Horse Racing News
Mark Zahra holds strong 2025 Victoria Derby Day hand
Mark Zahra is heading into the Flemington Carnival opener with one of the strongest collections of feature-race rides he has ever taken into a single meeting. The top jockey has been entrusted with key mounts across several major Group 1 contests on Saturday. His headline booking is Derby favourite Observer in...
J-Mac’s high praise of Meydaan in 2025 Melbourne Cup
Following another strong track session at Werribee on Thursday morning, James McDonald’s confidence continues to grow that Meydaan can deliver a peak performance in next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. McDonald has been busy preparing to ride Autumn Glow in the Group 1 Golden Eagle on Saturday, but Meydaan remains front of mind...
Evaporate chasing 2025 The Golden Eagle riches
Ben, Will and JD Hayes have welcomed the venue switch for this Saturday’s $10 million Golden Eagle, confident Randwick will suit their contender Evaporate perfectly. The race has been traditionally run at Rosehill, but due to this season’s adjustments, Randwick will now host the feature. Evaporate lines up after a courageous second...
2025 Rosehill Gold Cup cash lures Wootton Verni home
Chris Waller has long believed Wootton Verni would develop into a quality middle-distance performer in Australia, but the leading trainer is taking his time with the former French galloper. This weekend, Wootton Verni heads to the Rosehill Gold Cup, now run at Randwick, where he will attempt to claim his second...
2025 Empire Rose Stakes triple threat from Waller
Chris Waller is in a familiar position heading into Saturday’s Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington, with three mares set to contest the race for his stable. Fangirl, Lazzura and Leica Lucy make up his team in the prestigious mile event, where Waller will attempt to secure his fourth win...
Autumn out to be a hit in the 2025 Victoria Derby
The Autumn Mystery team won’t be lining up anything extravagant should their three-year-old claim the Victoria Derby at Flemington this weekend. “I’d be happy to go to the pub for a parma and a pot of beer, that would do me,” trainer Rory Hunter said. “You do have to dream, and he’ll...
Linebacker going for a touchdown in 2025 The Golden Eagle
The move to stage the $10 million Golden Eagle at Randwick instead of Rosehill brought mixed reactions, but for co-trainer Tom Charlton, the venue change is a major positive for his rising star Linebacker. Charlton, in partnership with John O’Shea, prepares the Super Seth gelding, who has built an impressive record...
Maiden pair chase 2025 Victoria Derby dreams
Chris Waller has once again chosen not to take sides in the long-running discussion regarding the ideal distance of the Victoria Derby. Waller, a three-time winner of the Flemington Classic, will send out two promising runners in Providence and Savisanta for this year’s edition over 2500m. Debate around whether the Derby should...
Star jockey impressed with 2025 Melbourne Cup mount Al Riffa
Dual Melbourne Cup winner Mark Zahra has given a glowing early report on Al Riffa following his first sit on the Irish-trained stayer at Werribee on Wednesday. Zahra headed to the quarantine centre to get acquainted with Al Riffa before this year’s Melbourne Cup (3200m), which takes place on November 4...
Grahame Begg mare to make a Splash in 2025 Empire Rose Stakes
Grahame Begg may not physically be at Flemington during Cup week due to his ongoing recovery from hip surgery, but the respected trainer remains heavily involved in preparing his stable runners — especially Splash Back, who is set to contest Saturday’s Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). Begg continues to communicate...