Smoke haze has returned to Canberra forcing officials to call off racing in the capital. Wednesday’s meeting has been postponed because of poor air quality. The smoke haze from the NSW south coast bushfires is expected to worsen in the ACT on Wednesday afternoon. Racing will go ahead at Warwick Farm in Sydney’s south west with the air quality rated fair.
Month: January 2020
Jockeys Trust to support injured wildlife
Funds raised from the annual National Jockeys Trust cricket match are to be directed to animal welfare organisations supporting wildlife suffering in the bushfire crisis. The NJT traditionally raises money with different events throughout the year to help jockeys and their families in need. The eighth T20 match will be played at Williamstown Oval in Melbourne on January 20 featuring a Jockeys team against a ‘Racing All Stars’ side. The NJT said the trustees had decided money raised from this year’s match would benefit animal welfare organisations in NSW, Victoria,…
Chester Manifold on radar for Guizot
Trainer Aaron Purcell is likely to give Guizot a stakes chance in the Chester Manifiold. The Listed Chester Manifold Stakes shapes as the race of choice at Flemington for Guizot but trainer Aaron Purcell will wait until later in the week to make a final call. Guizot is nominated for both the Listed Chester Manifold (1400m) and a 1600m-handicap on Saturday’s program with acceptances to be taken on Wednesday. The seven-year-old gelding, who Purcell believes has come back as good if not better than ever this preparation, resumed in the…
Distance test for Aqua D’ivina at Randwick
Aqua D’ivina (left) will be given another test over 2000 metres in the January Cup at Randwick. Impeccably bred mare Aqua D’ivina will be given the chance to prove herself at 2000 metres and gain valuable black-type in the January Cup at Randwick. Saturday’s Listed feature will be just the second time Aqua D’ivina has been tested at the distance with her previous experience little guide. She ran over 2000m in the 2018 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington but never got into the race and finished with the tailenders. Most recently…
Millions draws no barrier for Maher stable
Trainer Ciaron Maher is chasing a Magic Millions double with runners in the Classic and Guineas. The Ciaron Maher-David Eustace partnership is hoping the Gold Coast’s reputation as a track where barriers can be irrelevant will help the stable create Magic Millions history. Inside barriers have not always been an advantage in Millions races where there are 16 runners and a mad charge to the first turn. In fact 11 of the 19 winners of the Millions Guineas (1400m) have started from barrier 10 or wider. The 2YO Classic, which…
Jarrod McLean linked to new police case
Suspended trainer Jarrod McLean has been linked to a new Victoria Police investigation. Suspended trainer Jarrod McLean has been linked to a police investigation into an incident relating to extortion and threats to kill and damage property. Victoria Police said they have interviewed two men over an alleged incident in the Melbourne suburb of Rowville between May and December 2019. “The men, aged 39 and 45 from Yangery and Baringhup, were released and are expected to be charged on summons in relation to blackmail, extortion, make threats to kill and…
McNeil out to add to recent city winners
Jockey Jye McNeil is having his most successful season and is looking to consolidate at Sandown. Currently sharing the lead in the Victorian jockeys’ premiership and with his first Group One win secured during the spring, Jye McNeil is on target for a career-best season. McNeil’s 53 winners across Victoria in 2019/20 have him equal with Harry Coffey at the top of the state premiership and on track to reach the 109 he rode last season. The 25-year-old is seventh on the metropolitan standings with 19 winners, one short of…
Smoke haze affecting horses: Beer
Trainer Mitch Beer says he will not run horses until smoke haze from bushfires around Albury clears. Albury trainer Mitchell Beer will not run horses for the foreseeable future amid concerns for their health because of smoke haze from bushfires. Beer took four horses to the Echuca meeting on Monday but all were unplaced and he later said he had underestimated the effect of the prevailing conditions. “Today’s runners were all pretty flat,” Beer said on Twitter. “I’ve underestimated the toll the conditions have had on the team. “We will…
Classic trifecta backs up in 3YO Guineas
The 2019 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Exhilarates is chasing a rich Gold Coast double. The changing pattern of the Magic Millions yearling sales has been highlighted by four of the first five from last year’s 2YO Classic running in the 3YO Guineas. Last year’s 2YO Classic trifecta – Exhilarates, Dubious and Hightail – will be joined by fifth-placed Oh Five Glory. It is the first time the Classic trifecta has backed up in the Guineas. For many years Magic Millions buyers looked for early comers to run only in…
Ready to stand up
Best bet: She Reigns (R7, No.8): Has high gate speed and raced in far stronger field last start. Can get handy or even lead so draw not as bad as it looks. Each way: Mach Shard (R6, No.3): Looks the leader and it will take a good horse to beat him. Only danger might be whoever sits in the one-one. Class drop: Ideal Agent (R3, No.8): Solid sixth in Sales Series Pace last start and huge drop in class. Outside barrier aided by two scratchings inside on front line. …