Month: April 2024

Gold Wolf (red cap) heads Antrim Coast to win the Listed Galilee Series Final at Caulfield. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Promising three-year-old staying prospect Gold Wolf showed he could be a contender for the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) next month when he produced a strong finish to tip out fellow kiwi-bred galloper Antrim Coast in a thrilling conclusion to the Listed Elvis Thurgood Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Caulfield. The David and Coral Feek-prepared son of Tivaci has come along in leaps and bounds of late after breaking his…

Here to Shock on his way to winning the Group 3 Victoria Handicap at Caulfield. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Racing on or near the pace has been a hallmark through most of Here To Shock’s career, but the talented New Zealand-bred changed things up at Caulfield on Saturday and powered home from off the pace to win the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m). The accomplished six-year-old drew the outside gate in a field of 11 for Saturday’s $200,000 feature, and rider Daniel Stackhouse elected to ease back and settle in the…

Facile grips on to claims the PJ Bell Stakes at Randwick. Photo: RacingNSW The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained Facile (+1000) has cruised to victory in the Randwick finale on Saturday, proving too good for the girls in the P J Bell Stakes (1200m). It topped off a career day by Tyler Schiller, giving him a stakes double for the afternoon, saluting aboard Celestial Legend in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) earlier in the program. It was a perfectly rated front-running ride aboard the daughter of Trapeze Artist, as…

Chris Waller finally conquered one of the few remaining Group 1 races missing from his trophy cabinet. Riff Rocket, ridden masterfully by James McDonald, stormed to victory in the 2024 Australian Derby results, solidifying Waller’s place as a racing legend. Riff Rocket completed the 2024 Rosehill Guineas – Australian Derby double with a narrow win for the punters in the latter at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart. The victory marked a historic moment, with Riff Rocket becoming only the fourth horse to achieve the coveted interstate Derby double (Victoria Derby &…

Les Bridge etched his name deeper into Doncaster Mile history, training Celestial Legend to a thrilling victory in the 2024 edition of the prestigious race. This marked Bridge’s second Doncaster Mile win, an incredible feat achieved 39 years after his first triumph with Row Of Waves in 1985. Doncaster Mile 2024 winner Celestial Legend was enormous late down the outside to post his third straight win. Photo: Steve Hart. The Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) on Day 1 of The Championships boasted a stellar line-up, but it was…

James McDonald lifts Riff Rocket to victory in the Group 1 ATC Derby. Photo: RacingNSW Riff Rocket (+125) proved too classy in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, picking up his third Group 1 victory for the Chris Waller barn. The son of American Pharoah was impressive in the spring, getting the head down in the Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m), and appears to be an even better horse this autumn, winning the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) before making it back-to-back Derby successes. With…

Thomas Stockdale returns to the mounting yard aboard Captain Envious after winning the Group 3 Easter Cup at Caulfield. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Captain Envious (+3300) has shown a strong turn of foot to burst through a small gap in the final stages of the Caulfield straight to take out the Group 3 Easter Cup, giving Paul Preusker and Thomas Stockdale their first success in the race. With Deny Knowledge (+1500) engaged it was always going to be a stiff 2000m contest, as the leader put a good gap…

Celestial Legend produced a stunning finish to claim the Group 1 Doncaster Mile. Photo: RacingNSW Celestial Legend (+550) produced a stunning turn-of-foot to claim victory in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, earning the Les Bridge-trained colt back-to-back Group 1 victories. Les Bridge suggested Celestial Legend was the “best horse” he’s ever trained in the aftermath of the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 9, and the son of Dundeel has gone on with the job thanks to a perfectly timed ride by Tyler…

Chain Of Lightning sprinted the best to claim the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW The Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) had been touted by many as a match race between Imperatriz (+240) and I Wish I Win (+320), however, it was Chain Of Lightning (+2200) getting the better of both to claim her first Group 1 victory. She had put the writing on the wall second-up into the preparation, making a mess of her rivals in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on…