Year: 2025

Dirty Grin salutes for trainer Nick Ryan at The Valley. (Photo: Bruno Cannatelli) Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Dirty Grin collected his third win from four starts in this preparation with a come-from-behind victory at Moonee Valley on Saturday. The five-year-old son of Zacinto came into this campaign with two wins to his name in a 14-start career. He has had a change of scenery this year with a move from Simon Zahra’s stable into the care of Nick Ryan, and Dirty Grin hasn’t looked back. He kicked off his preparation…

Brad Parnhamk and Talkanco combine to win the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate at Ascot. (Photo: WesternRacePix) Emerging filly Talkanco ($3.70) proved too strong when it mattered most, surging through a narrow gap to claim victory in the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. Trained by Daniel and Ben Pearce and ridden perfectly by Brad Parnham, Talkanco justified the stable’s long-held confidence, capping off a stellar preparation with a dominant grand final performance. After settling just behind the speed, Parnham was able to pick his way through runners…

Robert Sangster Stakes winner, Charm Stone. (Photo: George Sal – Racing Photos) Classy mare Charm Stone ($11) delivered on her enormous promise, storming home to claim the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday for trainers Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr and jockey Mark Zahra. Resuming from a spell after a strong Queensland campaign, Charm Stone settled near the rear after a patchy start but produced a dazzling turn of foot when it mattered most. Zahra, who had already picked up two Group wins earlier, including…

Group 1 Australasian Oaks winner, Benagil. (Photo: Jay Town – Racing Photos) Benagil confirmed her status as one of Australia’s premier staying fillies with a brilliant win in Saturday’s Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville. Trained by Glen Thompson and expertly ridden by Mark Zahra, Benagil, the $3.10 favourite with horse racing bookmakers, overcame a slow start to storm down the outside and score a dominant victory, delivering Thompson his first Group 1 success as a solo trainer. After settling near the tail of the field, Zahra was content…

Val Di Zoldo winning the Group 2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. (Kenton Wright – Race Images) Val Di Zoldo’s victory in the Group 2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday showed what a difference a year can make. The $150,000 fillies and mares’ feature capped an autumn black-type double for the War Decree mare, who was a last-start winner of the Group 3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m) at Wanganui on April 5. It could hardly be a more different story to what happened in…