Horse Racing News
Shaiyhar ready to shine at Caulfield
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable held out high hopes for Shaiyhar ahead of last year’s Spring Carnival. The Irish-bred galloper who did his early racing in France, won twice over 2000m at Flemington in his first Australian campaign, but each time he when exposed to a longer distance he flopped when...
Joe Pride keeping faith in one-time 2024 Doncaster Mile favourite
Having successfully converted Private Eye from a Group One-winning miler into one of Australia’s best sprinters, Joe Pride will attempt the reverse with his Everest hero Think About It. Private Eye won the 2021 Epsom Handicap over the famous Randwick mile and wasn’t disgraced when stretched out to 2000m two starts later to...
G1 winner Attrition back after setback
TTrainer Mitchell Freedman had hoped to be in Sydney for the opening day of The Championships at Randwick rather than chasing another Stakes race at Caulfield. The Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) had been the target for the Freedman-trained Attrition when the entire commenced his autumn campaign, but a setback after his first-up...
The wetter the better for Maher’s Bella in TJ Smith Stakes
Connections of Bella Nipotina have welcomed the forecast for heavy rain in Sydney ahead of her rematch with benchmark sprinter Imperatriz in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick. Bella Nipotina has finished behind the Te Akau Racing star in all three starts this preparation but significantly, the runs have all been...
Orchestral bypassing Australian Derby for the Australian Oaks
An extra seven days between racing and the hope of a better weather forecast has led co-trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood to look to the Australian Oaks on the second day of The Championships rather than backing up in the ATC Australian Derby this Saturday. The three-year-old filly by Cox Plate-winning...
Annabel Neasham filly fresh and ready to Fly
Following the retirement of multiple Group 1 winner Zaaki, Annabel Neasham is looking to her next generation of carnival horses to step up to the plate, among them Light Fingers Stakes runner-up Learning To Fly. One of the best two-year-olds of her generation, the Justify filly spent nearly a year on the...
Doncaster Mile and Australian Derby favourites draw wide
Another Wil rocketed to the top of betting for Saturday’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) after winning the Doncaster Prelude on Saturday and remains a firm favourite at $3.50 with online bookmakers despite drawing barrier 21, which could come in to 17 if the emergencies fail to get a run. The lightly...
Mr Brightside to head to Sydney for the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
The Lindsay Park team of Ben Will and Jd Hayes will press ahead with plans to head to Sydney with Mr Brightside for The Championships. After winning the Group 1 Doncaster Mile in 2022 and again last year, Mr Brightside is being aimed at the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on...
Easter Cup tilt for Ciaron Maher pair at Caulfield
The Ciaron Maher stable will head to a Stakes race at Caulfield with a two-pronged attack. The Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) on Saturday will feature Future History and Jennilala. Future History heads to Saturday’s contest having had one start since finishing 15th in last year’s Melbourne Cup behind Without A Fight. Maher was delighted...
Lindsay Park returns to Pakenham
The Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and J D Hayes are about to take back under their wing a previous base they departed when their father David moved to Hong Kong. Lindsay Park’s stables on-course at Pakenham is back under the Hayes name after Peter Moody rented the complex following his...