Horse Racing News
Parr expects one El of a Spring Champion Stakes performance
At the start of the preparation, El Castello was hard-pressed to be competitive in a barrier trial. At Randwick on Saturday, the three-year-old will be sent around as one of the fancied runners for the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m). Few have taken more satisfaction in the horse’s journey than jockey Josh...
Onesmoothoperator pounces in the 2024 Geelong Cup
Yorkshire trainer Brian Ellison may have unearthed his best chance yet for the Melbourne Cup after Onesmoothoperator took out the Group 3 Geelong Cup. Betting firms took a shine to Onesmoothoperator’s victory in Wednesday’s 2400m handicap, slashing the stayer’s price from $51 to $10 and equal fourth favourite behind Jan Brueghel at $5...
Mr Brightside out for WFA Cox Plate redemption
Champion jockey Craig Williams did something at ‘Breakfast With The Best’ at Moonee Valley that he rarely does, ride Mr Brightside in a track gallop. Williams has been associated with Mr Brightside since the gelding’s third career start, riding him in 34 of his 38 starts and in 15 of his 17 victories. The...
Track picture perfect for the Cox Plate
Moonee Valley course curator Marty Synan is expecting a fair track across the board when the club hosts 18 races in 24 hours on the weekend. Friday night kicks off with an eight-race card, highlighted by the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup, while on Saturday a further 10 races will be...
Anode gets another shot at 1600m in Callander Presnell Stakes
Anode will be given another chance to prove himself at 1600 metres this Saturday, when the I Am Invincible colt lines up in the Callander-Presnell at Randwick. The $1 million Group 2 will be the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained three-year-old’s first start at the trip this campaign after two runs at...
Ciaron Maher with two 2024 Geelong Cup hopes
The Ciaron Maher stable will chase a first win in the Geelong Cup with Herman Hesse and Interpretation in line for honours. The Group 3 contest over 2400m on Wednesday is one of the few staying feature races run in Victoria that has eluded Maher who secured a second Caulfield Cup when Duke De...
Interstate owners reflect on Group 1 success at Ascot
Darren McAullay’s call of the 2017 Winterbottom Stakes, a race that the owner of prized mare Viddora, Nick Lovett, will never get tired of hearing. Nick was part of the Llyod Kennewell-prepared sprinter’s Victorian ownership and at Ascot that day to watch her claim the $1 million Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes...
Pride Of Jenni set to back-up in the 2024 Cox Plate field
Pride Of Jenni will not be there when the Moonee Valley Racing Club hosts its annual Breakfast With The Best session on Tuesday morning, but Ciaron Maher is confident she will be there on Saturday. The trainer of arguably Australia’s most popular horse reported on Monday morning that she had recovered well...
Swiftfalcon on song for 2024 Spring Champion Stakes
Michael Hawkes is convinced a wide draw cost Swiftfalcon in the Gloaming Stakes but the trainer is confident the promising gelding is on song for his attempt to go one better in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick. Swiftfalcon is poised to get his first chance to chase a Group 1 win...
Irish pair ticking over well for the 2024 Melbourne Cup
Legendary Irish trainer Willie Mullins is expected to travel to Melbourne to watch his two Melbourne Cup runners Absurde and Vauban prepare for the ‘Race That Stops The Nation’ at Flemington. Absurde and Vauban, who both ran in the Melbourne Cup last year, finish their quarantine period on Sunday, but are expected to remain...