Brooklyn Hustle chasing maiden G1 in the Newmarket Handicap

Cranbourne trainer Julius Sandhu has taken the advice of jockey Craig Newitt in electing to start Lofty Strike in a stakes race at Sandown. The Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) on Saturday will see Lofty Strike tackle older sprinters as he prepares for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) on February 25. Sandhu was originally thinking of running Lofty…

The three-year-olds dominated the Newmarket Handicap 2023 results at Flemington on Saturday with Godolphin's gun filly In Secret defeating Lofty Strike in the 150th edition of the famous sprint. The James Cummings -trained daughter of I Am Invincible became the first filly to win the Group 1 $1.5 million Newmarket Handicap (1200m) since Sunlight…

Blake Shinn has locked in the All-Star Mile ride on favourite Alligator Blood ahead of five Sydney Group 1s including the Golden Slipper. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images. Champion jockey Blake Shinn has chosen to lock in the All-Star Mile ride on favourite Alligator Blood, ahead of riding at Sydney's Golden Slipper day and its five Group…

Taking on Nature Strip is one of the ultimate challenges in racing, but Ciaron Maher and David Eustace believe they have three genuine challengers for the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington on Saturday. Bella Nipotina, Coolangatta and Marabi are all first-up and ready to pick up where they left off from their last preparations. Coolangatta is the…

There could be a slot race smorgasbord up for grabs for one of Australia's most exciting up-and-coming gallopers, but Matt Hoysted wants to see Uncommon James return in style on Saturday before pondering the future. The rising star from Queensland has attracted interest from slot-holders in both The Everest and the new The Quokka, which at $4m will…

Clinton Mcdonald has his eyes firmly fixed on the Oakleigh Plate after Star Patrol made a winning return at Sandown. Star Patrol landed his first win at'stakes level' when he took out the Listed WJ Adams Stakes (1000m) on Thursday. The Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Sandown on February 25 and the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington…

Star Patrol resumes in the WJ Adams Stakes at Sandown on Thursday. Picture: Brett Holburt-Racing Photos Classy four-year-old Star Patrol has trainer Clinton McDonald thinking big ahead of this year's autumn carnival. The Cranbourne-based conditioner has Group 1 goals for his son of Starspangledbanner, who kicks off in Thursday's WJ Adams Stakes…

I Am Me is likely to have an exclusive Sydney spring campaign which is set to kick-off in the Missile Stakes at Rosehill. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained five-year-old is also an entrant in the Group 3 Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. However, Eustace said the Group 2 race over 1200m at Rosehill on Saturday was…

Promising sprinter Asfoora has been installed as a $6 favourite for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and trainer Henry Dwyer believes she won't get a better chance to break through at the top level. A six-time winner from just eight starts, Asfoora heads TAB's Pre Noms market from last year's victor Marabi at $8. "She'll likely get around 53kg…

Asfoora wins the The McCafe Sprint at Caulfield. Picture: Reg Ryan-Racing Photos via Getty Images Promising sprinter Asfoora has been installed as a $6 favourite for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and trainer Henry Dwyer believes she won't get a better chance to break through at the top level. A six-time winner from just eight starts, Asfoora…

Uncommon James will be set for the Oakleigh Plate prior to the Newmarket Handicap. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images Excitement machine Uncommon James is back in work and gearing up for a Melbourne campaign that will feature appearances in the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap. The Queensland star set tongues wagging in the early part of…

Trainer Julius Sandhu has his quality three-year-old Lofty Strike back in work with two of Victoria's big sprints races on his radar. The Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield in February and the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington are high on Sandhu's agenda. After going through his two-year-old year undefeated which culminated…

Co-trainer Dean Krongold is convinced Brooklyn Hustle's day will come in a Group 1 race. But Saturday's Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm will probably be one of the mare's last chances for the stars to align. Brooklyn Hustle has had 12 cracks at winning a Group 1 race with her best results being a trio of fourths. But the mare is…

Brooklyn Hustle will have her 13th crack at a Group 1 win in Saturday's Kingsford-Smith Cup at Eagle Farm. Picture: AAP Co-trainer Dean Krongold is convinced Brooklyn Hustle's day will come in a Group 1 race. But Saturday's Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm will probably be one of the mare's last chances for the stars to…

Oxley Road is unfortunate to be in an era of such brilliant sprinters, similar to another Peter Moody sprinter Magnus 15 years ago. Trainer Peter Moody believe there is a Group 1 win in Oxley Road, but he needs to pick the right race to achieve that goal. Oxley Road is entered for the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday but…

Anamoe returns to racing his own age in the Hobartville Stakes on Saturday where he is a short-priced favourite. Picture: Grant Guy Godolphin trainer James Cummings has avoided a clash of his crack colts and will rely on Anamoe in the Group 2 $400000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Cummings had also nominated Paulele but…

Jamie Kah has been tentatively booked to ride Brooklyn Hustle in the Group 1 Tatt's Tiara. Picture: Getty Images Jamie Kah could get an unexpected chance for her second Group 1 win of the Queensland winter carnival, with the Brooklyn Hustle team tentatively booking her for the Group 1 Tatt's Tiara at Eagle Farm on Saturday week. Kah made a…

What a great race the Newmarket Handicap is. Everyone knows about the Melbourne Cup of course, and many people have heard about the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Golden Slipper and latterly The Everest. But the Newmarket is one of those races that truly excites genuine fans of the sport. The Flemington straight is unique in this country, where horses…

Asfoora came up less than a length short in her quest for a maiden Group 1 in last month's Oakleigh Plate, but Henry Dwyer is optimistic she can go a couple of spots better in this Saturday's The Galaxy. The daughter of Flying Artie will be one of the leading fancies for the $1 million Group 1 handicap over 1100 metres at Rosehill. Asfoora will…

While co-trainer David Eustace was in a jubilant mood and dreaming of Royal Ascot campaign following Coolangatta's thrilling victory in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes on Saturday, another Australian training partnership could well be formalising even earlier overseas travel plans with a March 25 date in Dubai being their point of focus. That is the…

What an embarrassment of racing riches we've got this weekend, with five Group 1s at Rosehill and the All Star Mile at Flemington. Stars of all ages and sexes are doing battle on the turf over a range of distances and conditions. Let's get into it. Golden Slipper How to dissect the Golden Slipper this year? It has to be the toughest one yet. More…