Horse Racing News
Imperatriz headlines G1 Moir Stakes night
On Grand Final weekend, the major meeting is the Friday night with the running of the G1 Moir Stakes (1000m). Obviously going off last run, Imperatriz ($1.90) will be such a focus but several other elite sprinters will go around including Bella Nipotina ($8), Asfoora ($5) and Rothfire ($8) in what...
Gai Waterhouse holds a strong hand in The Metropolitan
Gai Waterhouse already holds the record for the number of The Metropolitan winners but rarely has the Hall of Fame trainer gone into the Group 1 with as strong a hand as she holds this year. Not only do Waterhouse and her training partner Adrian Bott have all-in even money favourite, [[Just...
Gold Bullion wins Derby Preview at Flemington
Being trained at Flemington and having performed well in the Penfolds Derby Preview are both positives in the eyes of Gai Waterhouse as Gold Bullion won the lead-up contest with stablemate Ambassadorial finishing third. Gai Waterhouse first her won the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in 1995 with Nothin’ Leica Dane...
John O’Shea hasn’t given hope on an Everest berth
John O’Shea hasn’t given up on Lost And Running making a late bid for an Everest berth, despite his unplaced first-up performance in the Shorts. The scratching of reigning champion Giga Kick on Saturday with a muscle tear means slot holder James Harron is back in the market for a runner, while...
Harlow Mist a genuine VRC Oaks chance
Another shrewd placement from John Sargent sees his stable with a genuine VRC Oaks chance after Harlow Mist won the Kennedy Oaks Preview (1800m) at Flemington and maintaining a perfect race record. At her third start, and after wins at Goulburn and Scone, the three-year-old ran 0.27 seconds outside of Barb...
Alligator Blood goes back-to-back in the G1 Underwood Stakes
Damien Oliver landed his first Group 1 win since announcing his impending retirement when the champion jockey partnered Alligator Blood to a second-straight win in the $750,000 Underwood Stakes. Oliver made the most of one final ride aboard gritty on-pacer before regular rider Tim Clark returns from injury in the 1800-metre event at Caulfield. The...
Joao Moreira wins the G1 Golden Rose on Militarize
They don’t call Joao Moreira ‘The Magic Man’ for nothing. The internationally decorated jockey was at his brilliant best in Saturday’s Golden Rose (1400m), extricating Militarize from a sticky position halfway up the straight and sooling him home to post a last-stride win. Moreira has now ridden Militarize three times for as many Group...
Athabascan to chase a Melbourne Cup 2023 berth
Intent on qualifying Athabascan for the Melbourne Cup, trainer John O’Shea will bypass a start in the Metropolitan and head straight to Victoria with the in-form stayer. The Irish import made it two wins on the trot when he stormed home from the back in Saturday’s Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill, confirming...
Waller mulls over The Everest with Espiona
It wasn’t the prettiest win, but Espiona has raced herself into contention for trainer Chris Waller’s Everest slot with a commanding performance in the Golden Pendant at Rosehill. The quirky mare wanted to get her head to the side as she ranged up to eventual third placegetter Banana Queen but once jockey...
Steparty wins again in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude
Steparty will be defending an unbeaten record in next month’s Caulfield Guineas after the colt scored a tenacious win in the main Victorian lead-up to next month’s $3 million Group 1. The Paul Preusker-trained three-year-old added a fifth picket to the fence he has been building since winning a Ballarat maiden...