Michael Christian, breeder and managing owner of star mare Bella Nipotina, acknowledges retirement looms in the distance. However, for now, he savours the journey alongside the resilient sprinter. Bella Nipotina, a home bred daughter of Pride Of Dubai, marked her 50th track appearance with a gallant runner-up finish in the… Read More »
Mother, veterinarian nurse and horse trainer. Geraldton-based Bonnie Stokes is a busy lady; she has a lot to pack in. But for a short period on Wednesday Stokes will park two of her roles when she fulfills a personal ambition at Belmont. The 28-year-old is set to saddle her first Perth… Read More »
Lee Freedman, who hasn’t had a runner in Melbourne for nearly a decade, is making a return to the Victorian turf as Binding represents his stable at Sandown on Wednesday. The Gold Coast-based trainer highlighted the lack of suitable mares’ races in Queensland as the reason behind sending Binding down… Read More »
Craig Williams predicted a bright future for Magic Time’s younger half-brother Henlein, but over distances greater than his sibling excels at, following his impressive win at Bendigo on Tuesday. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained son of Dundeel got his career off to a perfect start with a strong win in the… Read More »
Quick Tempo has been an excellent money spinner for the Mark Minervini stable with seven wins and over $400,000 in prize money and the Newcastle based trainer is hoping the gelding can win his first listed race in Saturday’s Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m). The five-year-old put in the best performance of… Read More »
A day after the Victoria Racing Club announced their new Chief Executive Officer, a search is set to begin at the Melbourne Racing Club. Josh Blanksby, who has held the position of CEO at the MRC for the past 10 years, will quit his post on August 31. It is… Read More »
The meeting scheduled for Wodonga on Monday has been transferred to Wangaratta following a track inspection by Racing Victoria stewards. The inspection on Sunday has also resulted in the barrier trials set down for Tuesday also being moved. After more than 54mm of rain fell in Wodonga in the past 48 hours, the… Read More »
Jockey Blake Shinn will look to add to his recent Group 1 haul during the Brisbane Winter Carnival when he partners Molly Bloom in the Queensland Oaks. In the past two weeks, Shinn has captured the Doomben Cup on Bois D’Argent and last Saturday the Queensland Derby on Warmonger. On Saturday, Shinn returns… Read More »
Holmes A Court, the Black Opal winner, is set to continue his racing journey in Hong Kong under the tutelage of renowned horseman Tony Cruz. Acquired for $850,000 at the 2023 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Holmes A Court showcased promise with placements in the Blue Diamond Preview and… Read More »
Racing Victoria stewards are pushing for an additional ban of at least 10 years for Darren Weir, the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, over the use of a jigger on three racehorses. Representing RV stewards, Albert Dinelli KC emphasised the need for a stern penalty. “Mr. Weir did not merely possess the… Read More »
The Victoria Racing Club has announced its new leader with Kylie Rogers to take the reins as chief executive. Rogers comes from the AFL, where she has spent the past seven years, including her most recent role as Executive General Manager – Customer and Commercial. Rogers is excited to be… Read More »
A Tuesday morning track gallop will let Tom Conlan know whether he is able to chase his first Flemington Saturday city winner with Atlantic Spirit this weekend. The Ballarat trainer’s stable star is among the nominations for three races with the $150,000 TAB/ATA Trainers’ Trust Handicap, which is the fourth heat… Read More »
Keeping expectations in check after Warmonger’s Group 1 Queensland Derby triumph, Michael Kent Junior, while eyeing the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, emphasised that they won’t rush into obligatory targets. “The horse will obviously tell us, but we’ll put a circle around the big spring features although we are under no… Read More »
Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby is eyeing a return to the Melbourne Cup scene, with Thursday night’s Group 2 Belmont Gold Cup in New York potentially paving the way. Appleby, who last had a Melbourne Cup runner in 2019, is preparing Siskany to defend his title in the 3200m race at… Read More »
Kind Words’ only win might have been last spring in a 1400-metre Hawkesbury maiden, but Kris Lees remains confident she can be a factor in this Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks. After all, her career stats might read differently had she had better luck in running at her past two starts…. Read More »
Brisbane’s wet tracks have prompted Sam and Anthony Freedman to pull up stumps with the horse they hope could be their next spring star for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. Royal Champion, the imported gelding who was being prepared along similar lines to what Without A Fight was this time last year,… Read More »
Romantic Warrior extended his remarkable season with a stellar performance in Sunday’s Group One Yasuda Kinen (1,600m) at Tokyo racecourse. Favoured to achieve his bold goal in Japan, Romantic Warrior powered through the rain-soaked turf to secure victory by half a length, piloted by the illustrious jockey James McDonald. Normally… Read More »
Former trainer Darren Weir is set to face the Victorian Racing Tribunal on Monday to receive his sentence for animal cruelty charges. The 2015 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer had pleaded guilty last March to using an electronic shock device – known as a jigger – on three racehorses under his care… Read More »
The decision to bypass a maiden steeplechase at Hamilton in favour of the Australian Hurdle at Sandown has paid off handsomely for Lindsay Park the connections of Port Guillaume. The Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained jumper took out the feature 3900m hurdle on Sunday to add almost $70,000 in… Read More »
Bell Ex One has produced another heart-stopper for connections, this time claiming a narrow victory in the Australian Steeplechase at Sandown. The Andrew Bobbin-trained jumper was set for a comfortable victory in Sunday’s 3900m steeplechase, until the Henry Dwyer-trained Riding High rallied in the straight to go down narrowly. Bell Ex One… Read More »
