Month: January 2020

Happy Clapper (left) has finished off well for fourth in a barrier trial ahead of another campaign. Triple Group One winner Happy Clapper has had a pipe-opener in a Randwick barrier trial when fourth in a heat won by the John Thompson-trained Sweet Deal. Happy Clapper worked to the line in the 900m-heat on the course proper on Thursday, pleasing trainer Pat Webster with his effort and his recovery. The Thompson-trained multiple Group One placegetter Dreamforce won the first of the two course-proper trials and will be on the same…

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes won by Winx is Australia’s highest rated race for the year. The Queen Elizabeth Stakes remains the highest rated race in Australia and equal sixth best in the world following the latest rankings at the World’s Best Race and Racehorse awards. It is the third year in succession the Group One Randwick feature, which Winx won at her final start last year, has been named the highest rated race in Australia. The Queen Elizabeth was among nine Sydney races ranked in the world’s top 100 at…

Peter Snowden and his son and training partner Paul will unveil more promising 2yos at Randwick. High priced yearlings are a little like Gucci hand bags, nice to look at and happily flaunted but they are not necessarily better than a cheaper version. That is why co-trainer Peter Snowden is relaxed as he prepares two colts who fetched a combined total of almost $4 million at the sales for their respective debuts in the opening race at Randwick on Saturday. Snowden and his son Paul will saddle up Snitzel youngster…

Trainer Desleigh Forster’s decision to keep Boom Spender in Brisbane has paid off with a win. The infamous south-east Queensland holiday traffic has prompted Desleigh Forster to keep promising youngster Boom Spender at home with the desired result. The trainer accepted with Boom Spender at Doomben on Thursday and in the Sunshine Coast Classic on Saturday. She felt the easier trip across the road from Eagle Farm to Doomben was the safest option instead of risking the traditional holiday traffic jams on the Bruce Highway linking Brisbane and the Sunshine…

Trainer Steve O’Dea is hoping for a change of summer luck in the Sunshine Coast Cup. No-one would begrudge trainer Steve O’Dea a change of big race luck with Scallopini in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup. O’Dea is having another successful season and is firmly entrenched in the metropolitan trainers premiership top 10 with 17 winners. He went to the Magic Millions day a fortnight ago with four genuine chances but luck went against him. Handy staying prospect Reckless Choice was shuffled back to near last and gave away too…

Craig Williams will headline a metropolitan team against a country side in a jockeys challenge. Craig Williams and Damien Oliver will head a team of metropolitan jockeys competing against a country side at a twilight meeting at Flemington. The meeting on February 9 will feature two teams of seven with all races on the straight course. The Victoria Racing Club has dubbed the Sunday meeting Rapid Racing with the seven events run at 30 minute intervals. The jockeys’ teams have been determined by premiership standings on January 1. Along with…

Trainer Anthony Cummings believes Fayerra can defy her long odds and race well at Randwick. Buoyed by strong barrier trial performances from his stable stars, Anthony Cummings is optimistic two-year-old Fayerra can defy her odds and be competitive at Randwick. With the autumn carnival around the corner, Cummings ramped up preparations for Libertini, Vegadaze and Prince Fawaz on Thursday with all stepping out at a bumper Randwick trial session. Vegadaze and Libertini competed in the opening 900m heat won by Dreamforce, finishing third and sixth respectively. The trainer was rapt…

Pimlico will be one of three Karaka Million chances for Cambridge trainer Andrew Campbell. Photo: Trish Dunell Cambridge trainer Andrew Campbell will be chasing Karaka Million riches at Ellerslie on Saturday with three runners. “We have had a couple of bad years recently and we have just seemed to have got the team going well. I have got some good people around me and they are firing up nicely,” he said. Smart Missile gelding Trident will jump from barrier 13 in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and while Campbell would…