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
Fownes snaps cold spell as Zebrowski takes feature
Ending a drawn out cold spell, Caspar Fownes savoured sweet victory at Happy Valley last night as Zebrowski (Savabeel) showed fortitude and quality to snaffle the Class 2 The American Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1800m) under Vincent Ho. Champion trainer last season with 79 wins, Fownes celebrated his fifth win this term when the 2020... 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
Kiwi heroine Verry Elleegant lands fairytale Melbourne Cup success
Waller, McDonald land first wins in Australia’s flagship race as mare shoulders champions’ weight to four-length success No matter what heights have previously been scaled, there are moments that feel defining. Yesterday’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) triumph for Verry Elleegant (Zed) encapsulated just what the great race signifies. For all the big-race, Group 1... 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
Maher and Eustace buy Bali Beach to target Cup glory beyond today’s four-pronged attack
Training partnership secure half-sister to Cross Counter on eve of bidding for a first Melbourne Cup success at Flemington Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will seek their first Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) triumph today with four runners in the showpiece event at Flemington, but already the training Goliath is looking at least five years... Read More