Year: 2019

Lees checks in with Mustajeer at Werribee

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Spring Cups contender Mustajeer has continued his build-up to the Melbourne racing carnival. Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has made another quick trip to Werribee to check on the progress of his Caulfield and Melbourne Cup hope Mustajeer. While liking what Mustajeer is showing, Lees was taken with the work of fellow Australian Bloodstock-owned Torcedor who is being prepared solely for the Melbourne Cup. Torcedor is now in the care of Paul Preusker and will transfer to the trainer’s Horsham base once he clears quarantine at Werribee on Saturday. Preusker also…

McLean directed to attend stewards hearing

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Trainer Jarrod McLean and two registered stable employees have been directed to attend Racing Victoria stewards’ inquiries in relation to charges issued by the Victoria Police Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit. The police charges emanate from the unit’s ongoing investigation after raids on properties owned by Darren Weir in Ballarat and Warrnambool on January 30. McLean, along with registered stable employee Tyson Kermond and licensed rider agent and registered stable employee William Hernan, have been told to attend the inquiries at RV from 2pm on Thursday. McLean, Kermond and disqualified trainer…

McDonald rates Southbank a promising filly

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Leading jockey James McDonald will ride Southback in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. Star jockey James McDonald believes lightly raced filly Southbank can win a feature race this spring and hopes it is in the Group One Thousand Guineas. A week after riding a short-priced favourite to victory in the Flight Stakes, McDonald has hopes of causing an upset in Australia’s other Group One 1600m race for three-year-old fillies. McDonald won last Saturday’s Flight at Randwick on $1.75 favourite Funstar while this Saturday his book of feature race rides at…

Nature Strip snares $14m Everest ticket

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Nature Strip has been secured by slot holder James Harron for the $14 million Everest. Chris Waller’s Nature Strip will fly the flag for James Harron in the $14 million Everest as the champion Sydney trainer weighs up what to do with his own slot. Slot holder James Harron Bloodstock on Wednesday announced they would team up with the Moir Stakes and Galaxy winner for the richest race on turf at Randwick on October 19. “We have been playing a waiting game and the time came to make our move,”…

Rent A Rock can earn Victoria Derby spot

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Danny Williams is counting on Rent A Rock’s staying pedigree to shine in the Spring Champion Stakes. Afer a couple of weeks he would rather forget, Goulburn trainer Danny Williams hopes Rent A Rock can give him something to remember in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick. Williams lost two of his three Kosciuszko hopes when Floki died after contracting colitis and stakes performer She Knows was retired after suffering a suspensory injury in a race at Caulfield. The trainer now relies on Don’t Give A Damn in the $1.3…

Kelly sets sights on winter for Take Tea

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Gold Coast trainer Les Kelly was already thinking about the next winter carnival after his filly Take Tea overcame difficulties to win at Ipswich. Take Tea ($1.70) made it three wins from five starts when she got up in the last stride to win the QTIS Three-Year-Old (1200m). The filly was pushed deep on the home turn and took the straight to catch Spirit House ($3.20) who had shot through on the inside. Take Tea was third in the Group Three Ken Russell in May and Kelly believes she can…

Date set for Qld Derby inquiry resumption

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Stewards have set the date for the resumption of an inquiry into the Queensland Derby fall which resulted in high-profile jockey Corey Brown suffering serious injuries. Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards confirmed the inquiry would resume on October 21 with four jockeys required to attend. Brown, a dual Melbourne Cup-winning rider, was aboard Lord Arthur who fell at the 300m mark in the Derby at Eagle Farm on June 8. He suffered injuries to his spine, ribs and lungs and will be out of the saddle for an indefinite period.…

Trekking on target for G2 Schillaci Stakes

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Godolphin sprinter Trekking is favourite to make a winning return in the Schillaci Stakes. After hitting the line strongly in his season return in the Group One Moir Stakes at The Valley, Stradbroke Handicap winner Trekking is favourite to win the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield and be offered a spot in the $14 million The Everest. The Melbourne Racing Club will offer its slot in Saturday week’s The Everest at Randwick to the winner of Saturday’s Group Two Schillaci (1100m), with connections of the winner having until midway through Sunday…

Wyndspelle chases maiden G1 in Toorak Hcp

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Sick of chasing nine-time Group One winner Melody Belle at weight-for-age in New Zealand, the trainers of Wyndspelle have sent the horse across the Tasman. Trained by Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard, Wyndspelle runs in Saturday’s $500,000 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield), a 1600m race he finished 10th in 2017 when trained by Mick Kent. Wyndspelle’s career started in New Zealand with Donna Logan and after 14 starts, that netted two wins, he spent a further 11 runs with Kent without success before returning to New Zealand. In 11 starts with…