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Adelaide trainer Michael Hickmott picked up a winning double on his home turf at Murray Bridge on Wednesday to continue his red-hot run of form in recent months. Victories by former Kiwi gallopers Talamo and Allacciato made it seven wins for the month for Hickmott and he is confident he has the ammunition to add to that tally when the former Andrew Campbell-trained pair of Trident and Lord Vladivostok (formerly Vladivostok) step out at Morphettville on Saturday. Hickmott is now training six horses sent to him from New Zealand by…

Cambridge Stud will showcase their two stallions on Sunday ahead of the 2020 breeding season. The online stallion parade will be hosted from 2:30pm by chief executive Henry Plumptre and head of nominations Scott Calder and be shown on the farm’s Facebook and YouTube channel. The first foals of Embellish, the first Group One winning son of Savabeel to stand at stud, have impressed breeeders to date. Champion European three-year-old Almanzor has returned to Cambridge Stud for his third southern hemisphere season and will stand at $30,000 +GST this year.

The start of the Spring Carnival Racing season will also mark a new beginning for TAB New Zealand as Dean McKenzie, Executive Chair, brings on a new executive leadership team. The appointments of Jessica Meech – GM Corporate & Governance Services and Sam Moncur – GM Finance along with with existing executive Glen Saville – GM Customer and Betting who will hold the role until later this year and experienced industry executive Edward Rennell as GM Broadcasting and Operations until April 2021. The new team formally take effect on 7 September 2020. Both Jessica and Sam have been with the…

Reliable Man filly Annavisto (NZ) was an impressive winner at Mornington on Thursday for Caulfield trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. The three-year-old was well supported into $2.50 on debut and came from midfield to score a dominant three-length win under Damien Oliver in the Jane Neve Maiden Plate (1200m) Sporting the colours of Bill Frost’s Pendant Equine, Annavisto was purchased out of Tony Pike’s stable in New Zealand after winning a trial at Te Teko over 800m and she will now be set on a Classic path. “That…

The countdown to an historic Spring Racing Carnival has continued today with the closure of nominations for Australia’s premier staying races, the $5.15 million Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m). Total entries for both races are up on 2019 with the 143rd Caulfield Cup, to be run at Caulfield on 17 October, attracting 177 nominations (up from 143); while the 160th Melbourne Cup, to be conducted at Flemington on 3 November, has received 174 entries (up from 152). New Zealand trained gallopers entered…

The Chris Waller-trained Mo’unga turned heads with a stunning performance at Newcastle on Saturday which has resulted in the son of Savabeel being installed an early $8.50 favourite for the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 10. Unbeaten in two starts, Mo’unga came from the rear of the field in a Benchmark 64 1400m contest to comfortably account for fellow Spring Champion candidate Lion’s Roar, a son of Contributer, who is well regarded by John O’Shea. Ridden by Lee Magorrian, Mo’unga sports the colours of Aquis, who…

Trainer Jamie Richards was more than happy with the performance of stable stars Probabeel and Melody Belle after analysing their respective runs at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Last season’s Gr.1 Surround Stakes (1400m) winner Probabeel flashed home late in cramped quarters to finish second in the Gr.3 Show County Quality (1200m) while ten-time Group One winner Melody Belle finished 11th in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) but endured a checkered-passage. Richards had been expecting a positive performance from Probabeel despite her not showing much in two trials leading into the…

Former Kiwi-galloper Bee Tee Junior (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu) took full advantage of a six-kilogram weight advantage over race favourite Ablaze (NZ) (Raise The Flag) as he galloped clear in the concluding stages to capture the A$350,000 Australian Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on Sunday. The Nom Du Jeu nine-year-old, who was having his first start over the bigger fences for trainer Rachael Cunningham, had been expected to figure prominently in the event and was sent out second favourite behind topweight Ablaze on the testing Heavy 10 surface. Rider…

Bay Of Plenty owner John Heale couldn’t have wished for a better tribute to one of his best friends when Bee Tee Junior (NZ) (Nom du Jeu) won the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) at Ballarat on Sunday. The Tauranga pharmacist watched the televised coverage from his home as Bee Tee Junior made a successful steeplechase debut to become the first horse to defeat fellow former New Zealand-trained galloper, Ablaze (NZ) (Raise The Flag), over fences. He scored by nine lengths with yet another New Zealand-bred, Michelin, 15 lengths back in…

Star Kiwi mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) is returning home after finishing an inconclusive 11th in Saturday’s Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) after enduring a troubled passage. While the second-up run failed to provide a true guide as to how the Jamie Richards-trained mare has returned, the 34-strong syndicate that race the dual New Zealand Horse of the Year are keen to enjoy their pride and joy in the flesh as opposed to watching her on TV from afar. “She’s booked to come home on Sunday,” Fortuna Syndications Director John Galvin…