Month: September 2019

Brimham Rocks has raced his way into the Caulfield Cup after winning the MRC Foundation Cup. The Chris Waller-trained Brimham Rocks has earned a ticket into the Caulfield Cup with his first Australian victory in the MRC Foundation Cup. Saturday’s win in the Group Three race over 2000m erased last year’s spring disappointment where he notched six consecutive placings. Ridden by Michael Walker, Brimham Rocks ($21) scored by 1-1/4 lengths from stablemate So You Win ($12) with Sikandarabad ($3.90) 1-3/4 lengths away third. Waller’s Melbourne representative Johanne Taylor said Brimham…

Pierata has shot to favouritism for the $14 million Everest after winning The Shorts at Randwick. The wet Randwick track might have scared a few runners out of The Shorts but trainer Greg Hickman is more than happy he decided to run Pierata. The field for Saturday’s Group Two 1100m-sprint was reduced to five from 11 original acceptors including high profile horses Santa Ana Lane, Osborne Bulls and Sunlight. In a tight finish, Pierata ($2.70 fav) prevailed over Classique Legend ($3.10) by half a length with a neck to Redzel…

The 1992 two-year-old triple crown winner Burst has turned 30 at Newhaven Park Stud. The oldest living Golden Slipper winner Burst has reached another milestone after turning 30 at her home at Newhaven Park where she was born. The thoroughbred nursery posted a picture on Twitter on Friday of the mare with her trophies saying it was a special day. “The champion race filly is the only filly to have won the grand slam – Golden Slipper, Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes,” Newhaven Park said. Burst, whose sire was Newhaven’s…

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes says Cameron handicap winner Rock will head to teh Group One Epsom. Promising Hawkes Racing four-year-old Rock has booked his spot in the Group One Epsom Handicap with a stunning victory in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle. The race did not go to plan early with Tommy Berry forced to settle the horse towards the rear from a wide draw but once he balanced up in the straight, Rock ($3 fav) unleashed a brilliant turn of foot to reel in the leaders and fight off the challenge…

Trainer Archie Alexander is looking forward to the return of Australasian Oaks 2nd Mirette. Australasian Oaks runner-up Mirette is set to launch her spring campaign at Caulfield, with her trainer Archie Alexander thrilled with the way the mare has been preparing for her return to racing. Mirette went close to giving Alexander his first Group One win when she finished second to Princess Jenni in the Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville in her most recent start in May. Before that Mirette won the Group Three Auraria Stakes (1800m). The four-year-old returns…

Trainer Garry Newham (left) says Qld Oaks winner Winning Ways must improve to head south. Group One-winning mare Winning Ways will have to return to top form at Eagle Farm if she is to head south for spring features. Winning Ways, who won the Group One Queensland Oaks in June, steps up to 1800m in the Makers Mark Open Handicap on Saturday. She finished last in an Open Handicap over 1350m when she resumed at Doomben last week. The mare was last into the straight and although she finished fairly,…

Jockey Tim Clark’s winning run has continued in the Newcastle Gold Cup aboard Hush Writer. Tim Clark has continued his excellent record in Newcastle’s feature spring races taking out his second Gold Cup aboard the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Hush Writer. The Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) and Cameron Handicap (1500m) have been happy hunting grounds for Clark who teamed with Tulloch Lodge to win the staying showpiece aboard Broadside two years ago and had claimed the past three Cameron Handicaps heading into Friday’s carnival meeting. While he could not…

Trainer Mike Moroney is looking forward to racing Mr Marathon Man can do on a wet Randwick track. The rain in Sydney has prompted Melbourne trainer Mike Moroney to add the Group One George Main Stakes at Randwick to the spring program of import Mr Marathon Man. Moroney said Mr Marathon Man had experience winning in the right-handed direction in France and when a rain-affected track loomed for Saturday’s weight-for-age George Main (1600m) it made the race an attractive option. “We’ve always wanted to go there (to Sydney) but we…