Horse Racing News
Melbourne Cup handicappers baffled by Vauban’s profile
As the deadline for the 2023 Melbourne Cup entries looms, Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper David Hegan is puzzled by the enigmatic Irish horse Vauban. Trained by Willie Mullins, Vauban has an unusual racing history, with only 14 starts—eight of them over hurdles. “I can’t really remember a horse with a profile of...
Giga set to Kick off in the McEwen Stakes
The horse that put young trainer Clayton Douglas on the map is set to have the first start of his campaign in defence of his Everest title. Giga Kick resumes in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday in what shapes as the sprinters only Melbourne appearance before the $20 million...
Hawaii Five Oh sharp ahead of The Shorts 2023
Hawaii Five Oh was one of the surprise packets of the late Sydney Autumn and Brisbane Winter and looks to have come back just as well, leading all the way in Tuesday’s first trial at Rosehill to defeat a star-studded field. Jumping well from an outside gate under Adam Hyeronimous, Hawaii...
Gold Trip a likely Moonee Feehan Stakes starter
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable is favouring starting Gold Trip in a benchmark 100 race at Moonee Valley to kick-off the stayer’s spring campaign. Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner is entered for the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) as well as the 2040m benchmark 100 Handicap on Saturday, and after a gallop at...
Holly Watson wins Damien Oliver Award
Holly Watson will go down in history as the maiden winner of the award named after Western Australia’s greatest jockey. Perth’s leading apprentice from the 2022/23 season was on Monday night crowned winner of the Damien Oliver Award, which is presented at Racing and Wagering Western Australia’s apprentice awards. The 24-year-old, who is apprenticed...
Buster Bash to back up at Moonee Valley
Despite his defeat, David Harrison is keeping the faith with Buster Bash, drawing encouragement from champion jockey, Jamie Kah. Jamie Kah rode Buster Bash in last Saturday’s G2 Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield, but the gelding failed to flatter in his interstate debut. Buster Bash led and turned for home in front, but faded...
Black Fantasy gearing up for a return to the racetrack
One of Dan and Ben Pearce’s talented horses is gearing up for a return to the racetrack following an injury-enforced layoff. Ben Pearce, who co-trains in partnership with his brother, Dan, confesses he’s excited about Black Fantasy, who has taken big strides in his recovery. Black Fantasy has not raced in 15-months,...
Feehan Stakes Day at The Valley will shed some light on the Spring
Moonee Valley has some strong group racing this Saturday that will offer racing folks a good guide to the big races to come. The main race is the G2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) with horses who will be aiming at the Cups and/or Cox Plate. The Melbourne Cup winner himself Gold Trip...
Melbourne Cup 2023 among Eldar Eldarov’s plans
Ever since Vintage Crop internationalised the Melbourne Cup in 1993, the Irish St Leger, which will be run at The Curragh this weekend, has had a key impact on Australia’s most famous race. Vintage Crop is the only horse to have won both races, but Oscar Schindler, Vinnie Roe, Yeats and Septimus...
Lunar Flare kicks off 2023 Melbourne Cup campaign
After last year’s heartbreak of having what would’ve been his first Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) runner scratched on race day with a bruised heel, Grahame Begg has his sights on redemption with Lunar Flare to be aimed solely at the race that stops a nation. The daughter of 2013 Cup winner Fiorente...