Horse Racing News
Clinton McDonald 2YO’s set for Caulfield debut in 2025 Merson Cooper Stakes
Clinton McDonald is still recovering from fractured ribs and a punctured lung, yet the trainer remains upbeat as two promising fillies prepare to make their race debuts. Simply Steffi and Tears Of Happiness will line up at Caulfield on Saturday in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m), giving the stable a...
Unspoken warming towards another win ahead of the 2025 ATC Cup
Unspoken hasn’t quite rediscovered the brilliance he displayed early in his Australian career, but his recent performances indicate he’s edging closer to a return to winning ways. The talented import swept four straight races in the spring of 2023, including his memorable victory in the $2 million Five Diamonds, yet since...
Rey Magnerio ready to shine in the 2025 Winterbottom Stakes
Rey Magnerio has taken his first trip away from home in his stride, according to trainer Robbie Griffiths, who is delighted with the sprinter’s condition ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 test. The Cranbourne-trained gelding is lining up in the prestigious Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot as Griffiths hopes to claim his...
Keys holds high hopes for Alibaba in 2025 Merson Cooper Stakes
Veteran trainer Ken Keys has handled horses for decades, and while brilliant juveniles have been rare in his stable, he believes Alibaba could be something out of the box. The colt will make his highly anticipated debut in Saturday’s Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield. Keys’ first elite youngster was Saloon...
Mus up for Tuff challenge in the 2025 Recognition Stakes
Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke has enjoyed watching Tuff Tu Mus work his way through the grades, but acknowledges that this weekend represents his toughest test yet. The All Too Hard gelding steps into Stakes company for the first time when he lines up in Saturday’s $160,000 Listed Recognition Stakes at...
Horror gate sets Glamour a big 2025 Festival Stakes task
Gerald Ryan has no doubt Arctic Glamour’s shock first-up win was the real deal, but he concedes a wide barrier has raised the degree of difficulty as she lines up in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill. The mare defied her $41 quote to win the Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) earlier this...
Tigroni out to roar into 2025 Magic Millions Classic calculations
Tigroni will likely kick off her career in the first race at Rosehill on Saturday, but co-trainer John O’Shea is the first to admit it isn’t the debut scenario he had in mind. The Schweppes Handicap (1100m) became the back-up option after Racing NSW scrapped a two-year-old race at Wyong on...
Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours’ sire St Jean dies in freak accident
Tragedy has struck the breeding ranks with the news that St Jean, sire of this year’s Melbourne Cup hero Half Yours, has died following a paddock accident. The Teofilo stallion was euthanised on Tuesday morning due to severe injuries suffered overnight. Brackley Park’s Grant Dwyer, who stood St Jean for a syndicate...
Take two for Zealously in the 2025 Starlight Stakes at Rosehill
Beginning a stakes-bound horse in lower-grade provincial or midweek races can be a strategic move, helping build confidence while owners avoid unnecessary costs. But for Starlight Stakes favourite Zealously, his low-key debut season simply mirrored trainer Peter Snowden’s early expectations—expectations that quickly shifted as the sprinter continued to elevate. “To be honest,...
Alenquer primed for 2025 Zipping Classic tilt
The Hayes brothers—Ben, Will and J D—believe a longer journey is exactly what Alenquer needs as the talented import chases his first Australian win. The French-bred son of Adlerflug arrived in 2022 after claiming a Group 1 in Ireland, but hopes of a Melbourne Cup campaign were derailed by a tendon...