Horse Racing News
Vahala hopes to Rule Bunbury Stakes
Aztec Ruler has yet to realise his trainer’s ambition, a couple of hiccups and small setbacks has stymied his progress. But, the horse has talent and started to show that flair last year in the winter during a Belmont campaign. The Universal Ruler four-year-old made it to seven races in two months for...
Rustic Steel wins the Newcastle Stakes as Jimmysstar beaten again
Kris Lees continued his recent dominance of the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes as Rustic Steel provided the local trainer with his fifth win in the 1400-metre feature in the past six editions. Ridden by Sam Clipperton , the six-year-old speared to the lead in the early stages to overcome being posted out wide having...
Tulloch Lodge Vampires adds bite to G1 Randwick Guineas
Adrian Bott isn’t sure if his two Randwick Guineas runners are sharp enough to upset the favourites, but he does believe both can make their mark this autumn. Bott and training partner Gai Waterhouse will start Les Vampires and Ganbare, both horses arriving at Saturday’s 1600 metre race via the Hobartville Stakes (1400m), the...
Early kickoff at Flemington as hot weather hits Super Saturday
In response to scorching temperatures forecasted for tomorrow’s Super Saturday at Flemington, Racing Victoria (RV) and the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) have opted to start the races early. With the mercury expected to hit 39 degrees, the eight-race event will kick off at 10.45 am and conclude by 2.30 pm. The decision,...
Stokes’ Focus shifts to VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes
Stay Focused is considered the best chance to break a decade-long hoodoo when he contests Saturday’s VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Flemington. The Phillip Stokes-trained colt heads to the $300,000 Group 2 off a fifth placing in the Blue Diamond, once the prime lead-up to the Sires’, which until 2005 carried Group...
Moody and Coleman pair meet in the Kewney Stakes
With two nice fillies looking for a trip, Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman have been forced into pitting Mollynickers and Autumn Angel against one another at Flemington. The pair run in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1600m) on Saturday having started their autumn campaigns in different races last month. Mollynickers ran a first-up third behind...
Maher mares chase Newmarket Handicap history
Bella Nipotina and Ruthless Dame will attempt to give the Ciaron Maher a first win in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Trainer Ciaron Maher is happy to exploit the handicap conditions of one of Australia’s toughest sprint races at Flemington on Saturday. Maher will saddle two mares in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap...
Mitchell Pateman has his mojo working for Bunbury Stakes
Mojo Rhythm has been heavily supported on the eve of Saturday’s Listed Tabtouch Bunbury Stakes (1400m) and trainer Mitchell Pateman is confident the son of boom sire Playing God can secure his second feature success in four months. Supporters have rallied behind Mojo Rhythm and quickly snapped up double figure offerings...
Bunbury Stakes atonement for Red Fifty Three
In a race of hard luck stories, the Pinjarra Classic (1300m) was a bad watch for co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams and backers of Red Fifty Three two weeks back. Jockey Madi Derrick was lucky to stay aboard Red Fifty Three when the five-year-old copped a severe check in between rivals when passing...
Les Ross saddles seven in the 2YO Jewel
Stuart Kendrick has as opportunity to knock off the two highlight races of the QTIS Jewel program on Saturday with full brothers Defiant Spirit and Defiant Boom. Both by Queensland’s warrior sprinter Spirit Of Boom with the dam a well-performed two-year-old in her day, Listed Gimcrack Stakes winner Defiant Dame, each will take...