Lark Hill trials on Monday will hold special significance for Ben Kennedy. It marks his official return to racing after being out of action for close to five years. Kennedy quit riding and walked away from the sport in 2017 after guiding Skylab at Albany. But after a number of years in the wilderness, Kennedy…
DetailsIt’s Deja vu for trainer Kieran McDonagh. He’s travelled this path previously with Cockney Crew, but this time he detects there’s a change Following a brilliant 8 ½ length trial win at Lark Hill on Monday, McDonagh is hopeful the best remains ahead for the Maschino gelding. Since setting the bar high as a three-year-old…
DetailsNext Saturday sees the running of two Group 3 events at Ascot, as the build up to the TABtouch Masters continues. The Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m) is expected to bring together a similar field to the Crawford Stakes a fortnight ago. A key addition is Roma Cup winner Money Matters, with Shaun…
DetailsFormer jockey Michael Grantham says the R.J. Peters Stakes (1500m) looms as the next option for his Northam Cup hero Kaptain Kaos as he plots a path to the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m). Just being in conversation for the Railway Stakes is mind blowing for Grantham, a harness trainer and reinsman, who in his…
DetailsIt’sarayday will make his feature race debut at Ascot on Saturday and trainer Simon Miller hopes his high opinion of the three-year-old will be justified in the Breast Cancer Research Centre Of WA-Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m). Undefeated at his only two starts, Miller is upbeat and positive about It’sarayday’s potential after he was picked up…
DetailsIt’s a pick-up ride and one that Shaun McGruddy hopes he can convert into a winning one when he partners That’s Funny Az in Sunday’s Listed Iron Jack Northam Cup (1600m). That’s Funny Az is McGruddy’s sole ride for the meeting, but he says there are two key reasons why he was swayed to accept…
DetailsWhen Laqdar Ramoly arrived in Western Australia for a 12-month training program in 2019, the idea of winning the 2021 top apprentice jockey award would have seemed unlikely. Without the COVID-19 pandemic, the young rider would be back home in Mauritius instead of collecting the trophy for best all-round apprentice at the 2021 Western Australian Apprentice Jockey Awards today. A Racing and Wagering Western Australia training program with the Mauritius Turf club brought Laqdar to Perth and General Manager Racing Charlotte…
DetailsAs far as first-up runs for a new stable go, Triple Missile could not have been any more impressive following a stunning return victory at Ascot on Saturday. Triple Missile flashed big potential as a three-year-old for previous trainer Todd Harvey and looks set to continue that progress under Lindsey Smith’s guidance. Justifying red-hot favouritism,…
DetailsTrainer Bruce Watkins expects a fast pace to help River Beau storm home hard in the Furphy-Listed Crawford Stakes (1000m) at Ascot on Saturday. With the likelihood of Mervyn and Indian Pacific establishing a hot tempo in front, Watkins says River Beau will get a perfect run from barrier one. “If they put the pace…
DetailsIt’s reaching an inevitable end, but it won’t lessen the emotional impact for co-trainers Chris and Michael Gangemi. Reality is starting to bite for the brothers and the realisation is sinking in that Rock Magic’s remarkable racing career is drawing to a close. A stable pin-up for the stable, a $1.6 million prize earner, a…
Details