Horse Racing News
Dance placegetters in hunt for 2025 Five Diamonds consolation
Both Vivy Air and Lugh could be back at the races again this week, with the Ciaron Maher team keeping their options open for Saturday’s $2 million Five Diamonds at Rosehill. The stable celebrated a clean sweep of the placings in Tuesday’s Big Dance, and assistant trainer Jo Gerard-Dubord says both...
Mr Brightside back for a fifth Champions Mile
Class campaigner Mr Brightside returns to Flemington for another tilt at the Champions Mile, and co-trainer Ben Hayes says age has done nothing to dull the star gelding’s desire. The eight-year-old again brings form into Saturday’s $3 million event, having finished second in the King Charles III Stakes and earlier adding...
Jamie Melham’s moment in Melbourne Cup
Michelle Payne’s historic breakthrough in the Melbourne Cup will always stand as one of the most iconic moments in Australian racing, but Jamie Melham added her own chapter to the story on Tuesday at Flemington. Melham became the first female jockey to secure the Caulfield Cup–Melbourne Cup double in the same...
Gringotts leads home Maher trifecta in $3m The Big Dance
Ciaron Maher has created history in the $3 million Big Dance, training the trifecta just one year after preparing the quinella in the same race. Gringotts ($3 fav) backed up his 2024 victory with another polished performance, defeating Vivy Air ($16) once more, with Lugh ($31) hanging on for third after...
Jamie Melham and Half Yours take historic Melbourne Cup win
Jamie Melham has joined Michelle Payne in the record books, becoming only the second woman to ride the winner of the Melbourne Cup, after steering Half Yours to a decisive success in Tuesday’s 3200-metre feature at Flemington. The triumph marked Melham’s 19th at Group 1 level and saw Half Yours become...
Tornado Valley hits back at Flemington
The connections of Tornado Valley have quickly moved on from the disappointment of his luckless first race appearance, with the colt confirming his promise in Tuesday’s running of the Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington. Prepared by Ciaron Maher, the well-bred son of Too Darn Hot showed smart improvement from his third in...
Half Yours luck is in ahead of this years Melbourne Cup 2025
For Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Half Yours has been the kind of horse that can change a stable’s trajectory, and the gelding now finds himself the favourite for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. A favourable barrier draw of eight has only strengthened his position, with Jamie Melham to ride in the $10...
Time for Brian Ellison to shine in the Melbourne Cup 2025
Few participants in the Melbourne Cup story have endured more setbacks in pursuit of the great race than UK trainer Brian Ellison. For two decades he has travelled to Flemington with hope, only for misfortune, injury or timing to intervene. His Cup journey began in heartbreak. In 2005, Carte Diamond injured...
Trainer Willie Mullins chasing rare Breeders’ Cup, Melbourne Cup double
Irish training legend Willie Mullins will once again chase Melbourne Cup success, with Absurde returning for another crack at the famous Flemington two-miler on Tuesday. Mullins arrives in Australia fresh from a breakthrough U.S. success, Ethical Diamond taking out the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar over the weekend. Travelling with Mullins...
Kris Lees takes Guard for Lloyd Williams in the Melbourne Cup 2025
Changingoftheguard may not be among the more fancied runners for Tuesday’s $10 million Melbourne Cup, but his participation alone is a meaningful milestone for Kris Lees. The Newcastle horseman will line up his first Melbourne Cup starter in the famous navy and white colours of champion owner Lloyd Williams. Williams, who holds...