Features
Steve ponders the best horses to come out of Ballarat
In the lead-up to today’s Ballarat Cup, the bar talk turned to ‘who’s the best horse to come out of Ballarat’. The decision was, by no means, unanimous but consensus had it that the Noel Kelly-trained Citadel (Alcimedes) might well be entitled to the accolade. While there were other contenders, it was almost certain –... Read More
More from On The Watch
Lightly raced colts show their potential in fighting out Sandown Guineas
A pair of lightly raced colts Villermont (All Too Hard) and Peaceful State (Animal Kingdom) showed their potential for further Group success after fighting out a keenly contested Sandown Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) on Saturday. Villermont, who was having only his fourth race start, came from last to score by a head from Peaceful State,... Read More
Sinjaree (AUS)
3 c O’Reilly – Hemem by Redoute’s Choice O: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum T: Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes B: Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Waikato W: Moorookyle Park Maiden Plate, 1400m, Sandown Lakeside, 22 November Sinjaree followed his debut second in a Pakenham maiden on 7 November with a narrow but... Read More
European Season review – Part Two -Three-year-olds
O’Brien Guineas dominance continues Aidan O’Brien’s recent stranglehold on the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) at Newmarket, the first two Classics of the European season, continued in May as Churchill (Galileo) and surprise package Winter (Galileo) gave their record-breaking trainer the perfect start to 2017. Churchill, always held in the highest esteem by... Read More
Steve speaks to trainer Archie Alexander
Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander can look forward to the autumn with the spring carnival having franked the form around several of his leading contenders: It was with just a tinge of disappointment that Archie Alexander watched Villermont (All Too Hard) storm to victory in last Saturday’s Sandown Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m). After all, the Aaron... Read More
Hasahalo completes New Zealand Guineas double for Savabeel
Flying home from the rear of the field Hasahalo (Savabeel) drew clear by four lengths to win last Saturday’s New Zealand 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Riccarton. A stakes winner at two last season, Hasahalo relished the dry track to dominate her rivals and give three times champion New Zealand sire Savabeel (Zabeel) his... Read More