Jim Byrne will be reunited with Stella Ombra in a bid to coax another win out of the tough gelding at Doomben. Stella Ombra hasn't won since August last year but has been racing well without much luck in his nine starts this campaign. At his last start Stella Ombra was ridden by apprentice Clayton[...]

Trapeze Artist will make his much-anticipated return in the Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill with trainer Gerald Ryan hoping he can win to give his owners a boost. Gai Vieira, the wife of managing owner Bert Vieira and a shareholder in the horse, remains in a Sydney hospital after suffering serious injuries in a car[...]

Lindsay Park will push its claim for multiple Golden Rose berths when Long Leaf and Smart Elissim run at Rosehill. Saturday's Run To The Rose (1200m) will give the stable an idea where the pair sits among the 20 three-year-olds they have entered for the Group One Golden Rose on September 22. Long Leaf, who[...]

Some strong trackwork and the prospects of a wet track have boosted the chances of well-bred Bowie winning his first middle distance race. Bowie is by boom sire Iffraaj out of Vicky, making him a half-brother to the Hong Kong Derby winner Ping Hai Star. Originally trained in New Zealand by Murray Baker and Andrew[...]

Four years after crossing paths with Hartnell, Kate Grimwade continues to be impressed with the Group One winner in her new Australian role. Grimwade was recently appointed trainer James Cummings' assistant trainer to oversee Godolphin Melbourne base, Carbine Lodge. She previously held the role as Godolphin's European pre-training manager at Newmarket in England and it[...]

Lindsay Park trainer David Hayes wants a bigger presence in Sydney with a stable that can accommodate up to 30 horses. With its main base in country Victoria at Euroa, Lindsay Park also has facilities at Flemington and a boutique stable at Randwick that is used for the autumn and spring carnivals. However Hayes wants[...]

Mr Sneaky steps to a more suitable distance for the second start of his spring campaign and will bid to stamp his Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes credentials at Moonee Valley. Mr Sneaky charged home for third in an on-pace dominated Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley first-up last month and will contest a Listed race[...]

Jockey Ryan Maloney is counting on the bombproof racing manners of Houtzen to bring about the downfall of Nature Strip at Moonee Valley. Nature Strip, shooting for a slot in next month's $13 million Everest, is the $1.50 favourite to claim the Group Two McEwen Stakes with Houtzen an $8 chance. Maloney has always rated[...]

Australian Turf Club board members will elect a new chairman after Lauri Macri's confirmation he will step down from the role. Macri has convened a special ATC board meeting for Tuesday to elect a new chair and vice-chair. He sent a letter to ATC members on Thursday of his intention to retire as chairman. “I[...]

Golden Rose hopeful Sandbar has never been a flash worker on the training track. “He's no superstar. Early days, the trackwork riders would say to me, ‘I can't believe he's competing in these sort of races',” trainer Brad Widdup said. Widdup, who learned his trade under Peter Snowden and John O'Shea, has been training in[...]

Country trainer Paul Preusker hasn't had many shots at the big time and will break new ground when Magic Consol runs in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley. Based at Horsham in western Victoria, Preusker has been training for more than 25 years and has had more than 2500 starters. But only[...]

Brisbane's unsettled weather will decide if in-form gelding Glitra backs up at Doomben a week after his third at the Sunshine Coast. Glitra is set to have the first middle-distance start of his campaign in Saturday's Madison Cleaning Services Handicap (2000m) Doomben was rated in the soft range on Thursday and while it is a[...]

Ron Quinton is cautious about the chances of Daysee Doom starting her spring with a win but he assures she won't be far away. The reliable mare has collected a prize money cheque at 20 of her 22 starts and he expects her to again be competitive in Saturday's Group Two Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill.[...]

Warwick Farm trainer Clare Cunningham is hoping her knowledge of much-travelled gelding Rock Forthe Ladies will produce a win at Doomben. Rock Forthe Ladies will give Cunningham a rare Brisbane runner outside winter carnival time in the Ascot Plumbing Handicap (1350m). Cunningham is well known in Queensland through her work as stable foreman for now-retired[...]

A horse carrying the colours made famous around the world by Winx has scored an emotional win on debut at Randwick. Winx's co-owner Peter Tighe has a share in the Chris Waller-trained three-year-old Tough Larry and the gelding races his blue and white silks. His other owners include members of the Hughes and Callander families[...]

Exciting prospect Night's Watch is the early favourite to secure a ballot exemption into several spring features when he steps up to Group company for the first time in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes. Night's Watch is scheduled to back-up in Saturday's 1600m weight-for-age race at Moonee Valley after an impressive win in a[...]

As Bjorn Baker prepares to farewell stable mainstay Egyptian Symbol, barnmate Champagne Cuddles is emerging as the multiple stakeswinner's heir apparent. Egyptian Symbol has been among the trainer's most consistent performers but is nearing her racetrack swan song as broodmare duties beckon. At the other end of the career spectrum, Champagne Cuddles is coming out[...]