Month: February 2024

Grinzinger Belle scores a bold victory in the $200,000 Group 3 The Vanity (1400m). Photo: Bruno Cannatelli A decade after saddling New Zealand-bred sprinter Shamexpress for a second placing in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington, Danny O’Brien returned to the same meeting on Saturday and landed a black-type prize with a daughter of the Windsor Park Stud stallion. Grinzinger Belle overcame a wide gate and double-figure odds to score a bold victory in the $200,000 Group 3 The Vanity (1400m), bringing back some fond memories for her…

Imperatriz gets the better of Private Eye to win the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m). Photo: Bruno Cannatelli An unimpressive trial created a touch of uncertainty around Imperatriz ahead of her first-up run in Saturday’s $1 million Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington, but the Te Akau Racing wonder-mare blew all those doubts away and carried on her winning way. The Lightning was the sixth major Melbourne sprint win in succession for Imperatriz, who won the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last March…

Kimochi (inside) digs deep to claim Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW Kimochi (+550) has finally returned to the winners’ enclosure after getting the head down in a photo finish to claim the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. The daughter of Brave Smash had remained winless since March 2023, heading into the weekend, but found the minor money on all seven occasions since that victory before being tipped out for a spell. The Gary Portelli-trained filly had trailed exceptionally well alongside the eventual runner-up, Learning…

Fangirl was breathtaking when claiming the Group 2 Apollo Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW Fangirl (+100) has produced a breathtaking display on Saturday to secure victory in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. It was a one-act affair for the returning Chris Waller-trained mare, as the five-year-old torched her rivals in what can only be described as a galloping lesson. James McDonald allowed her to roll towards the back of the field, only leaving one behind her as Cascadian (+1400) missed the start, sitting on the outside of a drifting…

Chris Waller‘s champion mare Fangirl cemented her dominance with a commanding victory in the 2024 Apollo Stakes, leaving rivals in her dust at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse. Fangirl wins the 2024 Apollo Stakes first-up ahead of the Group 1 autumn majors. Photo: Steve Hart. The multiple Group 1 winner showcased her brilliance, easily conquering the field in a scintillating performance fresh off her latest break. This dominant win marks Waller’s sixth Apollo Stakes victory, rekindling memories of his 2019 triumph with the legendary Winx. After finishing third in last year’s race,…

Jason Collett steers Semana to an impressive victory at Randwick. Photo: RacingNSW Semana (+340) has launched at her rivals to claim the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, continuing to build on an impressive return for the Ciaron Maher barn. She was excellent first-up at Wyong on December 13 before heading to the Gold Coast on January 13, putting on a gutsy display to score by two lengths in the Listed Magic Millions Cup (1400m). Jason Collett showed plenty of confidence in his mare tackling Group…