Horse Racing News
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...
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...
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...
War Machine ready to bounce back in 2025 Russell Balding Stakes
Despite finishing down the track in The Everest, War Machine is poised to rebound when he lines up in the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes at Randwick this weekend, according to co-trainer Ben Hayes. The Group 1-winning gelding was only having his second start of the preparation when contesting The Everest,...
Payline due for a change of fortune in 2025 The Damien Oliver
Payline will continue his Melbourne mission this Saturday when he lines up at Flemington, with Chris and Corey Munce hoping the gelding’s fortunes finally turn after a run of hard-luck stories. Since arriving in Victoria in late August, Payline has competed across multiple metropolitan tracks, each time running well without getting...
Maher stable win 2025 Bendigo Cup with Sayedaty Sadaty
Ciaron Maher believes Sayedaty Sadaty may yet earn his place in the field for the Melbourne Cup after outstaying his rivals in Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup. Before the Bendigo feature, Sayedaty Sadaty sat at 35th in the Cup ballot order. While the victory will elevate his ranking, the gelding still appears likely...
Autumn Glow ready to shine in The Golden Eagle 2025
Chris Waller will rely on his unbeaten mare Autumn Glow to deliver another feature race victory when she lines up in the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick this Saturday, with stablemate Lord Penman the only other runner from his powerful yard confirmed for the $10 million contest. The champion trainer had...
McEvoy’s looking at 2025 Victoria Derby Options
Tony and Calvin McEvoy are hoping their talented colt Options can deliver another spring highlight when he lines up in Saturday’s Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington. The father-and-son team already claimed a major earlier this month when Half Yours captured the Caulfield Cup, and a Derby triumph would be another...
Lindsay Park duo out to break run of outs in Wakeful Stakes 2025
Lindsay Park is aiming to recapture past success in the Wakeful Stakes at Flemington, a race that has eluded the stable since 2000. Back when Peter Hayes was at the helm, Lolita Star delivered the stable their most recent Wakeful triumph, and now the next Hayes generation—Ben, Will and JD—will look...
2025 Melbourne Cup horse numbers cut to 40
The countdown to the $10 million Melbourne Cup continues, with 40 horses remaining in contention after the third acceptances closed on Monday. The final field for the 3200-metre Flemington feature will be confirmed following the Victoria Derby Day meeting, with several internationals still in the mix — including the first U.S.-trained...