Horse Racing News
Distance rise to help Navajo Peak in JRA Plate
David Payne has taken the blame for Navajo Peak’s disappointing campaign, but he remains adamant the horse will respond to a distance rise in the JRA Plate at Randwick. The five-year-old posted the most significant win of his career in last year’s Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m), prompting Payne to target him...
Grid Girl stays home for the Mornington Guineas
Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes have elected to keep Grid Girl in Melbourne for another start before the possibility of tackling Stakes company. Grid Girl will run in the Mornington Guineas (1600m) on Saturday rather than travel to Adelaide for the Listed HC Nitschke Stakes (1400m) on the inner...
Will Lightning get chance to strike in All Aged Stakes?
Chain Of Lightning’s TJ Smith Stakes win immediately stamped her one of the headline acts of this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, but whether she gets the chance to bolster her page this weekend could be weather dependant. The daughter of Fighting Sun is not a certain starter in the...
New Zealand raid on the Mornington Cup
New Zealanders Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray have their heart set on winning a start in the Caulfield Cup at Mornington. The Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on Saturday offers the winner a start in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October, a race Ritchie would like to see lightly raced stayer...
Jockey merry-go-round on Maharba in Hareeba Stakes
With the potential of a jockey shortage at Mornington, trainer Grahame Begg and owner Gary Towzell got on the front foot in the search of a jockey for Maharba at Mornington. The three-year-old runs in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, but longer-term Wagga-based Towzell has his eyes on a feature race...
Quiet ride key to Fearless producing Champagne Stakes finish
Connections of Champagne Stakes contender Fearless will revert to riding the colt cold as they bid to harness the youngster’s best asset. Co-trainer Paul Snowden felt Fearless became too competitive when settling midfield and between runners in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) last start, tiring late to finish sixth. His efforts prior...
Ben Melham breaks leg in Caulfield fall
Jockey Ben Melham has been transported to hospital following a fall soon after jumping from the barriers at Caulfield Heath. The fall has put Melham’s ride aboard Malkovich in the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday in jeopardy. Racing Victoria stewards reported Melham was being transported to hospital with a...
Chris Waller colt could be a winter carnival Force
Chris Waller has long been a proponent of seasoning his later-maturing two-year-olds during the Brisbane winter carnival, and Canterbury winner Imperial Force is poised to follow that route. The highest price colt sold at last year’s Inglis Easter Sale, the son of Snitzel out of Gold Fever mare Ultimate Fever was a $1.6 million...
Mitchell Pateman maintains faith in Almighty Class
Mitchell Pateman has never wavered in his opinion that gun three-year-old Almighty Class could win a major feature event, the only question in his mind was when and where. Pateman hoped it could have been at last year’s Ascot Pinnacles carnival, but the chance went begging and cruelly cut short by...
Dottie a Rich debut winner
Nicely bred two-year-old filly Rich Dottie provided Grahame Begg with a couple of firsts at Caulfield Heath. The win of the filly in the Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap (1000m) on Wednesday was the trainer’s first two-year-old winner of the season as well as his first for Yu Long Investments. Rich Dottie is a daughter...