Year: 2019

Jockey Brenton Avdulla has teamed up with trainer Gratz Vella for a Rosehill win with Stephan. The patience and persistence of Canberra trainer Gratz Vella is finally being rewarded with Stephan, who has notched back-to-back wins at Rosehill. The seven-year-old was lining up for just his 17th start in Saturday’s Elderton Homes Made You Look Sprint (1100m) and for Vella and his owners, it has been quite a ride. Vella knew the horse had ability but Stephan also had a knack for finding trouble. “As a two-year-old he ran third…

Wyndspelle and Jason Waddell have the situation under control as they head to the Trentham winning post in the Group 1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) Photo credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery A perennial bridesmaid at the highest level, consistent galloper Wyndspelle finally cracked a maiden Group 1 triumph when he took out the Group 1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) in fine style at Trentham. No-one could deny the six-year-old Iffraaj entire deserved a second win in stakes company following his Group 2 Waikato Guineas (2000m)…

Niccanova has rediscovered his best form to beat Sir Plush in the Listed Brisbane Handicap. Toowoomba galloper NIccanova returned to his best stakes-winning form but there is no chance the gelding will venture interstate for feature races in the near future. Niccanova ($7) charged home to beat Sydney galloper Sir Plush ($5.50) by a neck with three-quarters of a length to The Candy Man ($3.30) in the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) at Doomben. Trainer Steve Tregea likes to travel his horses and has ranged from Mackay in the north to…

Riodini cruises home to take out the Group 3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie Photo credit: Trish Dunell Race favourite Riodini provided another example of his burgeoning talent when he comfortably accounted for his three-year-old rivals in the Group 3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie. Unbeaten in three starts leading into Saturday’s contest, the Proisir gelding handled the step up to stakes grade with aplomb. Settled perfectly one out and one back by rider Sam Collett, Riodini bided his time before pouncing on the leaders shortly…

Early signs suggest Maurice might have what it takes to be a successful stallion. In England it’s long been the Derby, Australia has the Golden Slipper, France the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, North America looks to the Kentucky Derby, and you can throw in a couple of Breeders’ Cup races too alongside all those other senior European Classics: these are some of the pinnacle races that have shaped thoroughbred breeding through the last century and into the current; the races that can make a stallion. Hong Kong’s majors, for…

Apprentice Nick Keal has been suspended for a month after admitting steering his horse into another runner past the post in the Hamilton Hotel Handicap at Doomben. Keal rode Advance Warning and was charged with directing the horse into Les Tilley’s mount Romakash as the field was pulling up. Keal pleaded guilty and told stewards he had a “brain snap” after Tilley caused him interference in the race. Stewards earlier had suspended Tilley for 10 days for causing the interference. Senior jockey Jim Byrne appeared with Keal who was back…

Robert Smerdon wants his “Aquanita eight” ban reduced but says he will not return to training. Robert Smerdon wants to avoid a lifetime ban and hefty fine over the ‘Aquanita eight’ cheating scandal, despite not planning to return to training. Smerdon and fellow trainers Stuart Webb and Tony Vasil want their disqualifications shortened after being found guilty of a reduced number of charges on appeal. Racing Victoria argues Smerdon’s life ban and $90,000 fine over one of the biggest scandals in Australian racing should stand. The multiple Group One-winning trainer’s…

Joao Moreira has stayed loyal to Beat The Clock. Joao Moreira hopes loyalty will yield the pay-off of his first Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) victory in three years. The Brazilian ace enjoyed a purple patch with a pair of wins in 2014 atop the John Moore stable legends Able Friend and Designs On Rome; that continued thanks to Peniaphobia’s Sprint victory in 2015 but he has drawn a blank on Hong Kong’s big day since Satono Crown’s thrilling late overhaul of Highland Reel in the 2016 Vase. Moreira has…

Eight-year-old Mewstone Rock can write herself into the history books as the oldest mare to win a black-type race in Brisbane if she can claim the Listed Just Now Quality at Doomben. The Just Now is one of a series of black-type races for fillies and mares in Brisbane during the summer. The race is named after top Queensland mare Just Now who won the Australian Oaks at Randwick. The 1350m-race has again drawn an even field of mares at Doomben on Saturday. Mewstone Rock is by champion sire Fastnet…

Indy Champ at exercise at Sha Tin this week. In the weeks leading up to the 2019 Hong Kong International Races, Silk Racing had three horses in three different races, all with a decent shot to take home the prize. By far, Almond Eye was getting the most attention out of the three. But with her defection, due to a fever prior to departure, the world’s eyes turned to Silk Racing’s next great hope, Group 1 Hong Kong Mile contender and two-time Group 1 winner Indy Champ. The four-year-old son…