Ever-modest Lees enjoying rich vein of form as he takes aim at a host of big races
Only James Cummings (by one) and Chris Waller (by a few more) bettered his New South Wales tally of 178 winners last season. He trained four Group 1 winners in that racing year and this season sits second on the New South Wales trainers’ premiership. He has also snuck north to train five city winners... Read More
Trapeze Artist faces herculean task in Theo Marks
So who are they? Enable. We’ll start with the world’s second best mare who appears for the first time since her Prix de l’arc de Triomphe win last October. Somewhat bizarrely she resumes on the all-weather at Kempton in a modest Group 3 September Stakes worth just £39,000 to the winner. You can see it... Read More
Surprise McNeil Stakes winner Native Soldier returns surprisingly fast sectional times
Having his first run since resuming with a third in the Vain Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Caulfield a fortnight earlier, Native Soldier started at odds of $15 but his performance in overcoming the outside barrier (15) and a hectic tempo, will not see him at such generous odds in the future. “I didn’t see... Read More
Akkadian (AUS) 3 c Nicconi – Garden Of Eden by Blackfriars
LINK TO RACE VIDEO: https://www.racing.com/videos/2018-09-05/sportsbetballarat-race-1–5918 Akkadian showed potential in seven previous starts without winning, including four times in stakes company, but broke through for a deserved first win at Ballarat on Wednesday. The colt moved up early from his outside barrier (10), racing deep, before challenging on turning for home. He took the lead halfway... Read More
Comin’ Through stakes his Epsom claims
Acting for Filipino clients in the 1990s, Albert O’Cass set up a small stud, Kingmaker Park, at Scone, imported the superbly bred United States performer Bite The Bullet (Spectacular Bid), winner of the Sanford Stakes (Gr 2, 6f), as a foundation stallion and also brought to Australia several well-related American mares. Comin’ Through is... Read More
Paying tribute to the phenomenon that is Darren Weir
The 48-year-old is arguably the greatest phenomenon in the history of Australian racing, certainly in Victorian racing. “There has not been anyone emerge quite like Darren Weir in my time covering racing. Nobody so dominant, not even the legendary names like Smith and Hayes and Cummings. Definitely not in Victoria,” says Tony Bourke, former chief... Read More