Horse Racing News
Henry Field lands on a promising colt in Mayfair
Newgate Farm’s Henry Field is hoping Mayfair can follow a similar trajectory to his 2021 Golden Rose winner In The Congo after accounting for a quality field of two-year-olds at Rosehill. Like Mayfair, In The Congo kicked off his career late in the season, getting a win on the board as a juvenile...
G1 Victoria Derby countdown begins for Red Aces
The countdown to the Group 1 Victoria Derby has begun for trainer Nick Ryan after the victory of Red Aces at Flemington. Success in the Byerley Handicap (1800m) on Saturday provides the Ryan-trained colt a ballot exemption into the Derby at Flemington on November 2. With 15 weeks between Saturday’s victory and the...
Neasham trio ready to go the distance
The prospect of a soft rather than heavy track is music to the ears of trainer Annabel Neasham as she chases a first local win with former English gelding Perfect Play. The four-year-old will join stablemates Funambulist and Gulf Of Mexico in Saturday’s The Agency Real Estate Handicap (2400m) at Rosehill where the...
Collett holds key to another Quick win for Minervini
Mark Minervini is banking on Jason Collett’s connection with Quick Tempo helping to bring out the best in the talented sprinter at Rosehill. Collett has ridden Quick Tempo in 10 of his past 20 starts, guiding him to a top-five finish in half of those, the highlight a brace of metropolitan-class wins. He hasn’t been...
Through Irish Eyes on road to the Flemington Cup
There is no doubting the staying credentials of Through Irish Eyes, but the question remains is he ready to put his best foot forward after a long injury lay-off. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper steps up in journey in the Deane Lester Flemington Cup (2800m) on Saturday, his third run in just...
Step up in trip for King Magnus
Trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock have long harbored the idea of testing King Magnus at 2000m. That will finally become a reality on Saturday at Flemington when the rising nine-year-old contests the VRC Member Peter Drake Plate. Griffiths and de Kock had been planning an earlier assault at 2000m, but the...
First Settler on trial for spring racing carnival sprints
Stakes races down the straight at Flemington in the spring are on the agenda for impressive debut winner First Settler. As part of the learning curve towards those contests, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained two-year-old will tackle the VRC Member Russell Dawson Plate (1000m) on Saturday. The Listed Poseidon Stakes...
Sir Davy kicks off for new yard
While the eyes of the racing world on the first Tuesday in November are on the Melbourne Cup at Flemington, Wangaratta trainer Daniel Mccarthy is planning on having a starter in another rich race north of the border. The Big Dance and its $3 million in prize money has attracted the attention...
Romans ready to strike at Flemington
If assistant trainer Jack Turnbull is right, Smokin’ Romans is about to strike form at Flemington. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper contests the VRC Member Peter Drake Plate (2000m) on Saturday, one of five runners from the stable. A Group 1 winner of the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in October 2022, Smokin’ Romans...
Serendipitous timing for Mergeila’s debut
Ever seeking to fine tune his already slick training operation, Chris Waller has returned from a visit with legendary horseman Bob Baffert armed with some fresh insights and perspectives. In the US for a family holiday, Waller spent a day with Baffert at his Santa Anita stables, chewing the fat and talking all...
