Horse Racing News
Flemington in peak shape for 2024 Melbourne Cup week
Flemington track manager Liam O’Keeffe says the track has rebounded well for the biggest four days on the Australian racing calendar. The track took a pounding during the past two feature meetings on September 7 and October 5 when rain during the day had a detrimental effect on the course. But O’Keeffe...
Joliestar ready to defend Aussie honour in The Golden Eagle
Chris Waller denied a top Japanese galloper in last Saturday’s Cox Plate and he will look to bring down another of its stars this weekend. The champion trainer has Joliestar heading towards the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill. The Group 1-winning daughter of Zoustar is the considered the best local hope in...
Via Sistina’s in elite company with Cox Plate rating
The superlatives for Via Sistina’s eight-length romp in Saturday’s Group 1 W S Cox Plate (2040m) came in thick and fast, only exacerbated when noting she broke Winx’s track record by nearly two seconds, and the rating backs up most of the applause. Via Sistina has run to a Racing & Sports...
2024 Melbourne Cup start hinges on Bendigo performance
UK raider galloper Sea King will be racing for a start in the Melbourne Cup when he heads to Bendigo for his first Australian start. Sea King has been at the Werribee International Horse Centre preparing for a tilt at the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5, but...
Cummings side-steps 2024 Victoria Derby with star colt
Broadsiding will not be a starter in Saturday’s $2 million Group 1 Victoria Derby with James Cummings and Godolphin electing to target a Stakes Day option with their three-time Group 1 winner. The son of Too Darn Hot emerged as a possible Derby starter in the 24 hours after his third placing in...
Via Sistina remains in Melbourne Cup field after third acceptances
Cox Plate champion Via Sistina remains in contention for a tilt at the Melbourne Cup after third acceptances closed. A total of 35 horses a vying for a start in the Group 1 handicap over 3200m at Flemington on Tuesday week. Via Sistina is the current topweight with 56kg for the Melbourne Cup...
Traffic Warden right for 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes
Godolphin trainer James Cummings says the availability of a jump-out at Flemington will not hinder the Group 1 aspirations of Traffic Warden on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Traffic Warden contested an 800m jump-out at Flemington on Friday, a heat that had a number of potential opponents in the Group...
Globe-trotting King picks up The Map for the Melbourne Cup
Jockey Rachel King will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore when she jets in from the prestigious Breeders’ Cup meeting to ride in her fourth Melbourne Cup. King was confirmed for the mount on South Australian The Map on Friday, the mare having secured her place...
The Golden Eagle next for Stefi Magnetica
Stefi Magnetica wasn’t able to win this year’s The Everest but trainer Bjorn Baker has now turned attention to trying to win Australia’s second richest thoroughbred race with the talented mare. Baker is planning to run Stefi Magnetica in Saturday’s $10 million Golden Eagle for four-year-olds at Rosehill, confident this year’s Stradbroke Handicap...
Symon Wilde’s mare packs Plenty Of Ammo
Plenty Of Ammo flashed her Empire Rose Stakes credentials at Moonee Valley on Saturday, landing a maiden Black Type victory in the $400,000 Crystal Mile. The Symon Wilde-trained mare upstaged the boys when she finished too powerfully for her male rivals in the 1600-metre Group 2. The Crystal Mile was just the second...