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...
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...
Rider to give them Space in the 2026 Manfred Stakes
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will saddle three runners in Saturday’s Group 3 Manfred Stakes at Caulfield as the stable looks to make an early impression on the autumn carnival. Space Rider headlines the trio, returning first-up after an inconsistent spring campaign that concluded with an 11th in the Group...
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...
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...
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...
Chris Waller’s Scandal might have to wait another week
Chris Waller is taking a patient approach with his juvenile team this weekend, with only one of his two promising fillies expected to line up at Randwick. Godolphin-owned Sequinned and Miss Scandal, a daughter of Home Affairs, are both entered, however Waller is planning to stagger their runs rather than start...
Star galloper Ceolwulf to miss Warwick Farm trials
Multiple Group 1 winner Ceolwulf will be forced to skip Thursday’s Warwick Farm trials after a minor mishap in his box. Trainer Joe Pride confirmed the gelding suffered a graze after becoming cast, leading to the decision to withdraw him from his planned 900-metre hit-out. While disappointing, Pride said the issue was...
Carrington Stakes 2026 then paddock for exciting Whinchat
Regular rider Jay Ford is hopeful Whinchat can cap his campaign with a strong showing in Saturday’s Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. The David Pfieffer-trained gelding heads into the race following a dominant front-running win at Wyong, his first victory in two years. Ford, who has partnered Whinchat in all seven...