Horse Racing News
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...
Biden Time pays off for Steve Richards
Trainer Steve Richards registered his first city win in more than two years when Biden Time scored at Sandown. Richards, who prepares a small team at Flemington, had not been successful in town since Holbein took out the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield in 2021. Runners have been scarce in the city...
Exceed And Excel retired from stud duty
In the week of the Group 1 that was Exceed And Excel’s biggest win as a racehorse, Darley on Wednesday announced that its champion sire had been retired from stallion duties. The 23-year-old has been pensioned after putting together one of the great careers by an Australian stallion, having thrown 215...
Marroni set to resume at Trentham for new barn
Owners Alastair Lawrence and John Rattray, of Bonneval fame, have had success sending horses to Waipukurau trainer Simon Wilson over the last few years and they are hoping that continues with their Group Three winner Marroni. Wilson had previously been entrusted with Scutar and Vidiano for the partnership, with the former...
Wellington Guineas locked in for Bedtime Story
Promising filly Bedtime Story will get her opportunity at attaining black-type in next week’s Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) following her victory in the Cavallo Farm & Chris Rutten Bloodstock 3YO (1300m) at Otaki on Wednesday. It was the third victory from five starts for the daughter of Per Incanto, having placed...