Horse Racing News
Godolphin filly races into VRC Oaks contention
A quick back-up coupled with a rise in distance has paid dividends for Godolphin filly Zardozi who claimed her maiden Stakes win with a stylish performance at Flemington. Zardozi took out the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) on Saturday to potentially forge a path towards the Group 1 VRC Oaks...
King’s Gambit lands the crown in Roman Consul Stakes
Paul Snowden will almost certainly resist any temptation to back-up brilliant Roman Consul Stakes winner King’s Gambit in The Everest, but he won’t be surprised to see the colt in the $20 million sprint next year. One slot remains to be filled with Yulong yet to confirm its runner for next...
Makarena repays the faith of Team Hawkes in the Tapp-Craig
Lightly raced filly Makarena has successfully made the giant leap from winning a midweek maiden to taking out the $500,000 Tapp-Craig at just her third start. Trained by John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes and raced by their wives, Makarena ($4.40) vindicated the belief of her trainers, sitting handy to the speed before...
Options abound for Poifect
A three-year-old fillies Stakes race at Flemington could determine the direction that Poifect takes later in her spring campaign. Poifect is engaged to run in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday with her Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes having an open mind on her potential ‘Grand Final’. Options include the...
Makarena making the right moves ahead of the Tapp-Craig
Filly Opal Ridge won the inaugural running of the Tapp-Craig, and Hawkes Racing is hoping Makarena can make it a clean sweep for the girls when she steps out in the $500,000 Rosehill feature. In an unusual move for the stable, the three-year-old will contest Saturday’s 1400 metre race at just...
NZ Group 1 winner set for Australian debut
New Zealand trainer Mark Walker will be looking to build on his impressive strike-rate in Melbourne since establishing a stable at Cranbourne. From seven runners out of the Cranbourne stable since the start of September, Walker has produced three winners and will looking to increase that tally at Moonee Valley on Friday night and further with...
Flemington straight to suit C’est Magique in Gilgai Stakes
Trainer Grahame Begg has considerable belief in lightly raced mare C’est Magique. The winner of a Pakenham synthetic maiden at her debut outing, C’est Magique has competed in Stakes race in her four subsequent starts. Begg has raised the bar further on Saturday with C’est Magique heading to Flemington to tackle the open age sprinters...
Daniel Moor reunites with Uncle Bryn in Turnbull Stakes
Jockey Daniel Moore is reuniting with Uncle Bryn at Flemington ahead of a bigger assignment in the Caulfield Cup. Uncle Bryn contests the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday in a bid to emulate the deeds of Smokin’ Romans 12 months ago. Smokin’ Romans won the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield enroute to the...
Bjorn Baker feeling butterflies over Roman Consul Stakes date
Bjorn Baker is backing undefeated colt Ozzmosis to continue his rise through the ranks as he prepares for his toughest test yet in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes at Rosehill. The undefeated son of Zoustar takes on Golden Slipper placegetter King’s Gambit, the well-performed Barber and the emerging Celestial Legend in Saturday’s...
Lunar ready to show Flare in G1 Turnbull Stakes
While there are pundits wondering if Lunar Flare has returned in the same vein of form she was in over the previous 12 months, her trainer Grahame Begg is far from disappointed. Lunar Flare will be lining up for the third run of her campaign when she runs in the Turnbull...