Horse Racing News

Amur chases another Moonee Valley first

Small fields and Godolphin colt Amur go hand-and-hand at Moonee Valley. The James Cummings-trained Amur is unbeaten in two starts at The Valley and kicks off his three-year-old campaign in the Membership On Sale Plate (1200m) on Saturday. Amur won his first two starts over Saturday’s course and distance, scoring on debut against five opponents on...

Aug 25th '23

Balding’s 2023 Melbourne Cup hope for Ebor victory

England-based trainer Andrew Balding has fond memories of Flemington and he is hoping his emerging stayer Scampi can set him on a path to Melbourne once again after the Ebor Handicap at York on Saturday. Balding achieved a career highlight in 2013 when be brought Side Glance to Australia in a...

Aug 25th '23

Acromantula primed for Carlyon Stakes 2023 assault

West Australian trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce headed to Melbourne with a plan of capturing an early season Stakes race at Moonee Valley. And after the sprinter’s first start in Melbourne earlier in the month, the brothers are confident they have Acromantula in peak condition for his tilt at the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m)...

Aug 25th '23

A Royal runner touted as a possible candidate for the Melbourne Cup

Desert Hero could be the first Royal runner in the Melbourne Cup since Arabian Story finished sixth in 1997. The William Haggas-trained three-year-old has been touted as a possible candidate for the Melbourne Cup, following a run in the UK’s final and oldest Classic, the St Leger at Doncaster on 16 September. The...

Aug 24th '23

Waterhouse, Bott banking on race fitness with promising colts

Co-trainer Adrian Bott is banking on race fitness to give promising colts Introducing and The Instructor a vital edge in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill. The pair tackle the race second-up after filling the placings behind Tiz Invincible over the 1100m circuit in the Rosebud and Bott says both have...

Aug 24th '23

Annabel Neasham looking for another Sweet Ride at Moonee Valley

Luck and good fortune can play a big part in racing as Annabel Neasham can attest with sprinter Sweet Ride who is aiming for back-to-back wins at Moonee Valley. After being successful over the 1000m journey on August 12, Sweet Ride returns to the same track and trip in the Listed Carlyon Stakes...

Aug 24th '23

Up And Coming Stakes pair draw wide in the Up And Coming Stakes

Luck and tempo will dictate the chances of Up And Coming Stakes coming away with a Group Three win in the Up And Coming Stakes after both his runners landed wide draws. Last start winner Kintyre came up with barrier 11 of 12, while Encap fared marginally better with gate nine. Portelli says...

Aug 24th '23

Najem Suhail to be tested at The Valley

Trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock are planning a Stakes race at Flemington for Najem Suhail, but first he has a date at Moonee Valley. And that date if successful could lead the sprinter to bigger assignments later in the spring. Najem Suhail heads to the Dr Sheahan Plate (1200m) on...

Aug 24th '23

Randwick set to host Everest hopefuls in key barrier trial

Randwick is set to host another key barrier trial session on Friday, headlined by the clash of a quintet of Everest hopefuls. Six horses have accepted for Friday’s opening 850m heat on the Kensington track and five of those – Lost And Running, Alcohol Free, I Am Me, Private Eye and...

Aug 24th '23

Phanta set to contest Idyllic Prince Stakes

Phanta has given co-trainers Chris and Michael Gangemi plenty to cheer about after collecting back-to-back Listed victories. Phanta claimed his first stakes success in the Bolton Sprint (1200m) and followed up in the Belmont Newmarket (1200m) a fortnight later. Hopes for a feature race hat trick rests in the Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m), his...

Aug 24th '23