The win also gave prominent Australian owner Lloyd Williams his first European Derby winner with an Irish–bred horse presumably named after the Latrobe Valley and river in his home state of Victoria. Trained by Joseph O’Brien who won last year’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) for the owner with Rekindling (High Chaparral), Latrobe caught the... Read More

Trained by Joseph O’Brien, who added a first Classic success to his burgeoning record which also includes the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) victory of Rekindling (High Chaparral) for the same connections last season, Latrobe improved markedly on the form he had shown in three previous starts this campaign to get the better of the... Read More

However, my ancestry’s Irish and that’s where the principal racing action is this weekend so it was my focus (ok, part focus) while my body – as well as heart and soul – was flitting between Dubrovnik, the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro (which really is one of the world’s most spectacular sights and Korcula... Read More

Having his first start for leading trainer Darren Weir, Nature Strip showed tremendous pace and talent to lead throughout for an impressive four and a half length win, albeit in a three-year-old handicap (1100m). Subsequently rated 118+ by Timeform, Nature Strip has a long way to reach the rating level of the inaugural The Everest... Read More

A 12 length trial win on the synthetic surface at Eagle Farm earlier in the month suggested that Zoustyle (Zoustar) would be the runner to beat at Doomben and that proved to be case on Wednesday. He was quickest away from barrier two and ridden to lead but was given no peace in front, holding... Read More

Apparently disease had wiped out the vines and the olive groves. I wasn’t able to corroborate this story via a quick google search. However, I do recall reading that Sir Peter Vela and his late brother Phillip’s father, Filip, came to New Zealand in the 20’s from a Croatian fishing village on the Dalmatian coast.... Read More