Month: October 2023

Ace Kiwi hoop Opie Bosson was full of post-race praise for Mark Walker’s outstanding mare Imperatriz after riding her to another Group 1 win at The Valley in Saturday’s $2 million Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m). 2023 Manikato Stakes winner Imperatriz was far too good enjoying her fourth straight win at The Valley on Cox Plate Day. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. It was a Cox Plate Day demolition job from the champion New Zealand-trained mare who made it four straight wins, all at the notoriously tight Moonee Valley circuit she has…

Archo Nacho (blue) ridden by Mark Zahra wins the Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Mark Zahra has given Archo Nacho (+160) a perfect ride from the box seat in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes to bring up his fourth winning ride on Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley. The Matt Laurie-trained galloper wasn’t at his best at his last start down the Flemington straight, but he returned to winning ways in the Red Anchor, showing a liking for the tight, turning Valley track.…

Chrysaor got the bob in to claim the Group 2 Callander-Presnall at Randwick. Photo: RacingNSW Tyler Schiller and Chris Waller have combined in the penultimate race at Randwick, taking out the Group 2 Callander-Presnell (1600m) as Chrysaor ($21.00) caused a minor upset. It comes as some surprise, with the three-year-old colt running last and second-last respectively in his two runs upon resumption. It was a barnstorming effort on Saturday as the son of Better Than Ready played the stalking roll from barrier four, allowing the speed to go on, with…

Romantic Warrior ridden by James McDonald wins the Cox Plate. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Many refer to the Cox Plate as the best two minutes in sport, and the 2023 edition of the Group 1 feature at Moonee Valley did not disappoint, as Romantic Warrior (+260) nosed out Mr Brightside (+800) in a photo finish to claim Australia’s best race. You couldn’t have scripted the race any better, with one of the best from Hong Kong battling it out with one of the best horses from Australia in the…

Espiona arrived in time to claim The Invitation. Photo: Racing NSW Espiona (+270) claimed the $2 million The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, with a driving effort to the wire under Kerrin McEvoy. The Chris Waller-trained mare was luckless in her latest effort behind Think About It in The Everest (1200m), already franking that as a form-line to follow in future races. She was able to go back and be ridden quietly towards the rear of the field, but gained cover throughout the 1400m, utilizing her impressive turn-of-foot when…

Imperatriz ridden by Opie Bosson wins the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Mark Walker’s star sprinter Imperatriz (-250) has become the third horse in history to complete the Moir Stakes/Manikato Stakes double, joining Manikato and Spinning Hill as the only horses to win the Group 1 features in the same season at Moonee Valley. The daughter of I Am Invincible has continued her winning ways this preparation, taking her record to three wins from as many starts, with Opie Bosson jumping back aboard for her…

Tom Kitten was a class above in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes. Photo: Racing NSW Tom Kitten (+140) demolished his rivals in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, courtesy of an elite steer from Adam Hyeronimus. He was the beneficiary of regularly appointed jockey Nash Rawiller out with a suspension, as Hyeronimus took his chance with open arms, circling the top-half of the field aboard the son of Harry Angel. It never looked in doubt for favourite backers, with the three-year-old able to hold a mid-field…

Apulia ridden by Mark Zahra wins the Moonee Valley Vase. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Apulia (+320) was well beaten in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) last weekend, but Ben, Will & JD Hayes chose to back up their Fiorente colt and take on the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase, and it has paid dividends with Mark Zahra producing another great ride at Moonee Valley. After getting the run over 2000m under his belt last Saturday, it was clear that he had taken a lot of benefit from the…

Zeyrek got his nose down in time to claim the Group 3 Craven Plate. Photo: Racing NSW Tyler Schiller and the Hawkes team combined with Zeyrek (+850) putting the head down to score victory in the Group 3 Craven Plate (1800m) at Randwick. The six-year-old son of Sea The Stars was no match for Group 1 company in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) last start on October 14, but has bounced back supremely getting to a more suitable trip at Group 3 level. Tyler Schiller had no…

Skybird ridden by Beau Mertens wins the Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Beau Mertens produced a stellar ride on the Mitchell Freedman-trained Skybird (+200) to take out the Group 2 Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley. The daughter of Exosphere kept her unbeaten start to her career intact with the win in the Fillies Classic and looks to be one of the key chances in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield next month. The race wasn’t run to suit a backmarker, with Grinzinger Belle (+1100) setting a…