Stradivarius returned to action with a smooth success in the Longines Sagaro Stakes at Ascot. Now a seven-year-old, Bjorn Nielsen’s superstar stayer showed all his old enthusiasm remains intact. Kept in training in an attempt to emulate Yeats by winning a fourth Gold Cup back at the Royal meeting in June, the Sea The Stars entire cemented his claims as […]

It can take more than a century to build a reputation – and sometimes just a moment to destroy it. No one is more aware of that than the Victoria Racing Club’s chairman, Neil Wilson, the former chief executive who succeeded Amanda Elliot in the role late last year. VRC chairman Neil Wilson fronted the media on Wednesday.Credit:Getty Images It […]

Trainer David Payne is hoping to target the Brisbane Winter Carnival with Gleneagles but needs to see the talented colt pass Saturday’s Clarendon Stakes (1400m) litmus test at Hawkesbury first. A date with the Group 1 J.J. Atkins Stakes on June 12 sits atop of his wish list as he looks to snare some black type with his one-time Magic […]

Fewer international horses will be invited to contest the Victorian spring carnival under wide-ranging changes to be implemented but the Melbourne Cup will retain its current capacity. A report by Racing Victoria into deaths of overseas horses, instigated after Anthony Van Dyck’s fatal injury in last year’s race, has made 44 recommendations, with all but three to be adopted. Among […]

The highest-profile international horse to die at an Australian racetrack, English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck, was lame a month before he broke down in the Melbourne Cup, raising questions about why he was allowed to run. A report by Racing Victoria into the death found the Aidan O’Brien-trained stallion was administered a nerve block injection on October 9. Despite […]

Al Boum Photo has an enhanced opportunity to add the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup to his two famous Cheltenham titles. Willie Mullins’ dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero had to settle for third behind Minella Indo last month in his quest to join the most select group of racing greats as a three-time winner. There will be no Minella Indo in […]

Chris Calthorpe hopes his wait for a star performer could be over. Calthorpe will find out whether Media Award is the horse of a lifetime for his stable when she tackles Saturday’s Group 1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville. Media Award was a $5000 yearling buy before her owner Mark Arrowsmith leased the daughter of Shamus Award to Calthorpe’s clients. She […]

Impressive filly Steinem remains the horse to beat in Saturday’s $500,000 Australasian Oaks (2000m) after drawing the inside barrier for the Group 1 feature at Morphettville. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained three-year-old was installed as the $4.50 favourite with TAB.com.au after going from doghouse to the penthouse with the barrier gods for her grand final. A fortnight earlier she […]

Envoi Allen bids to put Cheltenham disappointment behind him when meeting Monkfish in a much-anticipated clash at Punchestown on Tuesday. Already a dual Cheltenham Festival winner having won the Champion Bumper and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned Envoi Allen was widely expected to complete the hat-trick on his return to the Cotswolds for the Marsh Novices’ Chase […]

Ante-post gamble Santa Barbara features among 16 fillies left in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday. Aidan O’Brien’s daughter of Camelot has only been seen on a racetrack once in her life, when making a winning debut at the Curragh in September. The Ballydoyle handler has been effusive in his praise of the filly in the build up […]