Horse Racing News
Cox Plate 2024 on the radar for Western Empire
Fresh from one of the most satisfying days he’s experienced on a race track, trainer Grant Williams has outlined ambitious plans for outstanding Northam Stakes winner, Western Empire. The short term has been locked away with the Belmont Sprint (1400m), Hyperion Stakes (1600m) and Strickland Stakes (2000m) a trio of Group...
Skybird set for shot at The G1 Goodwood
Mitch Freedman understands the $1 million The Goodwood, which will be run at Morphettville this Saturday, is a significant rise in grade for Skybird, but he sees no reason to not give her a shot at Group 1 glory. The three-year-old filly has come through her brilliant win in last Saturday’s Group...
Gentileschi earns a G1 Queensland Oaks shot
It is often a juggling act to combine his dual roles of Arrowfield Stud general manager while also training a string of horses, but Paul Messara has the balance spot-on judging by recent results. One of the Stud’s most promising young sires, The Autumn Sun, has come into his own in the...
The Empire strikes back in Northam Stakes
In a brilliant winning return to Perth racing, Western Empire revived memories of past glories when he outclassed his opponents in Sunday’s Group 3 Tabtouch Northam Stakes (1300m). Back in the familiar care of previous trainers Grant and Alana Williams, Western Empire put the writing on the wall at his previous...
Jamie Kah lands hometown G1 feature in the SA Derby
Jamie Kah left Adelaide to set-up her burgeoning career in Melbourne without a Group 1 feature on the mantel piece and was determined to right that wrong. After going down narrowly in the Australasian Oaks (2000m) on Coco Sun at Morphettville last week, the pair returned for a tilt at the Group 1...
Aztec State presses 2024 Queensland Derby claims
Aztec State pressed his claims for a trip to Queensland with a gritty win at Caulfield on Saturday. The Lindsay Park-trained son of Pierro passed his first test at 2000 metres in style, outlasting a pugnacious Steel Run to win the $150,000 Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap. Co-trainer Ben Hayes hinted that it might now...
Victorian raider times it Just right in the Hawkesbury Cup
Consistent gelding Just Folk has delivered Gavin Bedggood one of his biggest career wins in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup, and now the trainer is looking to raise the bar even higher. Having claimed the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at just his fourth start for Bedgood in the summer, Just Folk ($7)...
Cejay Graham lands biggest win in the Queensland Guineas
Cejay Graham celebrated her biggest win in the saddle when she won Saturday’s headline event at Eagle Farm, the Group 2 Queensland Guineas. The Brisbane apprentice combined with Warwick Farm trainer Gary Portelli to get Kintyre home in the $350,000 event. It was just the second ride in a Group race for the 25-year-old,...
Ashford Street arrives for Dabernig
Tom Dabernig resisted the temptation to run Ashford Street in the feature sprint at his adopted hometown’s carnival during the week and the Warrnambool horseman was rewarded at Caulfield on Saturday. The six-year-old made the perfect start to life in Dabernig’s care when he won the $150,000 Bluebloods Thoroughbreds BM90 Handicap (1000m). Ashford Street...
Schwarz too good in the Hawkesbury Guineas
Three-year-old Schwarz has taken a crucial step towards his Stradbroke Handicap goal, stamping his class at Hawkesbury’s stand-alone meeting with a convincing Guineas triumph. As his main danger and expected leader Butch Cassidy ($3.70) bungled the start, Schwarz ($2.40 betting fav) bounded out of the gates and straight to the front and...