Horse Racing News
Walker dominates the 2025 Grand National Steeplechase
Ballarat’s season-closing Grand National Steeplechase carried the promise of a fairytale ending for punters, but the $400,000 contest instead underlined the depth of Mark Walker’s team as the trainer celebrated an extraordinary trifecta. Leaderboard stole the show in the 4500-metre test, with Will Gordon steering him to a commanding 25-length victory....
Sprint path likely for Lady Shenandoah
Chris Waller will send a strong squad into Saturday’s Winx Stakes at Randwick, though Lady Shenandoah, expected to be a highlight in the $1 million race, will sit this one out. The celebrated trainer has confirmed the three-time Group 1 mare won’t line up in the 1400-metre weight-for-age clash, preferring instead...
Private Eye shows his class in the 2025 PB Lawrence Stakes
Private Eye’s Melbourne raid has proven a masterstroke, with the seasoned campaigner scoring a strong victory for trainer Joe Pride and connections. After Sydney’s heavy rain, Pride took the option of avoiding the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, instead giving his charge a Warwick Farm hit-out before aiming for...
Ferivia upstages unbeaten fillies to win the Quezette Stakes 2025
Lachlan Neindorf’s return to Melbourne racing could not have been scripted better, the young rider claiming Group success at Caulfield aboard a filly he knows inside out. The former Adelaide-based jockey, who shifted to Mornington last season, partnered Ferivia in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) and delivered a polished...
War Eternal wins but classy stayers impress behind him
War Eternal has capitalised on race fitness to land a gritty win at Rosehill but the returns of two Chris Waller-trained stayers behind him are set to prove more poignant pointers for the spring carnival. Seven-year-old War Eternal enjoyed the rain-affected conditions to post his fifth win in Saturday’s Captivant @...
Fully Lit’s emphatic win forces Bott into rethink
Trainer Adrian Bott has been handed a pleasant surprise after Fully Lit rediscovered his best form at Rosehill, romping home in the Precise Air Handicap (1400m). The gelding, who announced himself as a star juvenile by winning the 2024 Inglis Millennium, had been battling for consistency this preparation, but Saturday’s...
Ninja fights hard to land breakthrough city win
It wasn’t as dominant as the eleven-length margin he scored by last time but Ninja has done just enough to post his first Saturday metropolitan victory at Rosehill. A thumping winner at Kembla Grange earlier this month, Ninja wasn’t the smartest to jump and had to work hard to find the front...
Jimmy Recard digs in to win the Vain Stakes 2025
Jimmy Recard showed grit and class at Caulfield on Saturday, fending off a strong challenge to claim the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) and extend his winning streak to three. Sent out the $3.60 favourite, the colt was tested when Tycoon Star ($5) loomed up alongside in the straight, but under...
Skyhook too good in The Rosebud 2025
Skyhook confirmed his status as one of Gerald Ryan’s brightest prospects with a brave victory in the Listed Rosebud at Rosehill, carrying a hefty 60.5kg to victory in a feat previously achieved only by Menari. The Written Tycoon colt edged out Grand Prairie by half a length, with the favourite...
Exciting spring looms for Browne family
The Pakenham stable of Emma-Lee and David Browne are looking forward to being spring contenders this year having assembled their best team of horses. They have Statuario, Scary and Basilinna entered in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 with Scary also among Cox Plate (2040m) nominations a week later. But their spring gets...