Horse Racing News
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)...
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...
Waterhouse tipping a 2025 Breeders Plate trifecta
Predicting a trifecta in a Stakes race would usually be far-fetched, but for Gai Waterhouse in the Breeders’ Plate, it’s a genuine possibility. The champion trainer, alongside Adrian Bott, has trained the trifecta in the past two editions of the Randwick feature. King Kirk, Tempestuous and North England filled the placings...
Victorian mare Skybird out of 2025 The Everest
Inglis has been left searching for a new candidate to take its Everest slot after Skybird was scratched from contention due to injury. The mare, who won the Lightning Stakes earlier this year, was under an injury cloud after finishing unplaced in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley. She pulled up...
Weight right for Birdman despite wide 2025 Metropolitan Handicap draw
Birdman will have to overcome barrier 17 in Saturday’s Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m), but Team Waller believe his lightweight of 51.5kg gives him a winning chance. Assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said the stable remained upbeat about the gelding’s prospects despite the wide alley, pointing to his strong form and ideal handicap...
Quick back-up to suit Encap in the 2025 Epsom Handicap
Trainer Gary Portelli will again turn to a quick turnaround for Encap, who lines up in Saturday’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick. The gelding produced a career peak earlier this year when storming into third place in the Doncaster Mile, only four days after his previous run. This time, Portelli...
Shangri La Boy mans up in maiden win
While Shangri La Boy may lack the physical resemblance of his high-profile brother Storm Boy, the colt is beginning to make his own mark on the track. The three-year-old registered his first victory with a front-running display in the TAB Plate (1400m) at Rosehill on Wednesday, atoning for his debut defeat...
Turnbull Stakes tilt on path to the 2025 Melbourne Cup
High-priced import Sir Delius will step out in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington as he continues his campaign towards the Melbourne Cup (3200m), fulfilling the ambitions of owner Sir Owen Glenn. The current Melbourne Cup favourite was among 66 horses confirmed after first declarations closed on Tuesday, keeping alive...
Autumn Glow’s extreme 2025 Epsom Handicap draw
Barrier luck has gone against Autumn Glow as she prepares for her first Group 1 test, drawing widest of all in barrier 14 for Saturday’s Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick. The unbeaten mare will be striving to become just the fourth mare in 50 years to win the Epsom, though recent...