A Melbourne Cup victory by unheralded Australian-trained stayer Knight’s Choice has given rival trainer Chris Waller reason to dream of some lofty goals for his emerging talent Kadavar. The latter brought up a hat-trick of 2400m wins with a tough victory in Saturday’s Listed Christmas Cup at Randwick and while it is… Read More »
Jockey Declan Bates says he may have to cut short a holiday in Ireland to come back for a ride at the Gold Coast next month. Bates partnered the Ciaron Maher-trained Yes Lulu to victory in the Magic Millions VIC 3YO & 4YO Classic (1200m) at Caulfield Heath on Saturday with the… Read More »
Invincible Woman provided the Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans stable with a milestone victory with her debut win at Caulfield Heath. The win of Invincible Woman in the Magic Millions VIC 2YO Classic (1100m) on Saturday was the first for Kennewell and Yeomans with a yearling purchased together. Yeomans became an integral… Read More »
Bargain buy Within The Law has capped a lucrative week for Bjorn Baker’s two-year-olds, taking out the $500,000 Inglis Nursery three days after stablemate O’Ole snared the $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong Classic. A $30,000 buy, Within The Law has now banked $880,000 from just two starts, adding Saturday’s Randwick feature to… Read More »
Sam Kavanagh, a New South Wales-based horse trainer and the son of Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mark Kavanagh, passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 38 after battling illness. Despite early success, Kavanagh faced significant challenges in his career. In 2015, he received a lengthy ban from racing for… Read More »
Young Werther is set to kick off his campaign at Caulfield Heath this Saturday, with a strong performance potentially paving the way for a shot at the $1 million Perth Cup (2400m) on New Yearâs Day. Trainer Danny OâBrien remains optimistic about the geldingâs readiness, even though the 1500-metre trip… Read More »
Lindsey Smith, one of Australiaâs most accomplished horse trainers, has announced the closure of his Warrnambool stables, marking the end of a six-year tenure. The trainer will relocate to Barwon Heads, where he will work out of Danny O’Brienâs state-of-the-art facilities. Smith, a former Western Australian horseman with a remarkable… Read More »
Champion jockey Larry Cassidy has officially announced his retirement after 39 years in the saddle, citing ongoing health challenges from a debilitating finger injury. The injury, sustained during trackwork at Eagle Farm, nearly led to amputation but was saved after multiple surgeries. Cassidy had also been battling pain from a… Read More »
Jumps racing in Victoria has won a reprieve after a disastrous end to season at Ballarat. Three horses were euthanised at the season ending Grand National Steeplechase meeting at Ballarat in August, prompting a review with over 350 written submissions received, reflecting proposals to improve jumps racing, calls for its… Read More »
Hawkes Racing is happy to play the long game with Grand Larceny who will chase back-to-back victories when he lines up at Caulfield Heath. A last start winner at Moonee Valley, Grand Larceny contests the Evergreen Turf Handicap (1000m) on Saturday. Grand Larceny is the lowest rated galloper in Saturday’s line-up,… Read More »
With confidence built from a breakthrough metropolitan win, visiting UK jockey Saffron Osborne will be looking to build on that when she partners Warnie at Caulfield Heath on Saturday. Osborne partnered Berezka to her breakthrough metropolitan success at Caulfield Heath on Thursday and rides Warnie in the ive > idea > execution… Read More »
Another spring carnival tilt is the ultimate aim for Matthew Dunn’s recent stable addition Sea King, but the import’s Christmas Cup performance will go a long way to determining what path he takes to get there. The six-year-old will make his debut for the stable in Saturday’s 2400m staying feature… Read More »
The rise of The Ingham favourite Gringotts hasn’t come as a surprise to jockey Tommy Berry, but he admits the manner in which the gelding has been achieving it has been a welcome revelation. Gringotts has captured the Big Dance and The Gong at his past two starts, both times carting… Read More »
Michael Hickmott seemingly had Saturday’s $55,000 Matrix Solar Solutions Handicap at his mercy, but while he has passed up the opportunity with Ad Astra, he remains a strong chance of victory. The astute trainer will start Dyer in the 1100-metre event at Gawler, which is the feature meeting in South Australia this… Read More »
Group 1-winning trainer Mat Ellerton has announced he will step away from training to focus on his health following a significant health scare earlier this year. Ellerton suffered a stroke in June while on holiday in Bali and has been working through recovery while continuing to train out of his… Read More »
Feature sprint races in Perth early next year are on the table for Albany speedster, Final Siren if he comes through his return run in good order at Ascot. The promising four-year-old, back in the care of trainer Rebecca Bayliss, kicks off his campaign in the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1000m)… Read More »
Dan Morton has backed his quality mare Super Smink to put her best foot forward and rebound off a fair run in Saturdayâs The Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot. Super Smink got a long way back from a positive draw last Saturday, but was never in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes… Read More »
Astute trainer Stephen Miller feels Magnificent Andy is âspot onâ and heâs backed his six-year-old to run well when he tackles Saturdayâs $1.5 million The Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot. Magnificent Andy is coming out of a strong fourth in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and coupled with a positive barrier… Read More »
It has been a case of trial and error, but Ben Brisbourne believes he has finally got former smart juvenile Rocket Tiger figured out after taking over his training earlier this year. Rocket Tiger had his first full campaign for Brisbourne over the late autumn and winter and towards the backend of… Read More »
When Gerald Ryan bought a filly by Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento at the yearling sales, he wasn’t anticipating she would be precocious enough to race as a pre-Christmas two-year-old. However, Sequista has proven to be a pleasant surprise, and in hindsight, Ryan feels there may be a pointer in her… Read More »
