Horse Racing News
Robbie Downey notches first win at Flemington
It is long way between Dundalk and Melbourne and Robbie Downey has ridden winners at racecourses between Ireland, United Kingdom and in Victoria, and can now claim having ridden a winner at Flemington. The 26-year-old won the RCH Staff Appreciation Plate aboard the Nigel Blackiston-trained Verifier ($5.50). “He’s a beautiful rider,” Blackiston said. “He’s...
Hobby trainer salutes in Midway Handicap
He’s a full-time courier by day, but Newcastle-based conditioner Scott Aspery has out-trained his rivals with Uzziah ($6) toughing it out to win the Midway Handicap. The Outreach gelding had a ding-dong battle with early leader Kyeema ($7.50) all the way down the Rosehill straight, eventually getting the best of him...
Steparty impressive down Flemington straight
Jockey Dean Yendall said he had jokingly told trainer Paul Preusker a couple of months ago that Steparty could be something special for latter’s Horsham stable. With an impressive victory in the Royal Children’s Hospital Trophy (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday, those words could be vindicated as the two-year-old by American...
Expensive Chris Waller colt goes back-to-back
He is a colt that cost $2.25 million at Inglis Easter Yearling Sales last year but the Chris Waller-prepared two-year-old Congregation ($5.50) is starting to repay his connections with a narrow victory at Rosehill Gardens. A son of champion sire Snitzel out of the dual-Group One winning mare Response, the two-year-old...
Affaire A Suivre chases G1 Oaks double
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Affaire A Suivre has come a long way in a short space of time and will chase a second Group 1 win, this time in Brisbane. The Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday is Affaire A Suivre’s next assignment after her win in the Group...
English import on a mission to Space Rosehill rivals
There is nothing like race day pressure to sort out the wheat from the chaff, but English import Space Tracker is showing all the right signs at home to suggest he can feature in his Sydney debut. The four-year-old tackles the Petaluma Handicap (1400m) on Saturday and while most European-bred gallopers...
Al poised for Winter Cup test
Chris Waller believes Al Aabir has returned a better horse this preparation and can atone for a luckless last start defeat when he tackles the Listed Winter Cup on his home track. The four-year-old was held up behind a wall of horses in the straight before eventually getting clear and steaming...
G1 Stradbroke Handicap start in Baller’s court
Baller will be on trial for a Stradbroke Handicap start when he defends is crown in Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm. Trainer Tony Gollan resisted the temptation of tackling the Stradbroke with the son of High Chaparral after last year’s 1200-metre race, but the $3 million Group 1...
Trainer Matthew Kelley Tryin’ for one more win
Tackling Saturday’s $150,000 Schweppes Handicap at Rosehill was not part of Matthew Kelley’s initial plan with I’Ve Bean Tryin”, but the ever-improving gelding virtually demanded a crack at it. The four-year-old son of Spill The Beans will therefore have one last run for the campaign in the 1500-metre benchmark 78 event, for...
Stablemates set to clash down Flemington straight
Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock have their eyes focussed on a winter series final at Flemington with Typhoon Titmus. To get to that race, Typhoon Titmus will need to run in a heat and earn points, but first the filly needs to get some match fitness. That fitness will take the...