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
NEALE DONNELLEY previews the $5 million CAULFIELD CUP Group 1 $5,000,000 CAULFIELD CUP. (2400m): IF you’re looking for the ultimate example of modern-day elite racing in Australia, look no further than Saturday’s $5 million Caulfield Cup. (2400m). If … Read more
Might And Power (1997) Jim Cassidy Galilee (1966) JJ Miller Tobin Bronze (1967) Jim Johnson Ming Dynasty (1980) Midge Didham Sobar (1972) Harry White Gurners Lane (1982) Brent Thomson Northerly (2002) Greg Childs Gay Icarus (1971) Mick Mallyon Dunaden (2012) Craig Williams Elvstroem (2004) Nash Rawiller Fawkner (2013) Nicholas Hall Let’s … Read more
Aidan O’Brien – arguably the world’s most successful trainer – is a quick learner. A year ago the Ballydoyle stable’s Johannes Vermeer finished a desperately unlucky third behind Boom Time in the Caulfield Cup. This time around … Read more
Irish jockey Pat Cosgrave and Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surroor were on hand at Werribee on Thursday to cast an eye over their Caulfield Cup hope Best Solution, and the jockey was in little doubt when asked who he regarded … Read more
”Bring on the Myer”, exclaimed trainer Shane Nichols after I Am A Star had proved too good for the fillies and mares who opposed her in the Caulfield feature, The Lady’s Vase, on the middle day of the Caulfield Cup … Read more
She’s the queen of all she surveys and is long odds on to win a record-breaking fourth Cox Plate in two Saturday’s time. Can anything challenge Winx’s supremacy? For full story follow the link https://www.theage.com.au/sport/racing/can-the-queen-be-toppled-if-the-autumn-sun-ducks-the-challenge-20181014-p509l0.html
Owner Lloyd Williams has revealed that he has changed his plans to run Caulfield Cup favourite Yucatan in Saturday’s $5 million race. Williams indicated that the horse would need more time to get over his sensational win in the Herbert Power … Read more
Impressive Caulfield Guineas winner The Autumn Sun might not be trying to deny Winx her crowning glory in the Cox Plate, but he could do something the wonder mare has never tried – win a race overseas. John Messara, head of … Read more
Nick Williams was blunt and to the point after watching Team Williams Aidan O’Brien-trained Yucatan win the group 2 Herbert Power Handicap – one of the best cups trials of the year – with ridiculous ease. ‘‘I am speechless really. … Read more
Australian punters have got used to seeing Aidan O’Brien arrive with a hand-picked team of stayers and middle-distance horses for an assault on the great prizes of the Melbourne spring. And he has had plenty of success, sending out Adelaide … Read more
Team Williams established what may be a new Melbourne Cup-winning template last year when it brought out a northern hemisphere three-year-old in Rekindling, who was physically and mentally mature enough to claim Australia’s greatest race. Having established a precedent, it … Read more
First of all, I would like to give you an update about the going which will be good to firm, with a risk of showers and a brisk wind, and about the prices for this afternoon at Newmarket: … Read more
NEALE DONNELLEY previews the $13 million TAB EVEREST from Royal Randwick this weekend: SPECIAL CONDITIONS $13,000,000 THE TAB EVEREST (1200m). FOR all the hype, ALL the money, and all the publicity – good or bad – the TAB … Read more
Vain (1969) Pat Hyland Surround (1976) Alan Trevena Manikato (1978) Gary Willetts Red Anchor (1984) Mick Dittman Lonhro (2001) Darren Gauci Grand Cidium (1973) Mick Mallyon Our Maizcay (1995) Brian York Luskin Star (1977) Roy Higgins Grosvenor (1982) Mick Dittman … Read more
A year ago the event was regarded as an inspirational innovation introduced primarily by Racing New South Wales chief executive Peter V’Landys. With a brilliant combination of promotion and publicity leading up to the $12 million race The Everest achieved … Read more
Less than a month ago teenage jockey Ben Allen was sitting on sidelines recovering from glandular fever, hoping against hope that he wouldn’t miss out on the chance for spring carnival glory. How the wheel of fortune has turned for … Read more