Month: May 2020

Trainer Michael Costa and jockey Allan Chau are celebrating Group level success for the first time. Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa’s loyalty to jockey Allan Chau paid off when they combined for their first Group wins at Eagle Farm. Chau produced a daring ride on Supergiant ($10) who led all the way to beat Ballistic Boy ($8.50) by a nose in the Group Three Gunsynd Classic (1800m). The favourite Kinane ($1.90) was 1-1/4 lengths back third. After years riding around the NSW northern rivers Chau decided to switch to the…

Rothfire cemented his place as a leading JJ Atkins chance with a Group Two Champagne Classic win. Brilliant gelding Rothfire continued trainer Rob Heathcote’s success in his favourite race when he won the Group Two Champagne Classic at Eagle Farm. The gelding is now a clear cut $4 favourite for the Group One JJ Atkins in a fortnight. Starting favourite, Rothfire ($2.45) jumped straight to the lead and went on to score by 1-1/4 lengths to Sydney colt Wild Ruler ($5). Filly Isotope ($2.70) was a short half-head back in…

Well-related Coruscate posted the seventh win of his career with a regulation victory at Randwick. He might not have the talent of his sibling Bivouac but Coruscate has outclassed a depleted field at Randwick to chalk up his seventh win. A brother to the Group One Newmarket Handicap and Golden Rose winner, Coruscate has relished an interstate switch to win the At Sea Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday. In a field reduced to five after scratchings, Coruscate sat outside the leader and in a slowly run race he was…

Jockey Sam Clipperton has ended a run of outs with Stockman (right) winning at Randwick. A patient ride aboard Stockman has helped Sam Clipperton to break a run of outs and land his first metropolitan win since Anzac Day. Clipperton has been happy with his form but the depth in the Sydney jockeys’ ranks has made getting on the better chances challenging. “I have been getting good support without getting on the prized cattle, so to speak,” Clipperton said. The hoop made the most of his opportunity aboard Stockman, happy…

Grand De Flora winning at Seymour Waikato Stud bred and raced filly Grand De Flora (NZ) (Savabeel) commenced her Australian career in fine style for trainer Danny O’Brien with a six-length victory at Seymour on Thursday. Grand De Flora ($1.90 favourite), a daughter of Savabeel out of dual Group One winner Daffodil, box-seated under Daniel Moor before blasting clear in the straight to win her Benchmark 58 handicap over 1411 metres. “She’s definitely got a liking for the ground and she had a bit of a blow afterwards, which suggests…

Kinane winning the Gr.3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Trainer Chris Anderson can see some positives in taking on boom Sydney three-year-old Kinane (NZ) (Reliable Man) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Kinane, who has won his past two starts including the Group Three Frank Packer Plate, has been the subject of seven-figure offers from Hong Kong. The offers have been rejected and trainer Chris Waller elected to miss the South Australian Derby to concentrate on the truncated Queensland winter. Kinane will run in the Group Three Gunsynd…