Horse Racing News
Sandpaper heads Bjorn Baker’s 2026 Carrington Stakes trio
Sandpaper’s recent Queensland campaign may not have produced a win, but Bjorn Baker believes the gelding is poised to bounce back at Randwick. After finishing second to Know Thyself two runs ago, Sandpaper stuck on gamely when sixth behind Needs Some Luck in The Buffering (1400m) at Eagle Farm earlier this...
True warrior to continue Sensational run in 2026 John Dillon Stakes
Zou Sensation shows no signs of slowing as he prepares for another assignment at Caulfield on Saturday. The six-year-old has been in work for more than a year, yet continues to thrive under the care of trainers Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin. After closing out 2025 with a win in...
Joe Pride hoping to make Gatsby’s great again
A more favourable draw has given Joe Pride renewed optimism as he prepares Gatsby’s for another crack at breaking his long drought. The four-year-old was a winner of the 2024 The Rosebud (1100m) for Chris Waller and has since placed in stakes company, though a win has continued to elude him. After...
Candlewick ready to light up racing at Randwick
Candlewick’s arrival in the Joe Pride stable has given the trainer another well-bred mare to work with alongside City Of Lights. By Pierro out of Pinocchio, Candlewick is a half-sister to 2020 Everest winner Classique Legend, adding further depth to Pride’s team. With City Of Lights already a stakes winner thanks to...
Fresh Sghirripa set for the 2026 Durbridge Stakes
Sghirripa returns to action this weekend with Shane Oxlade confident the talented sprinter is ready to show improvement in the Listed Durbridge Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville. The Group 3 winner has been freshened after an underwhelming Melbourne campaign and will now focus on the South Australian sprint circuit. Oxlade said there were...
Smith finding his Way To The Stars at Caulfield in 2026 WJ Adams Stakes
A strong showing at Caulfield this weekend could open the door to bigger targets for Way To The Stars later in the carnival. Trainer Matthew Smith has elected to send the seven-year-old to Melbourne for the Listed W.J. Adams Stakes over 1000 metres, rather than take an easier option elsewhere. The gelding...
Stars on show at Warwick Farm trials
Some of Australia’s leading gallopers were on display at Warwick Farm on Thursday as the autumn build-up continued, with Doncaster Mile winner Stefi Magnetica headlining the session. The mare claimed her 900m trial in testing conditions, holding off Verona Rose with Angel Capital, Attica and Caulfield Cup runner-up River Of Stars...
Schiller hoping to seal the Deel in the 2026 Carrington Stakes
Tyler Schiller may not have a long list of winners beside his name yet in 2026, but the young jockey believes he is riding better than he has in some time. After spending three months on the sidelines in 2025 with a vertebrae injury sustained in a race fall, Schiller admits...
Hedged dodges the paddock for the 2026 Australia Stakes
Gavin Bedggood believes patience is paying off as Hedged lines up in Friday night’s Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham. The gelding comes off a disappointing run in the Group 3 Standish Handicap, where he finished second-last after starting favourite, just two weeks after scoring impressively in the Christmas Stakes. Bedggood...
2026 Blue Diamond Stakes attack takes another step in Previews
The countdown to the Blue Diamond Stakes begins in earnest on Saturday with the running of the Blue Diamond Previews at Caulfield. Ciaron Maher will be represented in the Group 3 fillies’ event by Angels Fury, a youngster who has impressed in her preparation and arrives off an eye-catching trial win. “She...