Features

Ingratiating

We love the bargain basement stories, like the Takeover Targets, or the one about the passed-in mare snapped up the next day for $1,000 while in foal with this year’s Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Stay Inside.  But sometimes we’re dazzled as well by the big hitters, the whales who swim in a league... Read More

York’s Ebor meeting, Deauville’s Le Marois and the seemingly doomed Arlington – racing’s most underrated fixtures?

Two years ago to the day was the last time I set foot on an English racecourse – for day one of York’s Ebor Festival. It seems a lifetime ago. And with a near capacity crowd expected for today’s Group 1 Juddmonte International, that’s a racing experience which seems very much a world away as... Read More

Hong Kong trainers welcome PP import ratings change

Champion trainer Caspar Fownes has welcomed the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s recent change which sees horses imported into Hong Kong on a Private Purchase (PP) permit given a five-point lower initial rating than was the case previously.  “I’ve been talking about this for years, so to finally see it come to fruition is outstanding,” Fownes... Read More

13 for Churchill

New first season sire winners Churchill (pictured above) Churchill (Galileo) continued his flying start with his first crop runners, landing a 13th winner at Thirsk on Friday courtesy of the Charles Hills-trained Tuscan (2 c ex Orcia by Shamardal). Sent off the 5-6 favourite, Tuscan improved for his debut seventh at Newmarket last month to... Read More

Military Expert (AUS)

Military Expert (AUS)  3 c Redoute’s Choice – Gresset by Hussonet  O: Golden East Horse B: GSA Bloodstock Ltd T: Annabel Neasham S: 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Bhima Thoroughbreds P: Z An, $1.1 million W: OAS Technology Group C, G & E Maiden Handicap, 1200m, August 7, Newcastle   High-priced colt... Read More

Sunfall

There are cascades of class in the pedigree of Saturday’s Flemington three-year-old winner Sunfall, including the dam of a Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m)-winning cult hero, and a mare who played a large role in two other intriguing chapters of Australian racing folklore. The Mick Price-trained Sunfall is by Widden’s flagbearer Zoustar, who’s just finished... Read More