#Fred Best

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…

Ayrton returned to the winners' list after saluting in the Gunsynd Classic. Picture: Trackside Photography It wasn't quite the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap they had dreamt of, but boom horse Ayrton is back on track after a dominant win in Saturday's Group 3 Gunsynd Classic, prompting trainer Mick Price to put the super rich Golden Eagle on the…

Apache Chase had no trouble winning the Nudgee Old Boys' Cup at Eagle Farm. Picture: Trackside Photography Desleigh Forster and Jim Byrne will consider braving 14 days in hotel quarantine to take top Queensland galloper Apache Chase to the super-rich Golden Eagle in Sydney later this month after asserting himself as one of the state's best at Eagle…

Prince Of Boom winning the QTIS Jewel 3YO for trainer Rob Heathcote and jockey James Orman. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography Rob Heathcote says Prince Of Boom and Startantes are like apples and oranges - impossible to compare - but feels bookmakers have got it right in their assessment of his star three-year-olds in Saturday's Mick…

Queensland's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap could be the big 2022 goal for slashing Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas runner-up Me Me Legarde which will also have some big fish to fry in the Sydney autumn carnival. Me Me Legarde will trial on her home Gold Coast track on Monday in her first public outing since storming home from the back to finish…

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…

Training partners Sterling Alexiou and Gerald Ryan will chase their first Group 1 in partnership this Saturday. Picture: Mark Evans-Getty Images Sterling Alexiou has helped put the polish on his share of Group 1 winners but the chance to claim a maiden major in partnership with Gerald Ryan this week would be no less special. Alexiou has worked with…

Her antics in the unsaddling enclosure, when Apache Chase crossed the line to win the Fred Best, captured every emotion of a winner overcome with the joy of a special success. (With the win Apache Chase gained a golden ticket into the Stradbroke). Trainer Desleigh Forster went down on her knees, got up, punched the air, did a jig which broke into a…

She's the queen of Australian racing but don't expect to see her in a dazzling tiara. She could wallow in the trappings of her new-found fame but one close observer says don't expect to see Jamie Kah whizzing around town in a flash new car or showing off a new trendy haircut. "A lot of young riders have fast cars and groovy haircuts, she doesn't…

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…