Month: March 2025

Bella Nipotina winning the Russell Balding Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au After claiming four Group 1 wins in an illustrious 57-start career, the decision has been made to retire superstar mare Bella Nipotina. Ciaron Maher Racing took to X to confirm the news in a statement that read in part: “On behalf of the ownership group, we are proud to officially announce the retirement of our multiple Group 1- winner and Everest champion, Bella Nipotina. “Affectionately known as ‘Bella’, she joined the team in May 2021 and has since graced the track…

Golden Slipper favourite, Wodeton. Photo: Bradley Photos The time-honoured Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) headlines the action at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, with a capacity field of 16 two-year-olds set to battle it out in Australia’s premier juvenile sprint. The $5 million feature consists of 11 boys and five fillies set to line up, including the long-standing favourite with horse racing bookmakers Wodeton who remains at the top of the market at $4.50 after drawing barrier two. James McDonald keeps the ride despite suffering defeat in the Group 2 Todman…

Fangirl. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au One year after a life-threatening leg injury forced her out of the race, the resilient Fangirl is set to chase another Group 1 victory in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on Saturday. Now back at her best, she triumphed over stablemate Via Sistina first-up in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), before finishing closely behind the mare in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. “Fangirl has touched our hearts, she missed the race last year because of injury and she was in a bad…

Ashley Morgan and Private Harry winning the inaugural edition of the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight Plate. Photo: Darren Winningham Undefeated colt Private Harry is set to make his Group 1 debut in the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday. Trainer Nathan Doyle has had his sights set on the race for Private Harry since his last-start victory in the Magic Millions Sunlight 3YO Plate (1100m) at the Sunshine Coast in early January. Doyle reported that the colt has had a trouble-free preparation, which included two barrier trial…

Maharba. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Grahame Begg remains optimistic about Maharba’s chances in Saturday’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, aiming to secure a Group 1 victory for the sprinter. Despite narrowly missing out in last year’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), Begg believes the four-year-old gelding can excel at the highest level, despite a recent setback in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m). “He drew the wrong part of the track that day,” Begg explained to Racing.com. “It was just a non-race for him. He…

Multiple Group One-winner Snazzytavi has had an acute episode of laminitis and is unlikely to race again. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Cambridge Stud are hoping Snazzytavi will continue to draw on all her fighting qualities to win out in her battle against illness. The multiple Group One-winning daughter of Tavistock is currently doing as well as can be expected, receiving the best of local and international care. “She remains at Matamata Vets where she has been for the last three or four weeks and has had an acute episode…