Horse Racing News
Deakin on track for Caulfield Cup and 2025 Melbourne Cup
Deakin’s formline this spring might look modest at first glance, but trainer Phillip Stokes says the stayer is right where he needs to be for the bigger prizes ahead. He resumes his ascent in Saturday’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, a pivotal stepping stone toward both the Caulfield Cup...
Tupakara ready to go in the 2025 Flight Stakes
Connections of Tupakara didn’t celebrate her silverware from the Tea Rose Stakes for long, feeling the Group Two third came up short of expectations. The filly was a dominant elect after rattling home into second behind Apocalyptic first-up, but when asked to sit handier last time, she stuck to the task...
Progressive import adds Soul to 2025 Metropolitan Handicap
Chris Waller admits Soul Of Spain has been the revelation of this campaign, with the Metropolitan favourite returning to the yard “a different horse”. A winner to 3300m in Ireland, the gelding’s first local prep featured good runs over a mile and 2000m before he finally struck pay dirt when raised...
Kiwis vie for a berth in the 2025 Melbourne Cup field
Before Europe became the dominant source of Cup contenders, New Zealand-bred stayers routinely arrived and spoiled the party. That tradition could resurface in Saturday’s The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington—the final ‘win and you’re in’ path to the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 4. Among the 17 acceptors are nine European-breds,...
Good gate to help Queen Of Clubs play her cards right
Gary Portelli believes Queen Of Clubs can make her presence felt in Saturday’s Group 1 Flight Stakes, thanks to a favourable draw at Randwick. The Maurice filly was finishing strongly when fourth to Apocalyptic in the Tea Rose Stakes after being forced to drop out from a wide gate. With barrier...
Pier a game changer for Kiwi trainer ahead of the 2025 Epsom Handicap
Pier has the chance to reward New Zealand trainer Darryn Weatherley’s persistence with a first Sydney Group 1 win in Saturday’s Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick. Weatherley’s previous attempts at Australian glory proved fruitless, with Mali Ston and Maria Farina finishing unplaced in 2022, and Arby out of the placings in...
Kings horse chasing start in the 2025 Melbourne Cup field
Trainer Ciaron Maher is plotting a direct path into the Melbourne Cup, targeting a ballot exemption with a four-strong team at Flemington. The crucial gateway is Saturday’s Bart Cummings (2500m), the final Flemington ‘win and you’re in’ lead-up to the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 4, with the Geelong Cup (2400m)...
Half Yours to test class in the 2025 Turnbull Stakes
Calvin McEvoy admits the campaign for Half Yours didn’t go exactly to script, but the stayer now finds himself on track for both the Turnbull Stakes and the Caulfield Cup after a timely victory in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m). The horse had initially been prepared for Sydney’s The Metropolitan (2400m), but...
Alysha Collett hunting G1 breakthrough at Randwick in The Metropolitan field
Group One-winning New Zealand jockey Alysha Collett will chase her first Australian major when she rides two key contenders at Randwick’s Epsom Handicap day. Collett has been entrusted with the lightweight rides on Swiftfalcon for Team Hawkes in the prestigious Epsom Handicap (1600m) and Don Diego De Vega for Annabel and...
Royal Insignia out to rebound at Flemington
Royal Insignia will chase his first Flemington victory this weekend, though trainer Grahame Begg admits conditions won’t be in his favour. The gelding lines up in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, having drawn a middle gate in a capacity field. He was last seen finishing fourth in the Group...