Month: September 2019

Group One winner Azkadellia is up for auction at the Echuca sale with a reserve of $300,000. Group One winner Azkadellia, who has been banned from racing, is one of a number of former racehorses being auctioned at Echuca. Azkadellia, winner of the Group One Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Randwick in the autumn of 2016, has not raced since June 2016 following a Racing Victoria investigation into the mare’s ownership bona fides. Convicted con man Peter Foster was the mastermind behind an elaborate conspiracy to hide his ownership…

Sydney sprinter, the Greg Hickman-trained Top Striker, will make his Brisbane debut at Doomben. Veteran Sydney gelding Top Striker finds himself in new territory at Doomben where he will make his interstate debut at the ripe age of eight. In a career that has spanned 44 starts, Top Striker has only raced on NSW tracks, his furthest venture coming just two months ago when he travelled to the NSW Northern Rivers town of Grafton for the Ramornie Handicap, finishing midfield. It was with some trepidation trainer Greg Hickman sent Top…

Trainer Toby Edmonds admits the Moir Stakes is stronger than expected for his runner Winter Bride. The only thing left for the CV of multiple stakes winner Winter Bride is to land a Group One victory. Co-trainer Toby Edmonds said Friday night’s Moir Stakes (1000m) was always intended to Winter Bride’s campaign opener although the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on October 25 may prove to be a better race. “This is the right race to start her off in bearing in mind she’s better at 1200 metres than…

Adelaide Ace winning at Flemington on Wednesday Photo: Darryl Sherer Tuesday’s release of Victoria Derby nominations contained two colts from the Lindsey Smith stable and the pair justified their payment fee 24 hours later at Flemington on Wednesday. Adelaide Ace ($6) won the $60,000 AAMI Victoria Derby Trial (1800m) while stablemate Olympic Oath ($6.50) ran an eye-catching fifth, 2.35 lengths behind his stablemate. Both horses will head towards the Gr.1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 2 with Smith undecided about the pathway towards their target. “I’m a…

Tony Pike does not believe he could have The Bostonian going any better ahead of the sprinter’s spring return in the A$1 million Moir Stakes at The Valley, but would have liked a better barrier draw. The Bostonian, who won two weight-for-age Group Ones in Brisbane in his previous preparation, begins his latest Australian campaign in Friday night’s 1000m sprint, with his rivals including fellow Group One winners Nature Strip, Sunlight, Trekking and Booker. Pike would have preferred a softer draw than barrier 13 but will rely on star jockey…