Horse Racing News
Romantic Choice placement reaps Stakes reward
Tom Dabernig had to deal with seeing Cleo Cat beaten for the first time in Saturday’s Black Pearl Stakes at Geelong, but the Listed event was still a triumph for the Warrnambool horseman. Tough mare Romantic Choice brought up her maiden Stakes success in the $200,000 event. Romantic Choice had her first taste of Stakes...
Track issues see Gold Coast Magic Millions features moved to Sunshine Coast
Saturday’s significant lead-up meeting to the feature Magic Millions race day on January 11 has been moved from Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast. The twilight card which includes the first running of Queensland’s new slot race, the $3 million The Sunlight, was to occur as a prelude to the rich traditional...
Trainer Gavin Bedggood treks north with Pioneer River
Gavin Bedggood will look back fondly on 2024, a year when he graduated to become a Group 1 trainer, and he will be out to tick off another milestone early in the new year. The Cranbourne horseman will chase his first win in Sydney when Pioneer River contests Saturday’s $160,000 Precise Air Handicap...
Loch Eagle eyes back-to-back wins in The Wave at Gold Coast
Kris Lees went a long time wondering where Loch Eagle’s next win was going to come, but the Newcastle trainer is optimistic he won’t have to wait as long for his next success. The six-year-old gelding is favourite for Saturday’s $500,000 The Wave (1800m) at the Gold Coast. The son of Lonhro heads...
Holymanz chases another Coastal Classic win at Geelong
Holymanz has not won since last year’s Coastal Classic and the Ciaron Maher stable is confident the race can again bring out the best in the gelding. The son of Almanzor will defend his title against six rivals in Saturday’s $300,000 event over the Geelong 1700-metre circuit. Despite not having won in 10 starts...
Clinton McDonald mourns Blue Diamond Stakes winner Hayasugi
The Clinton Mcdonald stable is mourning the loss of history-defying filly Hayasugi, who succumbed to complications from surgery. McDonald on Thursday announced that last year’s Blue Diamond winner had been euthanized owing to issues stemming from the hoof injury that prematurely ended her spring campaign. “It is with great sadness that we announce...
Jockey Patrick Carbery Praises ‘Quirky’ Perth Cup winner
Three-time Perth Cup (2400m) winning jockey Patrick Carbery admits he wasn’t sure what to expect from Hemlock Stone in yesterday’s edition of the staying feature at Ascot. Hemlock Stone scored an upset win the $1 million feature and delivered trainers Grant and Alana Williams a fifth win in the past seven editions...
Blake Shinn reunites with Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot
They reached the pinnacle of two-year-old racing together when winning the Golden Slipper last autumn and for the first time since April, Blake Shinn takes the reins of Lady Of Camelot in The Sunlight – Queensland’s new slot race – at Gold Coast on Saturday. The Sunlight over 1100-metres and worth $3 million...
No dramas for Novela at Murray Bridge races
Michael Hickmott is one of many trainers busily scouring the lots on offer prior to next week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale but it is one bought from the Adelaide equivalent in 2022 that could highlight his day at Murray Bridge on Saturday. Novela, which in Spanish translates to soap opera,...
Shower’s chance to press 2025 Blue Diamond Stakes claims
Last year’s inaugural Geelong Diamond proved a good launching pad for Stay Focused and Phillip Stokes has identified the race as the ideal kick-off for a filly he holds in hold regard. The Pakenham horseman will unveil Cosmic Shower, a daughter of first-season sire Peltzer, in the $150,000 event over 1100 metres. The $220,000...
