Category: News

Pericles after winning the Five Diamonds. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The James Cummings-trained Pericles ($19.00) has been rewarded for a lengthy preparation, bolting clear in the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon. The Godolphin five-year-old was set to peak after a testing effort in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on October 19 and appeared well-placed against his own age group despite being sent around at a big price with Marantelli Bet. He was aided by an outstanding ride by star hoop Kerrin McEvoy, landing into…

Sunshine In Paris (middle) ridden by James McDonald winning the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Flemington. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Sunshine In Paris ($5.50) has claimed her second Group 1 success of her career, following a barnstorming finish in the Champions Sprint at Flemington. For the ninth time at the Melbourne Cup Carnival, James McDonald pulled the right reign on the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained mare, who was well backed with horse racing bookmakers and duly saluted in a tight photo finish. As expected, the 1200m contest was…

Hinged ridden by James McDonald winning the 2024 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) After failing to win a race and running several placings in over two years, Hinged ($4) has finally broken her lengthy winless drought by claiming the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington, giving Chris Waller and James McDonald another winner at the Melbourne Cup Carnival. The daughter of Worthy Cause recorded her previous victory on February 26, 2022, and since then she has finished in the placings on nine occasions, which led many…

Babylon Berlin winning Saturday’s Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Quality sprinter Babylon Berlin successfully defended her crown in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) within a display of pure sprinting power at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Ben and Ryan Foote-trained six-year-old mare has been amongst the upper echelon of New Zealand sprinters in recent years having competed with distinction at the highest levels including finishing runner-up on three separate occasions at Group 1 level. Entering her fifth season of raceday action…

Illicit Dreams winning Saturday’s Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton. Photo: Ajay Berry (Race Images South) Riccarton is a home away from home for speedy Ruakaka mare Illicit Dreams, who added a blistering front-running win in Saturday’s Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) to her proud record at the Christchurch track. A daunting 1200km journey separates Riccarton from trainer Kenny Rae’s Northland base, but Illicit Dreams has repeatedly taken those big trips in her stride and produced some of the best performances of her career. The daughter of Vancouver is now a…

Reputation winning Rating 75 (1300m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Progressive mare Reputation kicked off a new campaign at Te Rapa on Saturday in fine style when she produced a fighting front running effort to claim the Maven Waikato 1300 (1300m). The Pam Gerard-prepared five-year-old had signed off her four-year-old season with a creditable midfield finish in the Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham in March and was fitted for her raceday resumption with a 1000m open class trial victory on her home track…

La Dorada winning the 2YO (1100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Royally bred filly La Dorada justified some inspired betting support when she proved too tough in the closing stages of the Hallmark Stud (1100m) at Te Rapa. Making her raceday debut for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, the daughter of Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth had impressed when winning an 850m trial at Te Awamutu last month which saw punters install her the $2.70 favourite against her age-group rivals. Rider Vinnie Colgan was…

Champions Stakes Day. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) VRC Champions Stakes Day 2024 is finally here with a bumper nine-race meeting set down for decision at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, November 9, 2024. The Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m), Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) and Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) will open the quaddie, with the first of the three Group 1 races jumping at 3:50pm As the Melbourne Cup Carnival comes to a close, catch up on all the race replays, results and dividends provided by top horse racing…