Month: April 2020

Frankie Lor has Flash Famous among his five runners at the Valley. Frankie Lor heads into today’s (29 April) Happy Valley meeting with course specialist Flash Famous looking to become the first horse this season to win five races at the city circuit when he contests section one of the Class 3 Fortress Hill Handicap (1650m). The trainer is fresh off a Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize success with Mr Stunning on Sunday, and is hopeful that Flash Famous can continue his rich vein of form and leave behind the…

Racing could resume in France despite prime minister Edouard Philippe delaying other sports. Racing is still on track to resume in France despite other professional sports remaining on hold for some months. The racing industry comes under the jurisdiction of France’s agriculture department not the sports ministry. French prime minister Edouard Philippe announced on Tuesday that because of the coronavirus pandemic, professional sport would not restart before September but France Galop hopes racing can still resume on May 11. Strict hygiene measures to be enforced will mean meetings are held…

Racing Victoria is seeking an earliest possible date for Ben Melham’s betting charges hearing. Racing Victoria will ask for the hearing into Ben Melham’s alleged betting activity to be held at the earliest possible date. Melham was issued with seven charges by stewards on Monday relating to betting on thoroughbred races between March and September last year and for giving false or misleading evidence to stewards. Jockeys are not allowed to bet on thoroughbred races, regardless whether they are riding in the races or not. One of the charges was…

Trainer Dan O’Sullivan is chasing his first Group One win when Affair To Remember runs in Adelaide. Trainer Dan O’Sullivan had some anxious moments before learning his filly Affair To Remember had scraped into the field for the Group One Australasian Oaks. Affair To Remember was among 12 horses on Monday night that had already accepted for the three-year-old fillies race at Morphettville. By Tuesday morning, Affair To Remember had slipped down the ballot order to No.15 and was in danger of missing the field cut-off of 16 runners. But…

Bandersnatch is set to run at Randwick after his scratching from the Group Three Hawkesbury Guineas. A small cut put paid to Bandersnatch’s Hawkesbury Guineas bid but trainer Gerald Ryan says it looked a lot worse than it was. Well supported into favouritism leading up to Saturday’s Group Three race at Rosehill, Bandersnatch was scratched at the barrier when he was found to have a wound on a hind leg. His trainer has no idea how it happened given the distancing rules surrounding racing during the coronavirus pandemic. “Where I…

Dean Holland will ride Away Game in the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville. South Australia’s best races have special significance on more than one level for jockey Dean Holland. After starting his riding career in Adelaide, Holland has forged a successful career in Victoria. But it is in his former home town where Holland has landed some of his biggest wins. His solitary Group One victory came aboard Small Minds in the 2010 Australasian Oaks with Adelaide Cup wins aboard Tanby and Surprise Baby. Ciaron Maher, who with…

Sunlight is primed for another Group One victory in the Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide. Trainer Tony McEvoy believes star sprinting mare Sunlight has a fourth Group One win at her mercy in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville. Sunlight was soundly beaten by Lightning Stakes winner Gytrash in the Group Three R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) last Saturday week in Adelaide but McEvoy has been thrilled with the four-year-old leading into Saturday. He believes the weight-for-age conditions against her own sex in the 1200m Sangster at Morphettville are made…

Zed Em on his way to winning last year’s Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) Photo: Pat Scala/Racing Photos Star Kiwi jumper Zed Em heads to Warrnambool on Tuesday for a crucial steeplechase trial over 2800m as he looks to defend his crown in Tuesday week’s A$315,000 Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at a revamped Warrnambool Carnival. The nine-year-old son of Zed was sent out $1.55 favourite for the Spencer Memorial Chase (3500m) at Pakenham just over a week ago but finished last, beaten 26 lengths. However, trainer Patrick Payne, who prepares the…