Horse Racing News
All ‘OK’ for Romantic Warrior after 2023 Cox Plate draw
It isn't the barrier James McDonald requested, but Danny Shum has labelled gate seven 'OK' for Romantic Warrior in Saturday's $5 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. The Hong Kong star will start just wide of the middle of the field of 12 for the 2040-metre weight-for-age contest. Romantic Warrior was the...
Imperatriz shoots for four straight in Manikato Stakes
A fourth win at Moonee Valley beckons for Imperatriz when the mare faces six rivals in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes. Saturday's 1200m sprint will be the fourth consecutive run at the track for Imperatriz who started the ball rolling with victory in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) in March. This campaign...
Two Cox Plate 2023 hopes for leading yard
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will back-up Gold Trip into the Cox Plate after all the early indications are that he has taken no harm from his tough run in the Caulfield Cup. Gold Trip will be joined in Australia's weight-for-age championship at Moonee Valley on Saturday by three-year-old King Colorado. The...
Magic Time targets The Invitation at Randwick
Grahame Begg is confident Magic Time has what it takes to secure a big pay-day in Saturday's The Invitation at Randwick after she won her fourth race and second at Group 3 level from just six starts last time out. Sent forward by Nash Rawiller second up in the Group 3 The Nivison...
Strong card of racing for 2023 Cox Plate day
The two days at Moonee Valley come to a crescendo on Saturday afternoon but there are so many highlights. It shapes as another intriguing G1 WS Cox Plate (2040m) with international interest aplenty. Romantic Warrior, the $4.00 favourite with online bookies, is the hope of Hong Kong but he will face...
Romantic Warrior primed for Cox Plate 2023
James McDonald’s confidence in Romantic Warrior ahead of this Saturday’s $5 million Cox Plate is increasing with every track gallop. The champion jockey was at Moonee Valley on Monday morning to partner the Hong Kong star in a 1200-metre workout with Danny Shum stablemate Romantic Charm, six days out from the...
Nominations in for Spring Champion Stakes day at Randwick
The G1 Spring Champions Stakes (2000m) has often been a good horse’s race as the boys get to the 2000m for the first time and may well press on to the Victoria Derby. Tom Kitten ($2.50) looks like he is really striving for that ground so has to run favourite here...
Without A Fight issued a 1kg penalty for the Melbourne Cup
Without A Fight has been issued a 1kg penalty for his Caulfield Cup win with the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained gelding to now carry 56.5kg in the Melbourne Cup. Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping David Hegan announced the penalty on Monday afternoon, two days after his win under 55.5kg in the 2400-metre...
Track in good shape for the 2023 Cox Plate meeting
Moonee Valley track staff freely admit that preparing the course for the double-header Cox Plate Carnival is a challenge, and the plan for Friday night's meeting is for a firmer track. Since the final Moonee Valley meeting of the 2022/23 season back in March, their focus has all been about providing the best surface for...
Matthew Dunn not worried about The Big Dance misstep
Matthew Dunn is confident Big Dance favourite Cepheus can overcome a minor setback in time for the $3 million Melbourne Cup Day feature at Randwick. The in-form gelding was scratched from Saturday's Filante Handicap (1600m) at Randwick after presenting with mild swelling in his near-fore fetlock three days earlier. However, Dunn said...