Peter Cox knows better than most the reality of horse racing economics. Now retired, the former photographer and picture editor at The Age has spent a lifetime owning racehorses, usually with friends and in syndicates, and he can relate chapter and verse … Read more

NEALE DONNELLEY previews some of the Group 1 races on VICTORIA DERBY DAY at Flemington this weekend:   Group 1 $1,000,000 COOLMORE STUD STAKES. (1200m): THE Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes has quickly established itself as a genuine sire-making race … Read more

Dulcify (1978) Brent Thomson Tobin Bronze (1965) Jim Johnson Mahogany (1993) Greg Hall Red Anchor (1984) Mick Dittman Grosvenor (1982) Mick Goreham Efficient (2006) Michael Rodd Taj Rossi (1973) Roy Higgins Stylish Century (1989) Kevin Moses Sovereign Red (1980) Mick Goreham Star Of The Realm (1991) Steven King Nothin’ Leica … Read more

Indications are that the families of three legendary trainers – Tommy Smith, Bart Cummings and Colin Hayes – will share in the major spoils of the $2 million Victoria Derby.   During their illustrious careers Smith and Cummings both won … Read more

Damien Oliver was only 20 when he registered his first win in the 1992 Victoria Derby on Redding, who had only a second placing from eight starts going into the blue riband event.   In the years since Oliver, who … Read more

Its arguably the result that changed the face of Australian racing. Vintage Crop’s success in the 1993 Melbourne Cup made the gelding, his trainer Dermot Weld and his jockey, Mick Kinane, not just history makers but game changers. For full story … Read more

I was uncertain more than sceptical, but now I have no doubts. Where Winx and her extraordinary career have been concerned, despite her 29 wins in a row, despite her world record 22 group 1 wins, I have always had … Read more

Chris Waller, Hugh Bowman and Winx’s owners Peter Tighe and Debbie Kepitis insisted all week that the great mare was, despite her advancing years, as good if not better than ever before as she approached her date with destiny. And … Read more

This is almost certainly the last time Victorian racegoers will get the chance to see Winx in the flesh. You never say never, but the chances of her turning up for a fifth Cox Plate as an eight-year-old are at … Read more

Hugh Bowman winning a group 1 race at Moonee Valley, beating Oisin Murphy in a driving finish. Could the conclusion to Friday night’s Manikato Stakes, in which the Bowman-partnered Brave Smash just ran down the Murphy- ridden Spirit Of Valor, … Read more

There are few people alive today who fully remember the horse dubbed the greatest of them all, Phar Lap, the depression-era hero who dominated the nation’s racetracks and captured the hearts and minds of the public in a way that … Read more

The Vertem Futurity Stakes, Gr-1.   Hi guys, fasten your seat belts as tomorrow we’ll fly very high. Last Saturday, at Ascot, I didn’t throw myself out of the top of the King Edward Stand, because of the results, so … Read more

Irish jockey Oisin Murphy jets into Melbourne for the big group 1 festival at Moonee Valley fully aware that he could become the villain of the piece on Saturday if he can somehow dethrone the queen of the Australian turf … Read more

NEALE DONNELLEY previews the Schweppes Crystal Mile and Moonee Valley Gold Cup from Cox Plate Day:   Group 2 $200,000 SCHWEPPES CRYSTAL MILE. (1600m): SATURDAY’S traditional Group 2 Crystal Mile may have just 10 runners but the obvious Sydney versus … Read more

Dulcify (1979) Brent Thomson Kingston Town (1980) Malcolm Johnston Tobin Bronze (1967) Jim Johnson Winx (2016) Hugh Bowman Surround (1976) Peter Cook Kingston Town (1982) Peter Cook Bonecrusher (1986) Gary Stewart Sunline (1999) Greg Childs Saintly (1996) Darren Beadman So You Think (2009) Glen Boss Makybe Diva (2005) Glen Boss Almaarad (1989) … Read more

The Aidan O’Brien-trained U.S. Navy Flag, who takes his place in the $1 million Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night, is the most highly distinguished international sprinter to race in Australia. Surprisingly for such a brilliant performer … Read more

Wonder mare Winx has had a perfect preparation for her tilt at a historic fourth Cox Plate and trainer Chris Waller could not be happier with her condition as she prepares for her date with destiny at Moonee Valley on … Read more

Intense pressure will be on Hugh Bowman – even more so than Winx – going into the Ladbrokes Cox Plate. With only eight runners there is every likelihood that the race will develop into a tactical battle between the jockeys. … Read more

Winx will be racing on hallowed turf when she aims at enhancing her already incredible record by winning a fourth consecutive Cox Plate at Mooee Valley. For since the track was put down in 1995 by StrathAyr Turf Systems – … Read more

It’s the race that neither Aidan O’Brien nor Godolphin have won – but they now have a stranglehold on the Melbourne Cup with the former’s Yucatan firming as favourite and Godolphin’s Best Solution tightening in the market after his Caulfield … Read more

Top European sprinter US Navy Flag made no sort of show on the boggy ground that he faced in The Everest in Sydney, but he will look to atone on Friday night in the group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee … Read more

If the bookies’ lists are to be believed, Winx is already home and hosed and crowned Queen of the Valley for the fourth time in a row, her Cox Plate run next weekend a mere formality on her progress to … Read more

He’s been trying to win Australia’s greatest races for the best part of two decades. And although he has sprung one huge shock – winning the Caulfield Cup with 50-1 shot All The Good a decade ago – Saeed bin … Read more

  Qipco Champions Day, Ascot, October 20th 2018   Hi guys, first of all I wish to update you about what happened in the UK in the last few days. Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Book 1, Wednesday October 10th, Lot … Read more