A gritty performance by Western Empire to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Pinjarra has enabled the seven-year-old gelding to break the A$3 million barrier in career earnings. The Grant and Alana Williams-trained son of Iffraaj was as brave as ever, coming from a three-wide position midfield to wear-down favourite Magnificent Andy over the concluding stages. Western Empire missed the Belmont Sprint with a foot issue and hadn’t raced since finishing ninth in The Quokka (1200m) in April. Winner of the 2021 Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) for the Williams,…
Category: Gallops
Bold Maison Louis resolute in Queensland Derby
The training partnership of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton continues to flourish as evidenced by a stable quinella in Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) as Maison Louis defeated King Of Thunder in a perfect result for the Sydney trainers. Charlton joined O’Shea in partnership this season and Maison Louis becomes the duo’s third Group One winner for the term after elite-level wins from Schwartz and Linebacker. Ridden by Ryan Maloney, Maison Louis came from three back on the fence and tracked Imperialist through to find clear air shortly after turning…
Progressive stayer lands the Shockletz
Talented staying filly Shockletz rallied late to run-down Prochester in the Country Racing It’s Got It All Trophy (2000m) at Flemington as both connections of the Ciaron Maher-trained runner and favoutie backers alike gave a collective sigh of relief. Pre-race jockey Harry Coffey suggested to the owners of the three-year-old daughter of Shocking that it would be an easy watch, but upon returning to scale the winning hoop was somewhat sheepish. “It was far from an easy watch,” Coffey grinned. “Before the race I told them don’t panic, I’ll handle…
Flash Feeling registers Flemington win for new stable
Talented galloper Flash Feeling notched his first victory for Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan when defeating Liberami to land the 2025 Country Achiever Eric Musgrove (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday. The six-year-old son of Iffraaj is at his fourth stable and the change of environment worked the oracle along with a positive Dean Yendall ride. Ballarat trainer Dan O’Sullivan was pleased with how Flash Feeling was tracking coming into Saturday’s win. “At his first-up run here, I probably had him too fresh and he was keen and all over the joint,”…
Taken leads rivals a merry dance
Improving three-year-old Taken ran out a dominant winner of the Darren Galley Mile (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday under a well-judged front-running ride by Beau Mertens. The son of Ardrossan has now won three races in succession this campaign for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. With key race rivals Detroit City and King Of Enterprise racing near the rear of the field throughout, Taken looked the winner a long way from home and found plenty when asked, going on to score by three lengths from Cachink and Mometz.…
Midnight Scandal caps big day for Alexanders and Myers
A big day for Katrina and Simon Alexander, and Kelly Myers at Ellerslie on Saturday culminated with talented mare Midnight Scandal (NZ) (Belardo) taking out the Evergreen Bloodstock (1400m). The trainer-jockey combination won both of the $45,000 open handicap features on the card, with Major Major (NZ) (Pins) winning the Trackside.co.nz (2100m) earlier in the afternoon. In between times, three-year-old filly Acapelago (NZ) (Belardo) finished second in the Sistema (1400m). “It’s been a really pleasing day,” Katrina Alexander said. “While we didn’t quite come away with a 100 percent win…
Moxie remains unbeaten at Ellerslie
Unheralded three-year-old filly Moxie (Strasbourg) dented several reputations when she came from last on the home corner to collect her second win from just three starts when winning the Sistema 1400 (1400m) at Ellerslie. The Ken Harrison-trained daughter of Strasbourg had won on debut at the venue last month with a determined finish over 1200m before finishing seventh to Saturday’s race rival Acapelago (NZ) (Belardo) at Te Rapa at her second start. Allowed to drift in the betting market to a $17 Fixed Odds quote as punters flocked to install…
Jesko takes thrilling Manawatu Steeplechase victory
Co-trainer Shaun Fannin combined with his progressive jumping talent Jesko (NZ) (Atlante) to collect a stunning victory in Saturday’s Presidential Homes Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) at Trentham. Fannin prepares the seven-year-old son of Atlante with his wife Hazel out of their Awapuni base and looks to have a prodigious talent over fences on his hands with Jesko making it two wins from two starts over the bigger fences after scoring over hurdles last season. Successful in his chasing debut at Wanganui last month Fannin kept the gelding up to the mark…
Major Major hits his stride for Alexanders
The Te Awamutu stable of Katrina and Simon Alexander is Major Major’s (NZ) (Pins) third home, and a commanding performance in Saturday’s Trackside.co.nz (2100m) at Ellerslie suggested it could be the most successful one for the late-developing seven-year-old. Major Major began his career as a rising six-year-old in July and August of 2023, finishing outside the placings in two starts over sprint distances for Matamata trainer Daniel Miller. He was trained by Mathew Faber for all of his next nine appearances, which produced wins over 2100m at Tauranga, Pukekohe and…
Poignant win for Billy Boy in Manawatu Hurdles
Unbeaten hurdler Billy Boy (So You Think) honoured the memory of his late owner Denis Leamy with a tenacious victory in the Manawatu ITM Manawatu Hurdles (2500m) at Trentham on Saturday. Billy Boy was bought for just $5500 on Gavelhouse.com in 2021 by Leamy, who sadly died at Palmerston North Hospital last Sunday at the age of 82 – just six days before his horse’s career-best win. From 30 starts, Billy Boy has now recorded five wins and seven placings and has earned $89,865. He has a perfect two-from-two record…