Mr Brightside has effectively been ruled out of this year’s $5 million Group 1 King Charles III Stakes with the gelding’s final Cox Plate lead-up run to be the week prior. Co-trainer Ben Hayes said he and his brothers had settled on an October 12 run for the seven-year-old, with the $1… Read More »
Damian Lane will be aboard when Via Sistina looks to get her Spring campaign back on track in this Saturday’s $750,000 Turnbull Stakes. Champion trainer Chris Waller has turned to Melbourne’s reigning premiership jockey for the 2000-metre Group 1 with Kerrin Mcevoy and James Mcdonald, who have ridden Via Sistina at her two starts… Read More »
Trainer Joe Pride is upbeat about the chances of Ceolwulf becoming his latest winner of a feature Randwick mile race, having decided a Group 1 Epsom Handicap start is the right option for the promising galloper at this stage of his spring preparation. Pride has won the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) over… Read More »
Two of Japan’s top thoroughbreds, Prognosis and Warp Speed, are set to arrive in Australia on Monday to target the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, respectively. Prognosis, trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, is eyeing the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. The high-class contender boasts strong form, particularly through his close battles… Read More »
Trainers Oopy MacGillivray and Dan Clarken have their Melbourne Cup-bound mare, The Map, primed for her next step in The Bart Cummings at Flemington. Having secured her Melbourne Cup berth with a win in the Andrew Ramsden in May, the team feels no pressure ahead of the race. “We don’t… Read More »
A gear change together with an important track outing on Tuesday morning will help Anthony and Sam Freedman decide whether Place Du Carrousel will head to Flemington on Saturday for a redeeming tilt at another Spring Carnival feature, and keep a Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup path on course. The… Read More »
It might be a case of out of sight, out of mind, but Bjorn Baker hasn’t given up hope of Overpass joining stablemate Stefi Magnetica in the $20 million The Everest. An outstanding fresh performer who has twice claimed the scalp of Amelia’s Jewel in The Quokka first-up, Overpass hasn’t raced since capturing… Read More »
A return to the winner’s stall has been a welcome turnaround for trainer and horse, as the Bjorn Baker-prepared Amor Victorious outlasted his rivals to capture the Group Two Shannon Stakes at Rosehill. Baker has been frustrated by a series of placings over the past few weeks, including Stefi Magnetica’s narrow… Read More »
Ten years after James Cummings celebrated his first Group One win alongside his legendary grandfather Bart, he has brought up his 50th in the same race, producing Broadsiding for an historic Golden Rose victory. The champion juvenile became the first horse to win the Golden Rose (1400m) first-up, unleashing his trademark whirlwind… Read More »
Desert Lightning has taken three runs to break his Australian winning duck but the Group 1 winner in New Zealand could be in line to snare one at the highest level at Caulfield next start in the Toorak Handicap. The five-year-old did just what co-trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman wanted… Read More »
Talented mare Makarena has put a valuable Group win on the board, claiming the scalp of Amelia’s Jewel to win the Golden Pendant at Rosehill. The mare was forced to do the bullocking work behind runaway leader Belclere first-up in the Sheraco Stakes (1200m) and did a good job to fight on… Read More »
Berkeley Square’s resurgence to winning form over longer trips at the right time of year has trainer Dan O’Sullivan weighing up which rich ‘secondary’ Cup is the right one for his talented stayer. Berkeley Square ($4.40 betting favourite) stamped himself back on the winners’ list at Flemington two weeks ago… Read More »
Perspiration has overcome a tardy start to score an upset win in the Listed Heritage Stakes at Rosehill. Sent out an $11 chance with betting apps in Saturday’s 1100m race for three-year-olds which was reduced to just five runners after scratchings, Perspiration was slowly away and a few lengths off his… Read More »
A Saturday metro three-year-old victory in late September is handy in any instance but Ben Hayes has aspirations for a blue riband classic start for Ndola after a confidence boosting win at Sandown. Though main contenders Daggers and Detroit City were scratchings after starting at Moonee Valley the night before, Hayes… Read More »
Ciaron Maher had four runners in Friday’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), including boom colt and race favourite Growing Empire, but it was the outsider of his quartet that produced a stunning victory. Southport Tycoon ($21), winner of the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), stuck to the inside under Mark Zahra and… Read More »
Read what each of the jockeys said about their mounts in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes. Mark Zahra (Southport Tycoon): The irony of racing, right? You are the epitome of that, aren’t you? “I thought you were gonna say you were the arsiest bastard ever. “I just rode him for… Read More »
The Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) was billed as close to a match race between Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside but Declan Bates ensured the mare, trained by Ciaron Maher, wasn’t for catching and extended her head-to-head lead over Mr Brightside. With just a field of four, Pride Of Jenni ($1.90) edged… Read More »
Top fresh record, in excellent form, adept on the wet and well weighted, there’s a stack of reasons why Searchin’ Roc’s commands attention at Belmont on Saturday. Trainer Jim Taylor concurs and has high confidence his classy mare can land the second-leg of a feature double and close out the… Read More »
Rope Them In returns to the races at Belmont tomorrow (Saturday) and trainer Steve Wolfe hopes it’s the first step towards lofty goals this preparation. Steve Wolfe has always had plenty of time for Rope Them In, runner-up in last year’s Fairetha Stakes (1400m) and if plans go his way, a… Read More »
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have a couple of Group 1 contests in mind for stablemates who will run at Sandown looking to boost their chances of gaining a start in races at the highest level. Muramasa and Craig were scratched from contests at Caulfield last week in preference for races on Saturday, seen… Read More »
