If there was a bigger winner in Melbourne Cup week than James McDonald, Chris Waller or Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), it may have been Zoustar (Northern Meteor). Widden’s flagbearer had a stakes-winner on all four days. It started with the second-most important race of Australia’s greatest racing week, the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr... Read More

Bill Andrews and Ian Lidstone are old mates. And that’s a good thing. Because a few years ago, Brisbane lawyer and breeder Andrews had had enough of this Fastnet Rock mare of his and put her in an online sale. Lidstone, a Gippsland-based importer and hobby breeder, noticed her. He didn’t know her origins, but... Read More

The big guns from Hong Kong may have lifted the Cox Plate with Romantic Warrior on Saturday, but a couple of hours earlier it was the little guys who reigned supreme when Skybird (Exosphere) made it three from three in Moonee Valley’s Group 2 Fillies’ Classic. The three-year-old hails from the Ballarat stable of Mitch... Read More

As we all know, racing and breeding are realms of patience and waiting. For instance, you acquire a stallion, breed some stock, then stand around waiting, anxiously watching races, crossing fingers and hoping for those first winners to start trickling in, please. And then there’s Alabama Express (Redoute’s Choice). As the name suggests, he doesn’t... Read More

You take a little speed and add a bit more speed, lace the whole thing with pace and it’s no surprise you’ve got a horse who charges to a debut victory over 1000 metres up the Flemington straight. As Everest week reminds us of that most sought keyword in this country’s racing, so Bodyguard (I... Read More