Features
McDonald the horseman with the Midas touch after record-breaking Carnival
There was a poignant moment in the half-hour leading up to the running of this year’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) that signalled James McDonald was quite possibly about to enjoy the ride of his life on Verry Elleegant (Zed). It occurred when the horses were made to hold up as they emerged from the... Read More
More from Maiden Of The Week
Brereton (AUS)
Brereton (AUS) 2 c Zoustar – Fuddle Dee Duddle by Red Ransom O: Rosemont Stud Pty Ltd, Mr A P Mithen, Mr G J Johnson, Noorilim Park Thoroughbreds, Mr R I Chapman, Longwood Racing, Matha Bloodstock, Mr G D Guest, Musk Creek Farm P/L, Qatar Bloodstock Ltd, Glentree Racing, Iskander Racing & Breeding, Mr B... Read More
Willowy
Willowy will set out to repair a tough couple of weeks for Godolphin three-year-olds and become the latest headline act for her super-producing dam and a highly successful female line in today’s VRC Oaks at Flemington. She will also be looking to provide her sire Kermadec a follow-up Group 1 winner – after triple top-level... Read More
A broader awakening feeds Jerry Chau’s emergence
Jerry Chau’s virtuoso win aboard God Of Dragon (Red Dazzler) at Happy Valley on Sunday was ‘only’ a Class 3 handicap, yet it emphasised the exciting development of the young rider whose emergence is not only down to astute coaching of latent ability but also part of a deepening confidence around Hong Kong’s cohort of... Read More
I’m sure that’s the way it was supposed to be
Praise the Lord, a southern hemisphere bred horse won the Melbourne Cup. Dare we say Australasian bred? I think not. Verry Elleegant (Zed) is a product of New Zealand. The fourth NZ-bred winner since 2000. Remarkably, given the overall dominance of northern hemisphere-trained horses and the harbingers of antipodean breeding doom, that’s more individual winners... Read More
Eight for Almanzor
New winners Almanzor (pictured) – It was a good week for Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) as he sired his seventh and eighth individual winners. Dissociate (2 f ex Party Animal by Makfi) became the seventh winner for the first-season-sire when she won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over seven furlongs at... Read More