There is no doubt that if Artorius can win the Blue Diamond Stakes, his lead-in preparation will stand out as one of the most unorthodox in the event’s history. Artorius last raced at Sandown on January 23 when he was successful over 1300 metres, streaking away to win by 4-1/2… Read More »
Cult hero The Harrovian will bypass Saturday’s blockbuster renewal of the Group One Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield to be saved for a race at Flemington the following week. The Futurity had been on The Harrovian’s radar but he was not among the original nominations on Monday. Trainers Toby and… Read More »
The Queensland Guineas will be the winter carnival goal for luckless filly Gotta Kiss. The three-year-old returned to the stables of Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted on Monday. “She’s had a bit of time off after the Magic Millions and has just finished some pre-training out at Kolora Lodge,” Hoysted… Read More »
In-form colt General Beau will line up in the Group One Blue Diamond Stakes after his owner David Moodie decided to pay the late entry fee. The youngster was not nominated for Melbourne’s richest two-year-old race but co-trainer Matt Ellerton said it wasn’t hard to convince Moodie to fork out… Read More »
Training partners Richard and Michael Freedman already have a Golden Slipper prospect in unbeaten colt Stay Inside and they are hoping another of their juveniles can emerge as a feature race contender. Tiger Of Malay, an impressive winner of his only start in the spring, will be out to stake… Read More »
A pre-race plan to let Every Rose utilise her natural speed has come to fruition with the filly toppling her more highly-fancied rivals in the Light Fingers Stakes. Trainer Mark Newnham had been thrilled with the three-year-old leading into Saturday’s Group Two feature, although a soft track and outside draw… Read More »
The $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes is the jewel in the crown of The Championships races and the likely target for Colette after her stunning return at Randwick. The mare had never won below 1500 metres, nor first up, but neither statistic mattered as she relished the soft ground to… Read More »
Star jockey Jamie Kah proved the key to coaxing the best out of the enigmatic Nature Strip when she combined with the superstar sprinter to win the Black Caviar Lightning. The race proved to be a triumph for Australia’s leading trainer Chris Waller, who produced the quinella in the Group… Read More »
Group One Blue Diamond Stakes hero Tagaloa has recorded his first win since that race with an emphatic victory in the C S Hayes Stakes. Co-trainer Natalie Young was relieved to see Tagaloa return to his best form in the Group Three event over 1400 metres. “‘Tags’ is back. What… Read More »
Melody Belle’s bid to set a new benchmark for Group One wins by a New Zealand-trained horse has fallen short after she was beaten in the Herbie Dykes Stakes. The Jamie Richards-trained mare currently shares the record with the mighty Sunline, both gallopers having won 13 elite races apiece. Bad… Read More »
James McDonald has labelled Stay Inside as a genuine Golden Slipper threat but stopped short of committing to stick with him in the $3.5 million feature. Having his first race ride on the Michael and Richard Freedman-trained juvenile in Saturday’s Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick, McDonald did little but sit… Read More »
Ingratiating is likely to join James Cummings’ powerful Blue Diamond Stakes team after his authoritative win in the Talindert Stakes at Flemington. The Godolphin trainer will already be represented by Anamoe, Arcaded, Picarones and possibly Telluride in the Group One two-year-old race at Caulfield next Saturday. Cummings’ Melbourne stable foreman… Read More »
It was a case of mission accomplished for Godolphin head trainer James Cummings when emerging mare Tailleur posted a breakthrough black-type win at Randwick. The four-year-old has been patiently managed and made it six wins from eight starts when she staved off the challenge of Tricky Gal to win the… Read More »
Brad Widdup says everything is on track for the return of progressive mare Icebath, who tackles the Triscay Stakes at Randwick. Icebath, who was just pipped in a thriller by Collette in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle at her final spring outing, will kick off her autumn campaign in the… Read More »
The Group One Black Caviar Lightning will be run in front of empty grandstands following the implementation of Melbourne’s latest lockdown restrictions. Only essential staff and industry participants will be allowed at Flemington on Saturday, just days after the Victoria Racing Club announced it was hoping to welcome up to… Read More »
Winter carnival options are on the horizon for Garibaldi if he can extend his winning sequence at Doomben. Garibaldi is a $1.80 favourite with TAB fixed odds to make it four wins in a row in the BRC Like Nowhere Else In BNE Plate (1200m) on Saturday. Trainer Tony Gollan… Read More »
Trainer Danny Morton has declared he will be doing cartwheels if star Perth sprinter Elite Street can win the Group One Black Caviar Lightning. But Morton won’t be doing them at Flemington, or even back at his home track of Ascot. He will instead be performing them in a Melbourne… Read More »
It takes a special horse to come off a Melbourne Cup preparation and return to win a weight-for-age sprint but Verry Elleegant might just be good enough to do it. That is the mindset trainer Chris Waller is adopting ahead of the mare’s resumption in Saturday’s Group Two Apollo Stakes… Read More »
Trainer Michael Freedman is adamant Sweet Reply only needs a change in fortune to make her presence felt during the Sydney autumn. The filly’s record stands at one win from eight starts but she has been the bridesmaid five times, four of them in close finishes. To add salt to… Read More »
The magic hands of star jockey Jamie Kah could prove the difference for Nature Strip in the Black Caviar Lightning, according to trainer Chris Waller. For Waller the equation is straightforward: If Kah can get the enigmatic superstar sprinter to settle, he can win. “If it all works out he… Read More »
