Month: August 2024

Group 1 winner El Vencedor. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Stephen Marsh is building towards the second and third days of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival with a bit more confidence after a pleasing trial by El Vencedor on the Cambridge synthetic track on Friday. El Vencedor was one of last season’s breakout stars, improving throughout a 10-start campaign that began in August and culminated in a superb victory in the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie in March. The son of Shocking also won the Group…

Spencer will contest the Balance Accountants Handicap (1200m) at Wanganui on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Progressive sprinter Spencer gets a chance to redeem himself at Wanganui on Saturday and add to his burgeoning record. The son of Derryn will bid for further open class honours when he steps out in the Balance Accountants Handicap (1200m) off the back of a below par last-start effort at Te Rapa. Spencer had been in hot form before heading north and trainer Erin Hocquard had a nagging pre-race doubt that…

Brucey Lee winning at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Brucey Lee made the seven-hour round trip from Ruakaka worthwhile for trainer Kim Knight on Wednesday when taking out the TAB 2000 at Cambridge Synthetic. The son of U S Navy Flag had placed in his previous start over 2100m on his home track earlier this month and Knight was confident of an improved result despite his topweight of 60kg. Punters shared her thoughts and backed him into $4.40 favouritism, and he didn’t disappoint, running out a…

Okita Soushi on the way to the barriers prior to the running of the 2023 Caulfield Cup. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Ciaron Maher is set to debut two European imports at Saturday’s Caulfield meeting. Saint George will make his Australian debut in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m), while Okita Soushi will have his third Australian start, but first under Maher. Both horses hold Caulfield Cup nominations for the prestigious event on October 19, with Saint George also eyeing the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October…

McNeil Stakes contender Growing Empire. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Last seen effortlessly claiming the Group 3 Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on April 27, the Ciaron Maher-trained Growing Empire is set to make his much-anticipated return in Saturday’s Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. A potential target for the colt during the Melbourne Cup Carnival is Flemington’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). Growing Empire also secured victory in the Listed St Albans Stakes (1200m) at The Valley in March. “Certainly, he was a brilliant two-year-old and I…

Trainer Chris Waller. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Champion trainer Chris Waller secured his 13th Bart Cummings Medal in a nail-biting conclusion at Thursday’s Racing’s Night of Champions Awards at Royal Randwick. Waller amassed 75 points, narrowly holding off leading jockey James McDonald, who finished just one point behind with 74. Waller, who had previously won 12 consecutive Bart Cummings Medals, was dethroned last year by champion apprentice Zac Lloyd, who this year placed seventh with 45 points. McDonald made a strong push, earning six points on the final two…

Imperatriz ridden by Opie Bosson winning the 2023 Champions Sprint at Flemington. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Racing South Australia, in partnership with Racing Australia, has unveiled the nominees for the highly anticipated 2023/2024 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards. This year’s finalists for the top honour, “Australian Racehorse of the Year,” include Without a Fight, Pride of Jenni, Imperatriz, Riff Rocket, and Mr Brightside. The prestigious awards ceremony will take place at Morphettville Racecourse, promising a grand evening to celebrate outstanding performances on Australian racecourses and abroad from August…

Pride Of Jenni winning the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Photo: RacingNSW The Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) has been described as the first match race between Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside, with both runners returning for their spring preparations at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon. Pride Of Jenni, who hails from the Ciaron Maher stable, has beaten Mr Brightside the last five times they have met, including their last meeting when the daughter of Pride Of Dubai claimed a breathtaking victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. 2024 Queen Elizabeth…

Alice Springs trainer Kerry Petrick is looking for further success on Day 2 of the Kununurra Carnival in WA on Saturday. Alice Springs trainer Kerry Petrick hopes Boom Boom Sweet will go back to back in the $35,000 Kununurra Cup (1800m) on Saturday. The eight-year-old gelding, second in the 2022 Cup, returned to the venue in WA’s north-east a year ago to seal victory over stablemates Mangione and Dip Me Lid – thus making it a Petrick trifecta. Boom Boom Sweet, the son of Jakkalberry – third behind Green Moon…