Category: Featured

Pier on track for Brisbane after sharp return at Trentham

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An Australian campaign is in the offing for Pier. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Pier may have fallen just short of winning Saturday’s Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m), but trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley couldn’t have been happier with their returning star ahead of a potential campaign in Queensland. As a three-year-old, Pier won a competitive Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and placed in a Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m). Since then, he has spent much of the last two…

Western Empire tunes up perfectly for The Quokka

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Western Empire winning The Gold Rush at Ascot. Photo: Western Racepix Western Empire (Iffraaj) has signalled he’s ready to fire in the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on April 26, with a sharp trial victory at Belmont on Sunday. The seven-year-old, who hasn’t raced since claiming the Group 3 Gold Rush (1400m) in December, made all in the 1000-metre heat and surged through the line under William Pike, defeating stakes performers Twain’s Angel and Ripcord. It was the Grant and Alana Williams-trained gelding’s second and final trial ahead…

Without A Fight and Isthmus set for Queensland Winter Carnival

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Without A Fight ridden by Mark Zahra winning the 2023 Melbourne Cup. Photo: Pat Scala (Racing Photos) Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight and Group 3-winning mare Isthmus are on track to resume during the Queensland Winter Carnival, with co-trainer Sam Freedman confirming both horses are progressing well. Without A Fight hasn’t raced since finishing down the field in December’s Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) but is expected to trial in the coming weeks. His campaign could include a mouth-watering clash with Pride Of Jenni. “He is fresh and…

El Vencedor primed for Hong Kong challenge

NZRacingDesk

It is full steam ahead for the connections of El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), as the star galloper jets off to Hong Kong on Thursday in preparation for the Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on April 27. El Vencedor has been unstoppable in New Zealand’s middle-distance ranks over the summer, winning three consecutive elite-level crowns in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m). The popular gelding’s stellar form did not go unnoticed on the global stage, rated…

Mature Mehzebeen adds to stakes collection

NZRacingDesk

Time was always going to benefit Mehzebeen (NZ) (Almanzor) and the Almanzor mare continues to emphasise that in her five-year-old season. She was bred and sold by Pencarrow Stud and at Trentham furthered her black-type record with victory in the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. Mehzebeen had also completed the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) and Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) double in the spring to realise the earlier staying potential she showed when runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). “She has…

Group One goals back on the horizon for Pier

NZRacingDesk

Pier (NZ) (Proisir) may have fallen just short of winning Saturday’s Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m), but trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley couldn’t have been happier with their returning star ahead of a potential campaign in Queensland. As a three-year-old, Pier won a competitive Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and placed in a Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m). Since then, he has spent much of the last two seasons on the sidelines, including after winning impressively when resuming last June. A sharp trial…

Caulfield Group 1 races reshuffled for 2025 Spring Carnival

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Another Prophet winning the 2024 Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield Racecourse. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Racing Victoria (RV) and the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) have confirmed a strategic reshuffle of three Group 1 races at Caulfield as part of broader programming changes to the 2025 Spring Racing Carnival and the 2026 Festival of Racing. The changes, which have received approval from the RV Board and endorsement from the Asian Pattern Committee, aim to bolster key racedays across Victoria and maintain momentum across the entire spring calendar. Following strong…

Tuesday’s best horse racing bookmaker promos & offers | April 15

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Zahra to reunite with Antino in All Aged

NZRacingDesk

Whether it is considered an ambitious move or not to take on the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) so soon, Tony Gollan has just as higher aims for Antino (NZ) (Redwood) closer to home as the topline Queensland galloper returns to the races this Saturday. Antino trialled last week at Eagle Farm finishing behind Rothfire (Rothesay) with a heavier staff rider aboard, and since then Gollan has been happy for his versatile six-year-old to line up in the All Aged over the 1400-metre trip at Randwick before a campaign over longer trips in Brisbane. “He was getting a…