Horse Racing News
Team Hayes looking on Brightside of the Cox Plate defeat
Ben Hayes and his brothers, Will and JD, are still trying to come to terms with being nosed out of Saturday’s Cox Plate with Mr Brightside, but they have not ruled out the prospect of having another crack at Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior before the year is out. Mr Brightside,...
Chrysaor hits the right gear
A preparation of frustration has had a happy ending for connections of Chrysaor after the colt gave Star Thoroughbreds a feature race double on the Spring Champion Stakes program. Trainer Chris Waller had been struggling to get the best out of the three-year-old, prompting him to make a raft of gear changes for...
Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior wins G1 Cox Plate
Champion James McDonald's faith in Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior has been vindicated with the jockey landing a second Cox Plate victory. After guiding Anamoe to success in last year's Group 1 weight-for-age championship, McDonald had to call on all his strength to get Romantic Warrior home in the 2040m contest...
Imperatriz puts rivals to the sword in the G1 Manikato Stakes
Imperatriz’s Victorian spring romp continued on Saturday when the superstar Kiwi sprinter added another Moonee Valley feature to her resume. The Mark Walker-trained five-year-old lived up to her prohibitive quote when she cruised to a 3-1/4-length Manikato Stakes win as $1.40 favourite with online betting sites. It was her third win at...
Lunar Flare out of 2023 Melbourne Cup with career ending injury
Lunar Flare has been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup and retired with a career ending injury. Trainer Grahame Begg announced on social media the immediate retirement of the mare on Saturday. Lunar Flare had finished an unlucky fourth in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) on Friday night. “Regrettably Lunar Flare has been ruled out of...
Cleveland boosts 2023 Melbourne Cup credentials in Moonee Valley Cup
Cleveland has won his first race in Australia from seven attempts, taking out the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on Friday night. A former Sydney Cup favourite and now with Kris Lees, the former Joseph O’Brien trained stayer is already assured of a Melbourne Cup start. Under a typically composed...
Kiwi’s Valley Prowess is Crystal clear
It wasn’t the race she was initially targeted at, but Prowess got her win at The Valley on Cox Plate when she won an eventful $300,000 Group 2 Crystal Mile. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained mare entered the season one of the favourites for the Cox Plate, but a minor issue...
Zeyrek from last to first in the Craven Plate at Randwick
A decision to ride Zeyrek quietly despite a lack of obvious tempo has reaped rewards for Team Hawkes with the gelding charging home to win the Craven Plate at Randwick. Disappointed to see him settle midfield and wide in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) last start, co-trainer Michael Hawkes gave Tyler Schiller strict...
Tom Kitten toys with G1 Spring Champion Stakes rivals
Tom Kitten made a one-act affair of the Spring Champion Stakes on Saturday, but fast-forward twelve months and James Cummings won’t be surprised to see him line up in a Cox Plate. Godolphin’s head trainer has a high opinion of the three-year-old, who gave sire Harry Angel his first Group 1 win in...
Augment can pass Belgravia Stakes test at Ascot says Pat Carbery
Jockey Pat Carbery is no stranger to Belgravia Stakes (1200m) success and wants to carry that momentum into Saturday’s Listed contest at Ascot. Pat Carbery won last year’s Belgravia Stakes with classy mare Amelia’s Jewel and before that rode Miss Solis (2013) and Megatic (2008) to respective wins. The pressure for Carbery to...