The margin was only a long neck but British-bred three-year-old Rekindling (High Chaparral) proved superior to older stayers in taking out last week’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) at Flemington after a perfectly judged ride by jockey Corey Brown. Raced by members of the Melbourne–based Williams family and a group of Australian friends, Rekindling gave... Read More

So there they were. OK, they weren’t all there but I was. The owners of the first five winners on the final day of the VRC Cup carnival. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum who runs a small horse operation called Godolphin. Terry Henderson’s OTI Racing was among... Read More

3 g Denman – Nerrin Twister by Elvstroem O: Mr A W Bruhn, Mr S W Bruhn, Escaka, Mr P L Cooper, Scar Racing, Mr P J Daenell, Mr J C Crawford, Mr R A Wilson, Mr P J Campbell, Maverick Racing, Mr C Sarantakos, Mr M J Chaston, Mr M J Mccraw, Mr M... Read More

In a Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) that resulted in a final time almost five seconds outside the race record, one has to wonder what has happened to Australia’s great race where the first 12 horses to cross the line were bred in Europe. The ambition to make our famous race an international event has... Read More

The Irish were celebrating, the English were left lamenting (yet again) and most Australians – bar prominent owner Lloyd Williams – were left wondering what the hell is going on after yesterday’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m). You all know the bare facts by now. Joseph O’Brien-trained the winner Rekindling (High Chaparral), upstaging his father... Read More

The Coolmore Stud Stakes (registered as Ascot Vale Stakes) (Gr 1, 1200m) is now recognised as one of Australia’s stallion making races. Originally for two-year-olds and named the Ascot Vale Stakes, it became a major sprint contest for three-year-olds in 1969 with that year’s winner, champion sire Vain (Wilkes), establishing a high standard at stud... Read More