Month: January 2020

Beauty Generation is seeking a second win in the Stewards’ Cup. Beauty Generation faces a pivotal test in Sunday’s (19 January) Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin with not only the direction of future assignments but also his status as Hong Kong’s best miler in the balance. Trainer John Moore has his heart set on Beauty Generation enhancing his legacy as a world class galloper in the Group 1 Dubai Turf (1800m) at the end of March, but he knows that if he is to fulfil that dream…

Melbourne Racing Club chairman Peter Le Grand says the MRC will again discuss the ATC Everest slot. Melbourne Racing Club chairman Peter Le Grand says he will continue to foster relationships with interstate racing bodies including NSW. He was responding to criticism by Racing Victoria chairman Brian Kruger over the MRC’s decision to buy a slot in the 2019 Everest, Australia’s richest race held at Randwick. The MRC bought the slot held by the Australian Turf Club and Le Grand said he and chief executive Josh Blanksby would again discuss…

Jye McNeil has successfully appealed a suspension for his Chester Manifold ride on Amadeus (green). In-form Melbourne jockey Jye McNeil has been successful in an appeal against a suspension for his ride in the Chester Manifold Stakes. McNeil rode four winners at last Saturday’s Flemington meeting, including the feature race on Amadeus. McNeil was later found guilty of careless riding aboard Amadeus near the 1000m of the 1400m-race and given a 10 meeting penalty. Two of those meetings were to be served concurrently with a nine-meeting ban from Sandown earlier…

The Danny O’Brien-trained Banquo will kick off his Australian Guineas campaign at Flemington. The Group One Australian Guineas features prominently in trainer Danny O’Brien’s plans for lightly raced colt Banquo, who is set to kick off his campaign over a sprint distance at Flemington. Banquo began his career with New Zealand trainer Stephen Marsh and raced twice in Melbourne as a late-season two-year-old, remaining in Victoria to join O’Brien’s stable. A younger brother to last year’s Group One Oakleigh Plate winner Booker, Banquo stamped his potential during the 2019 spring…

Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup will saddle Switched and Rare Episode at Rosehill. The new year has brought a fresh resolve to well-credentialled horseman Brad Widdup, who will rely on two horses to showcase his training skills at Rosehill. Widdup had a tumultuous 2019 after his biggest client, high profile owner Damion Flower, was arrested over alleged drug smuggling charges. The setback happened just over two years after Widdup ventured out on his own having spent more than two decades working for some of the country’s best horseman, including Peter Snowden…

Silver Slipper winner Time To Reign is will take on older horses in the Kensington Stakes. Trainer Gary Portelli understandably has a soft spot for Group-winning colt Time To Reign who is the half-brother to his 2017 Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign. And the Sydney trainer is hoping Time To Reign will be able to measure up in feature sprints this campaign to stamp his credentials as a stallion prospect. Time To Reign is scheduled to travel from Sydney by road to Melbourne overnight on Thursday to begin his…