Horse Racing News
Bendigo back-up for McEvoy’s Belle
Belle Plaisir will chase Listed victory at Bendigo this Saturday, but the Golden Mile could serve a greater purpose for the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained mare. The signature race on Bendigo’s metropolitan program will put the polish on a campaign aimed at the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) in...
Sydney latest stop for globetrotting stayer
If Shaun Ritchie can win the Sydney Cup with Mahrajaan, he will have rival trainer Chris Waller to thank. Waller was one of the first people to source stayers from Europe and such was his success, a high percentage of horses now competing over longer distances in Australia are imported. That trend has...
Buckaroo out to upstage high-profile stablemate in G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
As the bloodstock adviser for international operators Qatar Racing, David Redvers is familiar with travelling horses around the world. The UK-based operation, owned by Sheikh Fahad and his brothers, have thoroughbred interests in Europe, Australasia, America and Japan, and among them is Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes contender Buckaroo. A dual Listed winner...
Western Empire set to launch in The Joey
Trainer Grant Williams has flagged the possible return of Western Empire in next week’s $200,000 Joey (1200m) at Ascot. Grant Williams, along with wife Alana, trained Western Empire to win multiple blacktype races, including the 2021 WATC Derby (2400m) and Railway Stakes (1600m). He was then transferred to trainer John Leek Jnr in...
Godolphin keeping faith in Zardozi in Australian Oaks
James Cummings isn’t conceding the ATC Australian Oaks to odds-on favourite Orchestral, adamant Zardozi can give the Kiwi star a run for her money. Orchestral outstayed the Godolphin filly at their only clash in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) but in hindsight, Cummings said Zardozi needed the tough middle-distance run after...
Eternal Flame strikes hot G1 field in Queen Of The Turf Stakes
Victorian mare Eternal Flame will test the Group One waters in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, although trainer Michael Kent admits he wasn’t expecting the race to be quite so strong. The lightly raced four-year-old has won her past two starts, following up a victory in the Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m)...
G1 winner Cylinder retired to stud
Just weeks after it was announced that Exceed And Excel had been retired from stud duty, one of his sons will replace him on the Darley stallions’ roster with Cylinder retired from racing. Darley revealed on Thursday morning that this year’s Newmarket Handicap would stand the upcoming breeding season at its...
Hayes looking on the Brightside in Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni haven’t reached ‘arch rival’ status just yet, but Ben Hayes admits he will be satisfied if the former can square the ledger at Randwick. The pair has run the quinella three times, Pride Of Jenni relegating Mr Brightside to second in the Cantala Stakes and All-Star Mile,...
10-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz retired
Glamour sprinter Imperatriz has run her last race with Te Akau Racing on Thursday afternoon announcing that the 10-timer Group 1 winner had been retired. The five-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible was the subject a variety of veterinary tests upon her arrival back in New Zealand earlier this week, which returned...
It’s Final Time for promising Newcastle gelding in Provincial-Midway Championships Final
Kris Lees is hoping the decision to keep Tavi Time on fresh legs can deliver him an unprecedented sixth win in the Provincial-Midway Championships Final at Randwick. The Newcastle trainer has dominated the race since its inception in 2015, including the past three renewals in succession. On Saturday at Randwick, he will have weight...