Group 1-winning sire Al Maher dies
Emirates Park have announced the death of their 2005 Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Al Maher (Danehill) at the age of 23. Bred by the stud’s founder Hussain Nasser Abdullah Lootah from a daughter of the ‘blue hen’ mare Dancing Show (Nijinksy), Al Maher would go on to become one of Emirates Park’s most... Read More
Sunlight Power stuns as Zac Purton strikes with a quartet
Ricky Yiu believes emerging talent Sunlight Power (Capitalist) can continue a sharp rise and eventually join the city’s elite after the gelding’s stunning win at Sha Tin on Sunday where Zac Purton dominated the meeting with a quartet. Ridden by Jerry Chau, Sunlight Power travelled three-wide before surging clear of his rivals to win by... Read More
Grangewilliam Stud’s Zed dies from colic
Grangewilliam Stud announced on Sunday that the farm’s stalwart sire Zed (Zabeel) has died after suffering a bout of colic. “Zed was a massive part of our family. He was loved by all staff at Grangewilliam, past and present,” Mark Corcoran wrote on the farm’s Facebook page. “Zed has been such an easy horse and... Read More
‘Everyone keeps underestimating him’
Golden Eagle the target for Encap after gelding downs his more fancied rivals in Theo Marks Stakes Gary Portelli is confident the often underestimated Encap (Capitalist) is in “a really good spot” to keep silencing his doubters en route to his spring grand final in the $10m Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill. Portelli’s $200,000 yearling... Read More
Galileo’s Jan Brueghel secures Classic glory in the St Leger
Jan Brueghel (3 c ex Devoted To You by Danehill Dancer) maintained his unbeaten record when he wore down his stablemate Illinois (Galileo) to provide Aidan O’Brien with the one-two and an eighth win in the English St Leger (Gr 1, 1m 6.5f) at Doncaster on Saturday. Ridden by Sean Levey, Jan Brueghel went into... Read More
Sunshine In Paris passes Everest audition
The newly formed training partnership of Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald look set to shoot for glory in The Everest (1200m) with quality mare Sunshine In Paris (5 m Invader – Zenaida by Zabeel) after she successfully defended her crown in Saturday’s Sheraco Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Rosehill. Claiming the scalp of the Chris... Read More