If things had gone to plan for Wolfy (NZ) (Tivaci) on debut at Caulfield, the colt would be enjoying a short break ahead of preparing for a big spring target. Instead, the Nick Ryan-trained three-year-old will be at Sandown on Wednesday looking for his maiden win in the Ladbroke It! Plate (1300m). Ryan has Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) aspirations for Wolfy, but the son of Tivaci will need to win on Wednesday to keep the dream alive. Wolfy finished an unlucky second to Ouroboros over 1200m at Caulfield on July…
Month: August 2023
Frye returns to riding
Former stakes-winning apprentice jockey Ashley Frye will be back in the saddle at Riccarton on Wednesday, but this time in the amateur ranks. Frye loved her time as an apprentice, winning 75 races in her two-year stint, including two at stakes level, before a race fall brought an end to her professional riding career. The then 18-year-old was involved in a fall as a result of her mount, Zuleika, suffering a heart attack and was placed in an induced coma. She made a full recovery, however, she didn’t make a…
Cox Plate nominations
In early August each year, nominations for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) are solidified, ushering in a sequence of declarations that gradually narrow down the pool of contenders to a final assembly of 14 participants, accompanied by four emergencies. The 2023 Cox Plate nominations were released on August 8, subsequently followed by the first declarations on September 12, second declarations confirmed on Tuesday, September 26, and the third round of acceptances reaches finalization on October 10th. The apex arrives on Tuesday, October 24, with the announcement of the final…
Cox Plate 2023 draws 178 nominations
Who will join Anamoe on the Cox Plate honour roll in 2023? (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) The Cox Plate is set to have more of an international flavour in 2023, with several runners nominated by some of the biggest trainers worldwide for arguably Australia’s greatest thoroughbred race. Of the 178 nominations for the Moonee Valley feature in October, nine runners hail from Aidan O’Brien’s stable in Ireland, while the current favourite with most online bookmakers, Romantic Warrior, has been nominated by Hong Kong trainer Danny Shum. After winning the…
Caulfield Cup 2023 attracts 175 nominations
Durston will not defend his Caulfield Cup title in 2023. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) The 2023 Caulfield Cup nominations were released on Tuesday, with 175 runners in the mix for the $5 million Group 1 on October 21. As usual, a few world-renowned international trainers have nominated horses for the Caulfield feature, with representatives from New Zealand, Japan, Ireland and England among the list of runners. The current favourite with most online bookmakers, Without A Fight, tops the list of nominees, ahead of equal-second favourites Kovalica and Sharp ‘N’…
Caulfield Cup Nominations
Caulfield Cup (2400m) nominations were released on Tuesday, August 8, with 175 horses throwing their hat in the ring to claim the illustrious Group 1 feature. The 2023 Caulfield Cup is set to be run at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, October 21 with a prizepool of $5million International horses have long had a successful record in the Caulfield Cup and the 2023 edition looks set to have plenty of overseas talent, with many nominated. First acceptances for the 2023 Caulfield Cup is set to be released on Tuesday, September 12,…
Watch Out looking to add to winning tally
Promising mare Watch Out (NZ) (Highly Recommended) will face the sternest test of her brief career when she steps out in Rating 80 company at Riccarton on Wednesday. The John and Karen Parsons-bred, owned and trained daughter of Highly Recommended has won three of her four starts and will bid to further her record in the Hoteliers Challenge Handicap (1400m). Watch Out is one of three runners on the middle day of the Grand National carnival for the Balcairn-based husband and wife team, with Rainman (NZ) (Pins) to contest the…
Annavisto on track for Memsie tilt
New Zealand-bred Group One performer Annavisto’s (NZ) (Reliable Man) racing future will be dictated by her first-up performance in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield next month. The daughter of Reliable Man finished fourth in her 1000m trial at Cranbourne on Monday and trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr said she will take plenty of improvement from her first public hit-out of the new season. “She had a fair while off, she’s still a bit fat and she had a big blow, she’s trialling again,” Price told Racing.com.…
Dual Group One winner readying for spring assignments
Oaks heroine Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) has returned a bigger and stronger animal in the eyes of trainer Jim Wallace and he is looking forward to tackling some big spring assignments with the now four-year-old. The daughter of Satono Aladdin was a standout filly last season, winning three of her nine starts, including the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m). She also placed in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m), Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), and Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m). Wallace, who also co-bred and co-owns Pennyweka,…
Ashley Frye to make riding return
Ashley Frye will make a return to the saddle at Riccarton on Wednesday. Photo: Trish Dunell Former stakes-winning apprentice jockey Ashley Frye will be back in the saddle at Riccarton on Wednesday, but this time in the amateur ranks. Frye loved her time as an apprentice, winning 75 races in her two-year stint, including two at stakes level, before a race fall brought an end to her professional riding career. The then 18-year-old was involved in a fall as a result of her mount, Zuleika, suffering a heart attack and…