Horse Racing News
Madame Pommery set to contest G1 Epsom Handicap
Sophie Baker isn’t a household name in racing, but she is a vital cog in trainer Chris Waller’s team. She is also an influential part of the story behind Saturday’s Epsom Handicap hopeful Madame Pommery. Involved with the stable for the past decade, Baker has a hands-on background with horses, but as...
King Of Fighters out to stamp Caulfield Guineas credentials at Moonee Valley
King Of Fighters will go a long way to stamping his Caulfield Guineas credentials if he is successful in a lead-up race at Moonee Valley. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained three-year-old runs in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) on Friday night and has been labelled potentially the stable’s best...
Low draw could be the key for French Endeavour
A low draw could be the key ingredient for the improving French Endeavour to turn the tables on benchmark filly Tiz Invincible in the Group 1 Flight Stakes. French Endeavour jumped from barrier 14 when she came from worse than midfield to finish fourth to her Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained rival...
Breeders’ Plate fancy could be vulnerable
The first of Sydney’s new season babies step out at Randwick on Saturday and although it is a day of anticipation, it is also one that presents a conundrum for punters. A field of 12 fillies will contest the Gimcrack Stakes (1000m), while 14 colts tackle the Breeders’ Plate (1000m), all...
G1 Thousand Guineas goal for Arctic Glamour
The decision to shift the Thousand Guineas back a month has been advantageous for connections of up-and-coming filly Arctic Glamour after she confirmed plans to target the Group 1 feature with a resounding return at Rosehill. Gerald Ryan, who trains her in partnership with Sterling Alexiou, said they deliberately gave Arctic...
Lucky owner feeling Just Fine
When it comes to racing thoroughbreds, Phil Ward is proving to have a Midas touch. Not only does he share in the ownership of Group-winning three-year-olds Libertad and Autumn Ballet, he also happens to have a stake in exciting Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stayer Just Fine. Unbeaten in two Australian starts,...
Premiere Stakes matinee for The Everest 2025 favourite
Pressure, nerves, excitement. Joe Pride is feeling all of them as he prepares nominal Everest favourite Think About It for his seasonal return in the Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. It comes a fortnight after stablemate Private Eye booked himself an Everest slot with an outstanding victory in the Shorts and while Sydney’s showpiece of the...
Eyes out wide in G1 Epsom Handicap
There was no shortage of wincing from connections on Tuesday morning when barriers were drawn for the Epsom Handicap, one of three Group 1s to be run at Randwick this Saturday. The 1600-metre event has drawn a huge field of 20, plus two emergencies, meaning some big numbers were allocated and...
Roth to Fire in G1 Moir Stakes
A good performance in a Group 1 sprint at Moonee Valley could land Queensland sprinter Rothfire a start in The Everest. Trainer Rob Heathcote and connections of Rothfire have twice previously given up a berth in The Everest, once due to injury and once due to poor form. Heathcote said there had been brief discussions about Rothfire heading to...
Kiwi filly to make Aussie debut at Moonee Valley
When the Kiwi’s travel, it pays to keep a close watch. In the case of Mark Walker, he is in a slightly different situation establishing an Australian base at Cranbourne, but he does have an Australian first-starter set to run at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Unbeaten in New Zealand, Zourion runs in the...