Horse Racing News
Benaud looking to build confidence in WJ McKell Cup
Benaud has been consistently competitive against some of Australia’s best horses, but remarkably his only win is in a maiden at Nowra. Group placed in the Gloaming Stakes at just his second start and runner-up to Hitotsu in the 2022 ATC Australian Derby, Benaud has run boldly against the likes of Anamoe,...
James McDonald gives Coolangatta tick of approval
In preparation for the upcoming Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, star jockey James McDonald has given Australian filly Coolangatta his tick of approval after a significant track work on Wednesday. McDonald, who rode last year’s King’s Stand Stakes victor, Nature Strip, partnered the promising three-year-old in an 800m...
Apprentices dominate midweek at Kensington
The depth in Sydney’s apprentice ranks has again been underlined with one of the newer kids on the block, Jett Stanley, posting a midweek double to move within three wins of outriding his full claim. Indentured to Annabel Neasham, Stanley opened his account aboard Kapunda for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace...
NZ apprentice Wiremu Pinn puts claim battle behind
New Zealand apprentice Wiremu Pinn joked his mount Born Hustler would have won by 10 lengths had he still been able to claim 3kg in the Melbourne metropolitan area. Pinn had his claim reduced from 3kg to 2kg for Wednesday’s meeting at Sandown after an audit of his New Zealand wins...
Spring Carnival aspirations for Coeur Volante
The Mike Moroney stable has Spring Carnival aspirations with Coeur Volante after the filly broke through for her maiden win at Sandown. The Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in mid-November has been touted as the possible target for the filly after her win in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (1300m) on Wednesday. Settling second-last...
Trainers weigh up options for Shaiyhar
Last start winner and early favourite Shaiyhar is not guaranteed to be a starter in the staying race at Flemington on Saturday. The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young -trained galloper is among acceptors for the Murray Cox Handicap (2540m), but Busuttin said he was not sure whether to start the stayer. Shaiyhar recorded an impressive win over 2000m...
Weight and gate ideal for Berdibek
Berdibek might be rising ten, but John O’Shea says his forms points to him being a superior horse to 12 months ago and expects him to give the Listed Ipswich Cup a mighty shake. O’Shea has replicated the path Berdibek followed to Ipswich last year, coming through the Hawkesbury and Scone Cups in...
Wild Chap set for WJ McKell Cup
Winning the Group Three Cameron Handicap has been a blessing and a curse for Wild Chap, providing his connections with their biggest success but also attracting the scrutiny of handicappers. The six-year-old went into the Newcastle feature with a benchmark of 79 and after accounting for the small six-horse field, emerged...
Racing Victoria reduce Wiremu Pinn’s city claim
Racing Victoria (RV) stewards have swiftly altered New Zealand apprentice Wiremu Pinn’s city claim from three kilograms to two ahead of today’s Sandown meeting amidst a probe into miscommunication between RV and New Zealand authorities. “It has been determined on the information available that the number of New Zealand wins currently...
Ben Pearce’s Fantasy a step closer
Ben Pearce is delighted that his talented staying prospect Black Fantasy is not far from returning to the race track. If the Blackfriars gelding can reproduce anything resembling last year’s form, then Ben Pearce and his brother, co-trainer, Dan, are in for exciting times. Black Fantasy was flying high at Belmont Park last...
