Artzino out to press Victoria Derby claims

Modown could do a lesson in gratitude given the "ridiculous" offers trainer Charlotte Littlefield and her husband Julian Hay have declined for the Sandown Guineas fancy. Hay was lucky to avoid a broken hand after being "double barrelled" by the three-year-old son of Toronado on Sunday night. "He owes my husband a little…

Craig Williams rode Future History with confidence to victory in The Bart Cummings at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images Perfection took multiple forms as Future History won his way into the Melbourne Cup field via the Group 3 Bart Cummings at Sandown. Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace nailed the…

Irish Derby third French Claim is to be campaigned over staying trips in future having landed short odds on his comeback at Navan. Trained by Paddy Twomey, French Claim was beaten only five lengths in the St Leger at Doncaster before disappointing in the Irish Cesarewitch. Sent off the 4-9 favourite, he had no trouble in winning the Navan…

Phillip Stokes will have a crack at next month's Group 1 Oakleigh Plate with Shamino after the veteran sprinter unleashed a devastating turn of foot to beat a classy field in the Listed Durbridge Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on Saturday. Pre-race most of the focus was on the likes of two-time winner Kemalpasa, exciting filly See You In Heaven…

Trainer Michael Kent Jr says barrier one isn't ideal for first-start Fretta at Sandown on Wwednesday. Picture: AAP Trainer Michael Kent Jr has delivered an ominous warning for favourite backers in the opening race at Sandown on Wednesday. Kent Jr, who trains in partnership with Mick Price, heads to the Lakeside circuit with unraced filly Fretta and…

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr won't be aiming too high in the spring with Gunstock despite his impressive win at Caulfield. Gunstock took out the'last bid' Caulfield Cup ballot exemption race, the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) on Wednesday, in easy fashion. Sent out the $2.45 favourite under Jamie Kah, Gunstock registered a three-length win from…

Jockey Michael Dee poses with the Victoria Derby trophy. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images Jockey Michael Dee has had the golden touch this spring but he will be recognised as a deity if he can lift Dalasan to his maiden Group 1 win in Saturday's Champions Mile at Flemington. The hoop has already produced some magic to salute in the Caulfield…

News Corp form analyst Brad Waters looks at the chances of every runner in Saturday's $3m Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. $3m GROUP 1 CAULFIELD GUINEAS 1600m, Caulfield race 8 Saturday at 4:30pm 1. TIJUANA (10) - $11 Trainers: Ben & JD Hayes. Jockey: Mark Zahra 57kg BRAD SAYS: Quality three-year-old proven at 1600m after winning the Stutt Stakes.…

Herald Sun form analyst Brad Waters takes an early look at Saturday's huge Turnbull Stakes card at Flemington. BEST BET YEARNING (Race 4, No.1) Yearning charged home when close-up in the Let's Elope Stakes first-up. She'll only be fitter and is well in at the weights. VALUE BET VOW AND DECLARE (Race 6, No.2) Vow And declare showed he was on the way…

Charlie Hemphrey, pictured in his playing days with the Queensland Bulls. Picture: AAP. Not so long ago, former Queensland Bulls batsman Charlie Hemphrey was earning $30 an hour as a casual worker helping to fix the Eagle Farm track. Now he is daring to dream about scoring the $2m Victoria Derby. Hemphrey was born and raised in England but moved to…

The New Corp Racing and Sports Wagering team have put together an expert panel to give you, the audience the early inside running on feature races in Melbourne and Sydney this spring. The panel of five will be offering their early thoughts on all of the Group 1 races and other feature contests during the spring, through until the end of the…

Not so long ago, former Queensland Bulls batsman Charlie Hemphrey was earning $30 an hour as a casual worker helping to fix the Eagle Farm track. Now he is daring to dream about scoring the $2m Victoria Derby. Hemphrey was born and raised in England but moved to Queensland where he made his Bulls debut in 2015. His cricket career, which featured 51…

The Cox Plate has a new major player after Alligator Blood dented the reputation of some of Australian racing's biggest names and enhanced his own in the process at Sandown on Sunday. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained gelding logged a third career Group 1 success when he led all the way of the $1 million Group 1 Underwood Stakes…

I'm Thunderstruck (left) catches Alligator Blood on the winning post in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. Picture: Reg Ryan-Racing Photos via Getty Images Alligator blood is a poker term to describe a player who plays fearlessly against the odds and wins. The horse of the same name, multiple Group 1 winner Alligator Blood, has all the…

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable hopes it has learned from their mistake of 12 months earlier with promising three-year-old Artzino. On a path towards the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on October 29, Artzino broke through for his maiden win in the Ladbrokes Market Control Plate (1500m) at Sandown on Wednesday. Ridden by…

Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani has Cover Star ready for a big first-up performance at Bendigo on Thursday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images News Corp form analyst Brad Waters runs the rule over Thursday's card at Bendigo. BEST BET COVER STAR (Race 3 No.9 - $6.50) Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr strengthened their Group 1 Victoria Derby hand on…

Leading racing form analysts Dean Elliott, Tom Haylock and Miles Pfitzner have given an early push for some key runners in this year's feature races. With spring racing officially starting this weekend, Miles, Dean and Tom have done the work and have tried to steer the punters into their future plays.

Clive Cox is launching a double-edged attack on Saturday's £100000 Pavers Foundation Catherine Memorial Handicap with Harry Three and Watchya set to represent the trainer's Beechdown Stables at York. Harry Three looks to be Cox's leading chance after a one-and-half length victory in a six-furlong handicap at Newmarket last month, although Watchya…

Jungle Magnate wins the Group 1 South Australian Derby Picture: Atkins Photography A Caulfield Cup campaign awaits emerging stayer Jungle Magnate after a dominant victory in the Group 1 South Australian Derby on Saturday. Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr had the Morphettville feature circled on the calendar for the last six months and the long-range…

The money hasn't stopped coming for Eskimo Prince Stakes favourite Paulele. Picture: Getty Images Paulele, the plunge horse with punters, can preserve his perfect track record in the Group 3 $160000 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The brilliant Godolphin three-year-old has won each of his four starts at the famous track…

Trainer Mick Price's adherence to a proven formula has provided the stable another Victoria Derby chance after Gunstock's Neds Classic win. Gunstock is a son of the late Kiwi sire Tavistock, the same sire as Price's 2015 Victoria Derby winner Tarzino. Price also gained plenty of insight into the breed when he briefly trained Tavistock during the…

Michael Kent Jnr can't help but think Gunstock has the talent to be targeting better races Tuesday's The Les Carlyon at Flemington, but that does not dampen his enthusiasm for the gelding's return. The four-year-old will be having his first start since his three-length win in the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on October 12, from which he…