Year: 2019

Spring imports Cape Of Good Hope (outside) and Constantinople have have galloped at Werribee. Senior Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes likes the look of his two spring carnival purchases from Aidan O’Brien after they were put through their paces at Werribee. Caulfield and Melbourne Cup hope Constantinople was joined by Cox Plate contender Cape Of Good Hope in a workout on Wednesday morning, their first serious hit-outs since arriving from Europe on Saturday afternoon. The pair are in quarantine until October 12 after which they will transfer to the Flemington…

A field of 12 will line up for the Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, a race that could shape the prospects of a number of spring contenders. Mystic Journey will be out to bounce back from her defeat in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on September 14 when she steps out over 2000m for the first time on Saturday. The Adam Trinder-trained mare, drawn in barrier nine, had been successful in her previous seven outings and was sent out a short-priced favourite when beaten by $101 outsider Gatting…

Joao Moreira took the National Day Cup en route to a four-timer. The win of Frankie Lor-trained Fat Turtle in the Class 2 Beijing Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin yesterday, Tuesday, 1 October, completed a Joao Moreira four-timer, initiated when he took the day’s other feature, the Group 3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m), on the John Size-trained Full Of Beauty (115lb). The five-year-old Full Of Beauty had raced exclusively at 1200m, clinching five wins last season, but handled the drop in distance with aplomb. The bay scored his biggest…

Nagano Gold has an opportunity to put racing in the Czech Republic on the world map when he runs in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp. While he will line up alongside Enable and the rest as one of the outsiders on Sunday, Nagano Gold has proved already that he can outrun his odds, having been an unconsidered 25-1 shot at Royal Ascot when he nearly pulled off a shock in the Hardwicke Stakes. He was marginally unlucky that day having been broadsided by 2018 Derby winner Masar…

Beauty Generation is far too good for his rivals. Beauty Generation caned his rivals on his return to action in the Group 3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin today, Tuesday, 1 October. Hong Kong’s star galloper displayed imperious form at his first start of the season. The brilliant bay brushed off the burden of 133lb, as well as large weight concessions to all his rivals, and surged to victory in a track record 1m 20.05s. “He’s just an amazing horse. To do what he does defies logic to…

Star sprinter Santa Ana Lane will remain in Melbourne to run in the Group Two Gilgai Stakes as his lead-up to the $14 million Everest in Sydney. The Anthony Freedman-trained multiple Group One winner has also been nominated for the Premiere Stakes at Randwick on Saturday but the stable has confirmed the gelding will run in the Gilgai over the straight 1200m at Flemington. “He gets in well at the weight with 60kg,” Freedman Racing posted on Twitter on Tuesday. “His work this morning at Flemington was strong but he…

Leading Victorian trainer Ciaron Maher faces a multi-million lawsuit after the sale of Azkadellia. A man claiming to be the rightful owner of Group One winner Azkadellia has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against leading trainer Ciaron Maher in the Queensland Supreme Court. William Duffy lodged documents on Monday seeking $8.5 million in lost earnings and $11.5 million damages. Azkadellia was suspended from racing in late 2016 when Racing Victoria stewards opened an investigation into the bona fides of her ownership. Her registered owner was Ben Connolly, Maher’s racing manager…