Horse Racing News
Zebra's chance to earn Group 1 stripes
David Browne has always felt Le Zebra would be worth of Group 1 appearances at some stage this year, but the raising of the bar might happen earlier than first thought after his win at Flemington on Saturday. The Cranbourne trainer will now consider sending the two-year-old north for next month's $500,000 J...
Neasham's Bois set to Lord it over rivals
A two-state feature race double beckons for trainer Annabel Neasham as weight-for-age star Zaaki chases a second Doomben Cup in Queensland, while former French galloper Bois D'Argent leads a three-pronged Lord Mayor's Cup assault in Sydney. Zaaki came up with barrier 11 at Tuesday's draw but Neasham expected the high-class gelding to take it...
Mojo to get his Rhythm back says Pateman
The son of Playing God, a recent acquisition to Mitchell Pateman's stable, started a $3 favourite with Tabtouch after powerful winning runs at his previous two starts at Ascot and Pinjarra. Mojo Rhythm ran well below his best, but despite a difficult run he was well beaten by Vast Art, finishing seventh...
Satchell chasing biggest Award
Like most breeders, Ralph Satchell knows it is no certainty to be allowed to retain an interest in a yearling once it steps into a sale ring. Vendors often like to buy back into horses they sell and Satchell was thrilled Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas allowed him to take a percentage of...
Kovalica fighting fit for Zaaki clash
Chris Waller says fitness won't be an issue for Kovalica when he takes on Zaaki and co in the Doomben Cup, but he does have reservations about the three-year-old's outside draw. The champion trainer was in two-minds about whether the Queensland Derby favourite needed to run on Saturday after missing a...
Makram returns for winter cameo
Lindsay Park trainers Ben and J D Hayes have taken a different approach to start the brief winter campaign of Makram at Flemington. Having undergone fetlock surgery post his spring campaign, the Hayes brothers have elected to start Makram off over 1600m in the VJA Winter Championship Trophy on Saturday. An Irish-bred import that raced in UK before...
Renosu kept for Flemington assault
A liking for the straight track at Flemington swayed the decision of James Cummings and Godolphin to keep Renosu in Melbourne. The Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville last Saturday had been considered for Renosu who instead was given an easy time in a jump-out at Flemington. That jump-out was in preparation for the 3AW...
Harvey's Attacking bid for Championship Final
Keep Attacking, super impressive when winning first up from a spell, has leapt to favouritism in the Skyracing TV-Provincial Championship Series Final (1400m). Keep Attacking, who touched $5.50, has firmed into $3.40, with Starring Knight displaced as market leader and out to $4.40 from his opening $3 price on Tabtouch. Punters have also...
The Goodwood is an Option for Moroney sprinter
Trainer Mike Moroney is banking on a course of dressage having the desired effect on Not An Option when he travels to Adelaide for The Goodwood. Not An Option will be going into Saturday's Group 1 1200m sprint at Morphettville having not raced in four weeks after finishing third behind Jigsaw in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington. Moroney said he had used dressage often with his horses...
Northam aiming High after Cup miss
After missing out on a start in his hometown Scone Cup, rejuvenated gelding High Court will head to Rosehill in search of a consolation win. Trainer Rod Northam was hoping to get the in-form seven-year-old into last week's Listed race but with a Big Dance qualification on offer, the feature attracted plenty of interest...