Group 1 win caps Toronado’s discreet rise to the top
The potential of Swettenham’s young shuttle stallion Toronado (High Chaparral) has been one of the worst kept secrets among the Australian stallion ranks. In fact you could hardly call it a secret at all. Yet entering the start of this Australian racing season, with his first crop about to turn four years of age, Toronado... Read More
Australian campaign up in the air for New Zealand Oaks winner Amarelinha
Savabeel filly overcomes early trouble to become super sire’s 22nd Group 1 winner In any other year, the winning performance of Amarelinha (Savabeel) in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) would have been overshadowed by what transpired across the Tasman and, primarily, in the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) in Sydney. But yesterday,... Read More
Sacred Croix impressive mile winner, but Kranji Mile not on the cards
The back-in-form Sacred Croix (Savabeel) zigzagged his way from a seemingly untenable position to go and score a thriller in yesterday’s Kranji Stakes A race over 1600 metres. Touted as a Singapore Derby (Listed, 1800m) hope when he reeled off a four-in-a-row early in his local career in 2019, Sacred Croix hit lean times for... Read More
Neasham hoping rapid rise can deliver first Group 1 win
Fledgling trainer will saddle two runners at elite level on Golden Slipper card It’s fair to say that Annabel Neasham’s rise in the Australian training ranks during the past 12 months is unprecedented. In living memory there’s been no trainer that springs to mind who has managed to saddle not one, but two Group 1... Read More
‘This may never happen for us again’
Newgate hoping freshman stallions can strike with five runners representing roster in Slipper It started back in the first week of October. Ingratiating took the curtain-raising Maribyrnong Plate Trial Stakes (Listed, 1000m) for Darley’s three-time elite-level winner Frosted (Tapit), while an hour and thirty minutes later, north of the border in Sydney, Shaquero led from... Read More
Pike masterclass in William Reid earns first Group 1 success for Masked Crusader and Toronado
A tremendous performance from horse and jockey in last night’s William Reid Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Moonee Valley provided Swettenham Stud shuttler Toronado (High Chaparral) with his first elite-level winner. The Team Hawkes-trained Masked Crusader (4 g Toronado – She’s Got Gears by Invincible Spirit) found himself three-back on the rail rounding the turn... Read More