Barb Raider firms in ATC Oaks Betting Following Kewney Stakes Win

It may be 12 months later, but the result is still the same in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes, with Craig Williams piloting Mr. Brightside ($2.20) to victory at Caulfield. The Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained galloper staked his claim as one of the best horses in the country, after he rounded up a top field of runners in the feature event of the…

Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse is looking to impact this upcoming Spring Carnival with co-trainer Adrian Bott after coming off their best season together since their partnership commenced in 2016. In the 2022/23 season, they trained 160 winners, including four Group 1s. They won an incredible 37 two-year-old races headlined by the Gimcrack Stakes…

Mornington trainer Jerome Hunter will bypass an autumn campaign in Sydney with Barb Raider to concentrate on gaining a start in the Caulfield Cup. The two worst runs of Barb Raider's career have been in Sydney, so instead Hunter has his sights on the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on April 22, which if the mare is successful in will gain her a start…

Trainer Richard Freedman has questioned the form of boom New Zealand filly Prowess as he plots her downfall with promising Pavitra in the Group 1 $600000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Prowess is making her Sydney debut but she has impeccable recent form winning four races in succession including the Group 1 Bonecrusher…

Last start Stakes winner Sirileo Miss is favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au for the Sunline Stakes (1600m) tonight at Moonee Valley. The Symon Wilde trained mare continued her strong second up record with a win at Flemington in the Matron Stakes and looks hard to beat here. Market agrees, having her as a $2.60 favourite, in from $2.70. Revolutionary…

Last start Matron Stakes winner Sirileo Miss is favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au for the Sunline Stakes (1600m) this Friday night at Moonee Valley. The Symon Wilde trained mare led throughout to win over the mile at Flemington last time and hard fit now, on speed, she'll take beating and the market thinks she is the one to beat, heading betting…

News Corp form analyst Brad Waters takes an early look at Saturday's Newmarket Handicap meeting at Flemington. BEST BET BARB RAIDER (Race 5, No.3) Barb Raider raced on the speed and only faded late when resuming at Sandown. She'll be much fitter for that and loves 1600m and Flemington. VALUE BET ROCH'N' HORSE (Race 7, No.4) Roch'N' Horse won last…

Enver Jusufovic is hoping to get Pinstriped back to form in 2023. Picture: Reg Ryan-Racing Photos Trainer Enver Jusufovic is aiming to put a "terrible" Sydney trip behind him as he looks to get talented galloper Pinstriped back to winning form. The son of Street Boss was last seen taking on the Golden Eagle at Rosehill where it all went pear-shaped…

The Invitation for fillies and mares will be the co-feature on Spring Championship Stakes Day at Randwick on Saturday. A full field of 12 will compete over 1400m for the $2 million prize pool. Last year's winner, Icebath, will be looking to defend her crown in 2022 and if she is successful, it will be her first win since winning this race last…

Trainer Gerald Ryan can't believe gun colt Williamsburg isn't favourite for Saturday's Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) as his stable looks to continue its golden run at Randwick. Williamsburg sits on the third line of betting at $6 with TAB for the $2m feature for three-year-olds alongside Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile, who is…

Better than Yankee Rose, better than Alligator Blood. And a hell of a lot better than the dark days when he was in the depths of a drug addiction spiral and sleeping in his car in Sydney. Gypsy Goddess' remarkable win in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks was the highlight of David Vandyke's training career and another chapter in the inspiring story of…

Gypsy Goddess storms to victory in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks under jockey William Pike. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography. Better than Yankee Rose, better than Alligator Blood. And a hell of a lot better than the dark days when he was in the depths of a drug addiction spiral and sleeping in his car in Sydney. Gypsy Goddess' remarkable…

Gypsy Goddess has barrier 22 for Saturday's Queensland Oaks. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography Handy filly Gypsy Goddess has drawn extremely wide for her latest Group 1 mission in Saturday's Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm. A full field of 18 plus five emergencies accepted for the race on Tuesday morning. The daughter of Tarzino…

More than a decade ago, Kiwi trainer Roger James famously had an Aussie Group 1 win stripped in controversial circumstances but there is no taking away the 2022 Queensland Derby from him. Well-backed late ($8.50 into $6.50) despite jumping from a carpark barrier, James' progressive three-year-old stayer Pinarello was simply too good for his Derby…

Quality filly Barb Raider is favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au for the key lead up towards the Queensland Oaks, The Roses (2000m) this Saturday at Doomben. The Jerome Hunter trained filly has been up a while but continues to race at a high level, her last run being a narrow second in the SA Oaks. She opened $4.40 and remains there after…

My Whisper is favourite for the Australasian Oaks. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images Rising star My Whisper is set to be the horse to beat in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) after drawing perfectly for Saturday's main event at Morphettville. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly has drawn barrier three in a capacity field of 16 runners…

Ben and JD Hayes have put one of the most famous names in Australian racing back up in lights with Mr Brightside's fast-finishing win in the $3m Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The brothers scored their first Group 1 win as a training partnership when Mr Brightside finished too strongly for I'm Thunderstruck to lead home a…

Classy Melbourne visitor Ancient Girl was sent out a strong favourite for Monday's Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600m) and connections and punters alike never had a moment of concern as she cruised to victory by just under three lengths. Ace jockey Jamie Kah sent the daughter of Turn Me Loose to the front from an outside draw and it was clear from…

Trainer John Sadler and his son Tom will get a definitive answer as to whether Adele Amour is an Oaks filly when she runs at Caulfield. Adele Amour runs in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) on Saturday in a bid to turn around her form from a disappointing last start effort at Flemington. After winning at Sandown, Adele Amour lowered her colours…

After Kapalua Sunset raced to the top of the VRC Oaks market on Tuesday at Kyneton, Barb Raider has now overtaken favouritism following a two-length win in the Oaks Preview at Flemington on Wednesday. Trained by Jerome Hunter and ridden by Craig Williams, the daughter of Rebel Raider justified her $1.65 quote to win comfortably, defeating second…

Having captured the ATC Australian Derby with Quick Thinker, the Kiwis have set their sights on a Classic clean sweep with class filly Probabeel in the Australian Oaks. New Zealand horses have enjoyed a heady run of success in Sydney's autumn blue ribands with three of the past six winners of the Oaks (2400m) all trained across the Tasman. That's…

Barb Raider has answered a question in the back of her trainer Jerome Hunter's mind as to whether the filly will stay. The daughter of Rebel Raider left Hunter with a clearer picture of where to head after Barb Raider registered a comprehensive win in the Kennedy Oaks Preview (1800m) at Flemington on Thursday. Sent off the $1.65 favourite under…

An emotional Roger James has declared Prowess the best horse he has trained after the star New Zealand filly's explosive win in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill. But he won't be tempted into keeping her in Sydney for the ATC Australian Oaks (2400m), believing she is not a genuine stayer and has bigger fish to fry as an older…

The Australian Cup headlines an outstanding nine-race program at HQ on Saturday. It has been one of the standout races in Australasia since its inception, and the Australian Cup has been won by several stars of the turf. Who will join that illustrious list this year? I've run the rule over the field, and you can find my complete 2023 Australian Cup…