Horse Racing News
Exceed And Excel retired from stud duty
In the week of the Group 1 that was Exceed And Excel’s biggest win as a racehorse, Darley on Wednesday announced that its champion sire had been retired from stallion duties. The 23-year-old has been pensioned after putting together one of the great careers by an Australian stallion, having thrown 215...
Marroni set to resume at Trentham for new barn
Owners Alastair Lawrence and John Rattray, of Bonneval fame, have had success sending horses to Waipukurau trainer Simon Wilson over the last few years and they are hoping that continues with their Group Three winner Marroni. Wilson had previously been entrusted with Scutar and Vidiano for the partnership, with the former...
Wellington Guineas locked in for Bedtime Story
Promising filly Bedtime Story will get her opportunity at attaining black-type in next week’s Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) following her victory in the Cavallo Farm & Chris Rutten Bloodstock 3YO (1300m) at Otaki on Wednesday. It was the third victory from five starts for the daughter of Per Incanto, having placed...
Buenos Noches chases breakthrough G1 win in Newmarket Handicap
Trainer Matthew Smith has the confidence in Buenos Noches to finally shed his bridesmaid tag in a feature Group 1 sprint down the Flemington straight. Buenos Noches runs in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on Saturday, having finished seventh in the race last year. But the four-year-old also has finished third in the Coolmore Stud...
Espiona to take on The Everest hero in Canterbury Stakes
Chris Waller spent a long time deliberating on the best race for Espiona this weekend before making the call to bring her back to Sydney for a clash with Everest winner Think About It in the Canterbury Stakes. While Waller expects the Joe Pride-trained sprinter to extend his unbeaten record at Randwick, he...
Lucrative targets beckon Marsh’s top youngster
Stephen Marsh’s immediate focus is on Ellerslie this Saturday with stable star Velocious, but he’s also got an eye on a following juvenile prize. The Cambridge trainer is upbeat about her chances in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and, all going well, a Central Districts venture awaits the filly, with the...
Sharper Amenable first-up at Flemington races
Without a win in a Stakes race to hang his future on as a stallion, Amenable returns for an autumn campaign at Flemington as a gelding. Not seen since running fourth in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield last October, Amenable runs first-up as a gelding in the Group 3...
Vianarra on VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes assault
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable are expecting a rise in trip to suit Vianarra in a Stakes race at Flemington. Vianarra heads to the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on Saturday in a bid to break through for his maiden success. The son of Shalaa is the most experienced...
Top colts in Todman Stakes showdown at Randwick
Star colt Storm Boy will be at home in his box this weekend, but the result of the Todman Stakes at Randwick is set to reveal the horse who will pose his biggest Golden Slipper threat. Among the 10 Todman Stakes (1200m) runners are the next three horses in Slipper betting –...
McEvoy, Bridge hunt first G1 together
They shared in Classique Legend’s remarkable Everest triumph, but trainer Les Bridge and jockey Kerrin Mcevoy are yet to team up for a Group One win. The pair is hoping to change that on Saturday when they combine with emerging three-year-old Celestial Legend in the Randwick Guineas (1600m), more than 20 years after...
