Mark Zahra

Oceanex Takes Shot At Melbourne Cup Berth

Posted on May 14, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Undefeated in two starts at Flemington, Oceanex will race for her biggest prize when she lines up in The Andrew Ramsden. Oceanex has previously won at Group Two level and while Saturday's race over 2800m at Flemington carries Listed status, the bonus for the winner is a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup. Mick Price,[...]

Posted on April 23, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Co-trainer Trent Busuttin admits he did not expect Jack Regan to be taking on Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare when he was planning his assault on a staying race at Flemington. After Jack Regan won successive races at Sandown, Busuttin picked out Saturday's William Newton VC Handicap (2600m) as a suitable assignment. But the[...]

Posted on April 18, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

So Si Bon has often teased but he finally lived up to his underlying ability with a decisive victory in the VOBIS Gold Mile at Caulfield. The Lindsay Park-trained galloper registered his fourth win on Saturday from 49 starts, but importantly did favourite backers a good turn. Punters had watched odds-on favourites Pippie and Mr[...]

Posted on April 13, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

The Anthony Freedman stable has high hopes for Charm School after her impressive but wayward debut victory at Sandown. Under the guidance of Mark Zahra, Charm School took out Monday's Ladbrokes Handicap (1200m) in a performance that showed the filly still has a lot to learn. A $480,000 yearling at last year's Inglis Easter Sale,[...]

Posted on April 11, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Before heading overseas for a break, Mick Kent discussed his plans for Royal Crown with caretaker trainer Robbie Griffiths. One of Kent's target races was Saturday's Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Caulfield. Kent's planning proved spot on with Royal Crown successful on Saturday, but the three-year-old's work is not finished yet. If Griffiths can[...]

Posted on March 27, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Mark Zahra says he has never received so many congratulatory text messages as he did after receiving the news of a negative test to coronavirus. “The phone blew up,” Zahra said. “I've been inundated with text messages after winning Group One races, but I think this takes the cake.” The jockey was alerted on Wednesday[...]

Posted on March 27, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Horses travelling to Victoria will be subject to the same stringent conditions as NSW with enhanced cross-border protocols to come into effect. Racing Victoria has strengthened biosecurity conditions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic from midnight on Friday as racing continues around Australia . While horses are not affected by coronavirus, the protocols relate to[...]

Posted on March 26, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

The rich Sydney autumn carnival is on a knife edge and Queensland's winter extravaganza has already been scuppered because of the coronavirus. Queensland authorities on Thursday pulled the pin on the rich feature races over winter amid the uncertainty surrounding the sport. Other sports have already been postponed or have cancelled their seasons. Group One[...]

Posted on March 26, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Racing is still on hold as Victorian authorities wait on the result of a coronavirus test on jockey Mark Zahra. Racing Victoria said if the result was known by 7am Friday, the race meeting at Warrnambool could still go ahead while the twilight meeting at Pakenham could proceed if they knew by midday. Zahra travelled[...]

Posted on March 26, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Trainer Matt Cumani and his staff have been workshopping ideas about what may happen if racing is shut down because of coronavirus. Apart from a lone meeting at Narromine in western NSW, racing in Australia is currently suspended with jockey Mark Zahra potentially exposed to the COVID-19 virus after travelling on a commercial flight on[...]

Posted on March 26, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Trainers have ramped up biosecurity measures in stables to ensure racing stays afloat for as long as possible during the coronavirus pandemic. The sport has been temporarily suspended in five states while officials wait for the results of a Covid-19 test on Victorian-based jockey Mark Zahra. Two Sydney jockeys who shared a charter flight with[...]

Posted on March 26, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Racing Victoria is awaiting the results of a coronavirus test on jockey Mark Zahra in the hope the suspension on racing can be lifted. Racing was abandoned on Wednesday with only a meeting at Narromine in western NSW going ahead on Thursday. After being contacted by health officials, Zahra alerted Victorian Jockeys' Association chief executive[...]

Posted on March 17, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

A group of high profile jockeys will take a charter flight from Melbourne to Sydney to ride at the Golden Slipper meeting. Racing Victoria has imposed biosecurity conditions on interstate travel for jockeys while coronavirus protocols are in place with the riders to use either private vehicles or private aircraft. Sydney-based jockeys Hugh Bowman and[...]

Posted on March 16, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

South Australian sprinter Gytrash will head back to Melbourne to chase another Group One victory when he races at The Valley for the first time in the William Reid Stakes. Trained by Gordon Richards, Gytrash won the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington last month before finishing third to three-year-olds Bivouac and Loving Gaby[...]

Posted on February 20, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Mark Zahra's appeal against the severity of a careless riding suspension has been unsuccessful, with the jockey to miss the Australian Guineas meeting. Zahra was banned for careless riding aboard Lightning Stakes winner Gytrash at Flemington last Saturday. He lodged an appeal against the severity of the eight-meeting penalty, hoping to get one day shaved[...]

Posted on February 19, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Mark Zahra has lodged an appeal against the severity of a careless riding suspension which threatens to sideline him for the Australian Guineas meeting at Flemington. Zahra was suspended for eight meetings at Flemington last Saturday after pleading guilty to careless riding aboard Gytrash when winning the Group One Lightning Stakes. The jockey is due[...]

Posted on February 15, 2020
in Australian Horse Racing News

Mark Zahra is set to miss the Australian Guineas meeting after being suspended for careless riding aboard Lightning Stakes winner Gytrash. Stewards charged Zahra with shifting in near the 150m, hampering the runner-up Redzel and causing the dual Everest winner to be tightened for room. Zahra pleaded guilty, but argued he did not think there[...]

Oceanex Takes Shot At Melbourne Cup Berth

Improving Jack Regan To Tackle Cup Winner

So Si Bon Bounces Back In Vobis Gold Mile

Charm School Shows Class With Sandown Win

Royal Crown Outstays Rivals At Caulfield

Zahra Relaxed Before Coronavirus Result

Vic Enhances Horse Movement Protocols

Racing On Tenterhooks Over Covid-19 Test

Vic Racing Still Waiting For Test Result

Many Questions Should Racing Be Shut Down

Top Trainers Prepare For All Scenarios

RV Awaiting Covid-19 Jockey Test Result

Jockeys Get Charter Flight To Group 1 Meeting

Gytrash Among Strong William Reid Entries

Mark Zahra To Miss Australian Guineas Day

Mark Zahra Appeals Careless Riding Penalty

Zahra, Mcdonald Suspended At Flemington

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