Year: 2019

Trainer Anthony Cummings has Doncaster Mile plans for Randwick winner Something Fast. Anthony Cummings resisted the temptation to run Something Fast in the Villiers Stakes but he has ambitious plans for the autumn including the Group One Doncaster Mile. Cummings decided against deep-ending Something Fast in Saturday’s Group Two race, won by Quackerjack, after the five-year-old “had a big blow” following a track gallop last week. He instead opted for the softer option of Saturday’s TAB Long May We Play Handicap (1400m) and was glad he did after Something Fast…

Deep Image has made a successful transition to black-type racing, winning the Lough Neagh Stakes. Trainer Robert Heathcote was the least worried when his gelding Deep Image drew wide in the Listed Lough Neagh at Eagle Farm and it proved to be for a good reason. Deep Image drew barrier two at his previous start when he led but was run down to finish third at Doomben. The gelding drew barrier 13 in Saturday’s race and it proved a blessing as far as Heathcote was concerned. Deep Image ($5) crossed…

Wings Of Pastrami has given trainer Jeff Searle his first Flemington winner. Talented filly Wings Of Pastrami has continued a rise through the grades to give Bordertown trainer Jeff Searle the thrill of his first Flemington winner. Wings Of Pastrami ($6) was making her first Melbourne appearance in Saturday’s December Twilight Handicap (1400m) for three-year-olds and made it four wins from five starts, fighting back to get the better of Evening Glory late in the race. The three-quarters of a length victory followed wins at Penola and two in Adelaide…

Vega One has earned a Stradbroke Handicap berth with his win in the $250,000 Gateway at Eagle Farm. International jockey Michael Rodd completed a happy homecoming with a runaway win on Group One Stradbroke Handicap-bound Vega One who ran a track record at Eagle Farm. Rodd did his apprenticeship in Queensland and rode in Victoria before heading to Singapore five years ago. He finished his first day back at Eagle Farm with a double and the ‘Origin’ Jockeys Series title. Vega One ($3.90) was far too strong for a field…

Quackerjack, ridden by Rachel King, has scored a photo-finish win in the Group Two Villiers Stakes. In-form jockey Rachel King has ticked another box on her bucket list with a polished front-running ride aboard Quackerjack to land a thrilling win in the Villiers Stakes at Randwick. In a head-bobbing finish, the Mark Newnham-trained Quackerjack ($3.80 fav) fought back right on the line to get the verdict by a nose over Invincible Gem ($12) with Sambro ($19) closing late another short neck away. The win was King’s first at Group Two…

Blinkers have helped Living The Dream (right) make it back-to-back city wins at Flemington. Trainer Mitch Freedman and jockey Ben Melham both believe the addition of blinkers have made a difference for Living The Dream who has made it back-to-back city wins. Living The Dream ($4) wound up after getting a split late in Saturday’s Christmas Giving Tree Plate (1720m) at Flemington under jockey Ben Melham and capitalised to win the benchmark 70 race for three and four-year-olds by a long neck over a luckless Dogmatic. Imperial Dawn fought on…

Alligator Blood has made a successful return to racing with an easy win in the Gold Edition Plate. Group One performer Alligator Blood raced up to predictions he had returned from a break an even better horse with a runaway win in the Listed Gold Edition Plate at Eagle Farm. Alligator Blood’s only defeat was at his previous start when he finished second in the Group One Caulfield Guineas at Caulfield on October 12. The gelding is the winner of five races and in some previous events he has done…

Signore Fox has produced a spirited finish for a nailbiting win in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap. A frustrating campaign finally took a turn for the better when Signore Fox overcame a muddling tempo to score an unlikely win in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap at Randwick. Oriental Runner ($51) appeared poised for a boilover when he kicked clear after enjoying a soft lead, while Tommy Berry aboard Signore Fox was back in the field trying to extricate his mount into the clear. When he finally found some space, the…