Horse Racing News
Glamour mare back on track
A strong closing effort by Own The Queen to take out her 1200m heat at Belmont trials this morning (Monday) has lifted the spirits of the glamour mare’s trainer, Justine Erkelens. In her first official hit out since her autumn blitz earlier this year, Erkelens believes Own The Queen is back on track after...
James McDonald and Via Sistina dominate again in Champions Stakes
James Mcdonald put an exclamation mark on the most successful Melbourne Cup Carnival by a jockey when he teamed with his new favourite mare Via Sistina to take out Saturday’s $3 million Champions Stakes at Flemington. The superstar Sydney-based New Zealander completed his second Group 1 double of the week when the eight-length...
Pericles shines brightest in The Five Diamonds
He has had to settle for the minor prize in a handful of major races, but Godolphin’s Pericles has finally enjoyed his moment in the sun to take out the $2 million Five Diamonds at Rosehill. The gelding was touched out in the 2023 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and last year’s Golden Eagle...
Mr Brightside stars in 2024 Champions Mile win
If there was any doubt that Mr Brightside had any more in him this spring or that Pride Of Jenni may get the better of him again, the gelding and jockey Craig Williams put that all rest with an emphatic victory in the Champions Mile at Flemington. It was not that the five-year-old...
Belclare too fast for Hot Danish Stakes rivals
Former New Zealander Belclare has continued on her winning way in the Hot Danish Stakes at Rosehill to put herself in the frame for a Group One raid in Perth. Since trainer Bjorn Baker removed blinkers prior to her last start, Belclare has led throughout to claim The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick and...
Sunshine In Paris beats Australia’s best in G1 Champions Sprint
Annabel Neasham’s faith in Sunshine In Paris was rewarded when the classy mare upstaged Australia’s best sprinters in Saturday’s Champions Sprint at Flemington, but the victory did not come without a tinge of regret. The Sydneysider was kicking herself for not insisting that her training partner Rob Archibald be trackside for the $3 million...
Miller hopes for a Magnificent Lee Steere Stakes
Top trainer Stephen Miller believes Magnificent Andy is poised for victory and can stamp his Railway Stakes (1600m) credentials when he tackles the Group 2 Perth Racing Member Appreciation-Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday. Miller’s confident prediction is drawn from Magnificent Andy’s previous run in the Eurythmic Stakes (1400m)...
O’Donnell hopes history doesn’t repeat in Lee Steere Stakes
As hard as he tried, jockey Shaun O’Donnell couldn’t find a slot for tough mare Searchin’ Roc’s when he was aboard her last time out in the Group 3 Eurythmic Stakes (1400m). From barrier 15 O’Donnell was left stranded four wide without cover in no man’s land, but testament to Searchin’...
Roman smokes ’em in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes
It was a win more than two years in the making and Smokin’ Romans could not have picked a more appropriate venue to reward his connections’ patience. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding led all the way to claim the $300,000 Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington. It was the 10th career success for...
Trainer Matt Smith chooses softer option for French Endeavour
Matt Smith has opted to dodge taking on the better mares in the Hot Danish Stakes in favour of a benchmark assignment as he bids to get another win on the board for French Endeavour. The four-year-old has been scratched from Saturday’s Group 2 assignment in preference for the Kia Ora...