister Smartee will finally get to race in Sydney, two years after Chris Waller’s plans to buy the gelding were undone by a failed veterinary examination. The now three-year-old arrives at Rosehill – Waller’s training base in the city – via Port Macquarie, where he is among Tas Morton’s small… Read More »
Punters can expect to see a lot more of She Knows after the filly returned from a five-week break to win the Highway Handicap at Randwick. The three-year-old tired to the line in the Saturday race over 1100 metres but held on by a half-length to beat I Am Capitan,… Read More »
The man who has ridden more winners in Australia than any other jockey has added one of special significance at Randwick. Robert Thompson has combined with his good friend, trainer Rod Northam, to claim Saturday’s $200,000 Anniversary Highway (1400m) for country-trained horses on the support program for the $10 million… Read More »
Prolific Highway Handicap winner Matthew Dunn broke new ground at Randwick, nailing the trifecta the first time he had entered three runners in the race for country-trained horses. The concept’s most successful trainer, Dunn secured his 12th victory on Saturday when Bronzed Venom ($13) overhauled the favourite Cascata Rossa ($2.30)… Read More »
Cameron Crockett has taken a measured approach with Mar Nero leading into the Highway Handicap at Randwick. The seven-year-old came to the Mudgee trainer as a 19-start maiden with a habit of missing the start and has won three races under Crockett. After the mare finished third at the start… Read More »
