New Zealand-bred and owned warhorse Who Shot Thebarman will be vying to make it back-to-back wins in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) when he lines up on Saturday. The Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) winner has been unplaced in all of his three starts this
Spring Champion Stakes runner-up Aramayo is the new favourite for the Group Two Vase at Moonee Valley following the scratching of last-start Caulfield winner Verry Elleegant. Verry Elleegant heads betting on the VRC Oaks after an impressive victory in las
New Zealand-owned galloper Patrick Erin currently sits in 47th position in the order of entry for the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), but regardless of whether he makes the final field co-owner Janice Smith and her daughters will be at Flemington to mark a sp
English-born jockey Eilish McCall will keep her date with group winner Close Up at Ellerslie Saturday. Claimer McCall, 25, was to ride him a month or so back to take some weight off his ageing back but the horse suffered a stone bruise and was scratched
Masa Tanaka has had his riding contract in Korea extended by six months. He has won nine up there in this stint but suffered the heartbreak of being demoted after a group win. Meanwhile Awapuni apprentice Tim Johnson is out of his time and will now free
Chris Waller has hit back at English racing commentator Matt Chapman, who on Tuesday questioned the form of legendary Australian mare Winx. At Tuesday morning’s Cox Plate barrier draw, ITV host Chapman mounted a case for Godolphin raider Benbatl, su
Unbeaten three-year-old gelding Dawn Patrol will now head to Riccarton next month to contest the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) after pleasing trainer Frank Ritchie in his 1200m trial at Te Aroha on Thursday. “We’ve had
Multiple Group One winner Humidor pushed Winx close in last year’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) and his connections are hoping he can go one better this year. The New Zealand-bred and part-owned gelding has had a solid preparation leading into Saturday’s fe
A cautiously excited Michael Pitman has been given the green light from his surgeon to travel to Melbourne on Friday to watch Savvy Coup contest the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley. “I get out of the hospital this afternoon and I’m on a
A trials meeting will be held at Otaki next Tuesday to again the test the surface of the upgraded track. Last Sunday’s meet was abandoned after race three when a horse slipped. It was the first meeting in almost 8 months at Otaki. Jockeys gave it th
Allan Sharrock is stretching his resources like never before but is hoping for a landmark weekend of success as he produces runners in stakes races at three different venues for the first time in his career this weekend. The New Plymouth trainer is
Feelar’s NZ Cup odds were trimmed to $6 after another round of withdrawals Wednesday. Stephen Marsh-trained Feelar will have first run since early October at Ellerslie Saturday. John Wheeler’s Pentathlon’s Cup quote is down to $10 from
Caulfield trainer Mick Price has elected to bypass the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) in favour of the Gr.1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday-week with three-year-old filly Seabrook. It will be three weeks between runs for the New Zealand-bred filly w
The Melbourne Cup is the most loved and anticipated horse race in Australasia. While other prestigious racing events also take place throughout the racing season, the Melbourne Cup attracts the attention of the public like no other. Here are a number of
Stipe Neil Goodwin will tomorrow attempt to unravel the reason why a horse slipped, ending race meeting early on Sunday. It was the Otaki-Maori Racing Club’s first meeting for several months, during which repairs were made to improve the track sur
By Phillip Quay The decision by the Sunday Star-Times newspaper to change to a “compact” format for yesterday’s issue is another sign that the demise of newspapers is near. There was no racing coverage in yesterday’s Sunday Star-Ti
By Grace Willougby Maija (right) and I have been friends for about 10-11 years now. We rode together in New Zealand and then I moved to Australia and not long after she came too. She’s one of my oldest and best friends. The reason I decided to start
We’ve come to the end of another busy week. We are really getting into the swing on things for this racing season. I started my week off riding 22 breeze ups for Sam Beatson and Ben Foote. Their magnificent and high-quality drafts for the Ready to Run s
North Island raider Xpression underlined why she is the favourite to take out next month’s Gr.1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) when she handed out a beating to her age group rivals at Ashburton on Saturday. The stylish Showcasing filly