Horse Racing News
Genzano notches Gavranich’s first group victory
She’s only been on the books as a co-trainer with Paul Messara for a few months, but Leah Gavranich has already posted her first group win. Their three-year-old filly Genzano ($15) was impressive taking out the Group 3 3YO Spring Stakes at Newcastle saluting by a length and a quarter over another filly Kind...
Sky’s the limit for Thousand Guineas favourite
Mitch Freedman has often thought he’d discovered one at a yearling sale that might have escaped the attention of other good judges only to miss out when the hammer fell. That is why the Ballarat trainer was so happy to land Skybird at last year’s Inglis Classic Sale. The favourite for Saturday’s Group...
Commemorative set to contest Thoroughbred Club Stakes
James Cummings is stepping promising filly Commemorative back in distance as an attempt at a Group 1 classic over a mile has come along too soon for her. Commemorative was the original favourite for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) but Cummings has instead favoured a start in the Group 3...
Golden Slipper winner Fireburn retired, sold to Japan
Last year’s Golden Slipper winner Fireburn has a date with an as-yet-unnamed Japanese stallion after it was announced on Thursday that the daughter of Rebel Dane had been retired. “She wasn’t on the market,” Louis Mihalyka of Laurel Oak Bloodstock said. “We were approached by an agent who I know well who...
Cummings hoping Gravina can turn form around in The Hunter
Though at longer odds in the markets, James Cummings is hoping Gravina can replicate similar form turnarounds of the past when he lines up at Newcastle on Saturday. The six-year-old lines up again in The Hunter (1300m) with the stable looking to go two places better than the third placing in...
Quickster one to watch in the Thousand Guineas
Peter Moody has seen enough of Quickster to say that despite her double-figure odds she can still mix it with the more fancied chances in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on Saturday. Approaching the $1.5 million 1600-metre feature at her third start, the filly by Cox Plate-winning sure Shamus...
Nick Ryan sets sights on the Thoroughbred Club Stakes
Nick Ryan has higher aims than a Group 3 race at Caulfield as he saddles up Munhamek in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, but earlier on the card his attention will be taken with the challenge for Material Dreams to add to her growing string of successive wins. Material...
Skew Wiff back on track ahead of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
It wasn’t exactly D-day for Skew Wiff at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, but the Kiwi mare’s trainer Mark Walker was still relieved to see her win. It was the four-year-old’s second start in Australia, following a sixth placing in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes on October 21, and while those...
Canberra Legend set to tackle The Beauford at Newcastle
He was well-supported when seventh at his Australian debut and the aptly-named Canberra Legend will appreciate the 2300m staying test in the $300,000 The Beauford at Newcastle on Saturday. By Great Britain stallion Australia, the four-year-old just faded late in the Rosehill Cup two weeks back and trainer Chris Waller believes he...
Juggle breaks maiden status at Ballarat
A midweek country meeting at Ballarat on a firmer surface has provided the ideal setting for the James Cummings-trained Juggle to break the maiden at her second start. Juggle, a three-year-old daughter of Lonhro, debuted for a fourth placing over 1000-metres at the same course on October 26 and that experience helped...