Horse Racing News
Hill Stakes perfect challenge for Zeyrek
A brace of promising performances over unsuitable trips has Zeyrek on target to underline his claims for a Victorian venture when he gets to his preferred distance range in the Hill Stakes. The gelding has been valiant in his two return runs, sticking to his task when fourth to Pericles in the Tramway...
Melbourne Cup start up for grabs in The Bart Cummings at Flemington
Former French galloper Athabascan has been sent from the Sydney stable of trainer John O’Shea in a bid to secure a Melbourne Cup start. Success in The Bart Cummings (2510m) at Flemington on Saturday provides the winner with a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7. Athabascan will be chasing a...
The Little Pumper out to win big in Tapp-Craig
Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are hoping their decision to pause The Little Pumper’s winter preparation will reap spring carnival rewards, starting in the $500,000 Tapp-Craig at Rosehill. The three-year-old collected back-to-back wins in June and July but found himself at an awkward juncture in the calendar after finishing fifth to...
Tough mare up for the challenge in the Nivison
Parisal’s first-up win proved her capacity to absorb pressure and James Cummings says she will probably have to show the same resilience to overcome a wide draw in The Nivison. The Astern mare settled midfield from a similarly awkward gate in the Toy Show Quality (1300m) and tracked three and four-wide throughout...
Daniel Moor out to solve spring Jigsaw puzzle
Jockey Daniel Moor has established a good relationship with sprinter Jigsaw but knows tougher times are ahead for the pair. After a summer-autumn campaign that netted the Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw five wins from six starts, Jigsaw returns for a spring preparation in the Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. Moor began his association...
G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes not off the agenda for King’s Gambit
King’s Gambit reverted to his old habits first-up in Melbourne, but if he can bring his best behaviour to Rosehill, co-trainer Peter Snowden expects him to give the Roman Consul Stakes a shake. The Snowdens have a better record than most in the Group 2 sprint, winning three of the past seven renewals...
Magic Time set to contest The Nivison at Rosehill
The availability of feature race options in Melbourne and Sydney is being used to advantage by Grahame Begg as he endeavours to keep classy mares Magic Time and C’Est Magique apart. C’est Magique will run at Flemington on Saturday in the Gilgai Stakes (1100m), while Magic Time has already arrived in Sydney for her...
Melbourne Cup start up for grabs in The Bart Cummings
A start in the Melbourne Cup is up for grabs in The Bart Cummings at Flemington and Perth trainer Daniel Morton is eyeing off that spot. Morton will saddle Alaskan God in the 2510m Cup qualifier on Saturday where the winner obtains a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7. But...
Danny Shum confident about Romantic Warrior's Australian prospects
Danny Shum had an ominous warning after watching his stable star Romantic Warrior work live for the first time at Werribee on Wednesday morning. But it is not the horses the Hong Kong superstar will face in this Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes at Flemington who should be most concerned, rather those targeting...
El Patroness set for Turnbull Stakes
The Turnbull Stakes in recent years proven the right formula towards for the Caulfield Cup. Run over 2000m under set-weights and penalties at Flemington on Saturday, the Turnbull Stakes is often seen as a make-or-break race for a number of spring campaign hopefuls. Recent Turnbull Stakes winners Verry Elleegant (2020) and Incentivise (2021) went on to win the Caulfield Cup that same year...