Horse Racing News
G1 Australasian Oaks shot for Sandown winner
First-up Sandown winner Coco Sun is headed towards a Group 1 assignment in Adelaide. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained filly is being aimed at the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on April 27 after her return win in the Sportsbet Set A Deposit Limit Handicap (1400m) on Wednesday. Ridden by apprentice...
Daqiansweet Junior out to shore up 2024 Melbourne Cup start
Daqiansweet Junior has contested the past two Melbourne Cups and will chase another start in the race at Flemington on Saturday. The Roy Higgins (2600m) offers the winner a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup 2024, one of four staying races run at Flemington that has ‘win and you’re in’ status. Trainer Phillip...
Matthew Smith aiming for G1 Australian Cup blowout
Trainer Matthew Smith knows his charge Esti Feny faces a difficult assignment when he lines up in the Australian Cup at Flemington. The Hungarian-bred import is the $126 rank outsider for the Group 1 contest over 2000m on Saturday, but the Australian Cup has been known to throw up long-priced winners. Lindsay Park galloper...
Orchestral the family’s latest star filly
Few New Zealand fillies have come to Australia with the boom that Orchestral carried across the Tasman earlier this week. It is well-earned with eight starts producing five wins, the last four in a row including wins in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and Group 1 New...
G1 All Aged Stakes target for resuming Shinzo
Shinzo will make a belated start to his autumn campaign at Rosehill before connections set their sights on one of the carnival’s major sprints. The 2023 Golden Slipper winner resumes in Saturday’s Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) having recovered from an early setback that put trainer Chris Waller on the back foot. “He...
William Haggas keeping options open with Post Impressionist
UK raider Post Impressionist has been paid up for the Group One Tancred Stakes at Rosehill, but a final decision on whether he backs up won’t be made until later this week. The William Haggas-trained stayer made a big impression when sweeping home to capture the N E Manion Cup at his...
Alaskan after elusive luck in the Melvista Stakes
Two starts back in a graduation handicap (1800m) Alaskan finished ahead of just one runner, but on a day that heavily favoured on pace runners, the back markers were up against it. Last fortnight in the J.C.Roberts Stakes (1800m) Alaskan finished a length second to Lord Vampi which earned high from Parnham after...
Patient approach could see Linebacker score
John O’Shea has taken a carefully considered approach to the autumn with promising colt Linebacker and he is hoping it pays dividends in the coming weeks. O’Shea has so far resisted the temptation to tackle some of the better two-year-old races with the youngster, whose only appearance was a four-length maiden win at...
Dunkel chases 2024 Melbourne Cup start in the Roy Higgins Quality
Trainer Patrick Payne is a realist when it comes to his horses and says it is time for Dunkel to take the step up to the big league. A dual Derby winner as a three-year-old, Payne has chosen the stayer's races wisely, to the point when the gelding is an eight-time winner from...
Estriella on song for the Sunlight Classic
The Ciaron Maher stable holds high hopes for Estriella, but the future of her campaign will not be determined until after she runs at Flemington. On offer after the Listed Sunlight Classic (1100m) on Saturday is a trip to Sydney for a Group 2 race against her own age, or a trip...