#Dane Ripper Stakes

James McDonald had his careless riding ban overturned. Picture: Trackside Photography Star jockey James McDonald is free to ride Grace And Harmony in Saturday's Group 1 Queensland Oaks after successfully appealing a careless riding ban on Wednesday. And in a double victory for Sydney's leading hoop, he's been snapped up for the coveted ride on boom…

Sky Racing and Brisbane Racing Club's turf expert Nathan Exelby runs his eye over Saturday's Stradbroke Handicap meeting at Eagle Farm. Track: Good 4. Rail: +4m. Robusto, R1 No.10 - $4.80 Got into an awkward spot in the Sires and found himself with too much to do. Drops back several cogs here and drawn to get the gun run. Sweet Thomas, R3 No.4 -…

Veteran Queensland jockey Jim Byrne has taken to the pool in a quest to shed the extra kilos required to ride Stradbroke Handicap hopeful Apache Chase on Saturday. While many jockeys do the hard yards hiking in sweat gear or sitting in a sauna, Byrne has opted for 2.5km a day in the pool as he attempts to properly condition his body to ride at the…

The winter carnival reaches its zenith with Stradbroke day at Eagle Farm and with the track playing fairly all horses will get their chance. Recent history shows that with the rail out four metres they can come from anywhere to win but on big days staying with top riders and trainers is usually profitable. Race 1- Oxlade Stakes (Two-Years-Old…