Month: September 2019

Chris Waller has trained four winners on George Main Stakes day at Randwick. He didn’t win the major race on the program, but Chris Waller has taken out training honours on George Main Stakes day at Randwick with a quartet of winners. Three of those came in stakes races with Funstar a narrow winner of the Group Two Tea Rose Stakes (1400m), Kolding taking out the Group Three Bill Ritchie Stakes (1400m) and Finche firming to equal favourite for the Melbourne Cup with his win in the Group Three Kingston…

I am Eloquent has earned a Thousand Guineas start after a breaking through at stakes level. I Am Eloquent is likely to head straight to the Group One Thousand Guineas after taking a leap in grade to win at Caulfield. Success in Saturday’s Listed Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield came after the filly had won a restricted race at Geelong at her previous start. But Natalie Young, who trains the filly in partnership with Trent Busuttin, said the filly deserved her chance in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on…

Finche is on target for another Melbourne Cup start after winning the Kingston Town Stakes. A horse racing in the colours made famous by Frankel and Enable is now the equal Melbourne Cup favourite following his Group Three win at Randwick. The Chris Waller-trained former French stayer Finche won Saturday’s Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) by a long neck from Stampede who led for most of the race. Finche was immediately promoted to $15 alongside Constantinople and 2018 Cup winner Cross Counter to improve on his fourth last year. He is…

Begood Toya Mother has put paid to his rivals in the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. Begood Toya Mother has delivered on a long-range plan in the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield in a dream result for young Warrnambool trainer Daniel Bowman. Saturday’s $500,000 handicap over 1400m had been Bowman’s target for several months with Begood Toya Mother and the exciting gelding did not disappoint on the big day, giving both Bowman and Irish jockey Declan Bates their first Group One successes. “When he won at…

International singing superstar Taylor Swift will no longer perform at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day following a change to her Asian Tour dates. The Victoria Racing Club announced on September 12 that Swift would perform two songs in the parade ring before the Melbourne Cup. Mushroom Events and the VRC made the announcement on Saturday. “Regrettably, Taylor is no longer able to make it to this year’s Melbourne Cup,” Michael Gudinski from Mushroom Events said. “Changes to her Asian promo schedule have made it logistically impossible for her to be…

Looks Like Elvis booked a Melbourne spring carnival ticket with his victory at Eagle Farm. Trainer Brian Dais’ decision to stay in Brisbane with Looks Like Elvis paid off when the gelding won the Makers Mark Handicap at Eagle Farm. Dais had at various stages been looking at the Newcastle Cup or a race at Caulfield this week but was worried the gelding wouldn’t get a start. He elected to stay home and Looks Like Elvis ($2.40) did the rest coming from near last over 1800m to beat Reckless Choice…

Godolphin will reassess spring goals for Avilius following his Group One George Main Stakes win. Avilius has reaffirmed his status as one of the country’s premier weight-for-age stars and put himself back in the Cox Plate frame with a devastating win in the Group One George Main Stakes at Randwick. Godolphin head trainer James Cummings admitted it was a relief to see the horse return to the sort of form that delivered him back-to-back Group One victories in the autumn after two inconclusive conditioning runs in leader-dominated races. The brilliance…