#Gunsynd Classic

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…

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…

If the theory is right that you need to lose one to win one then Kris Lees and the Australian Bloodstock team are overdue. There has been three renewals of the $1m The Hunter at Newcastle and each time the trainer and owners have had to settle for second place. In the inaugural running of The Hunter, they had Tactical Advantage beating all but…

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…

Trainer Rhys Radford has big expectations for Comfort Me in Saturday's Group 3 Eurythmic Stakes (1400m) and the rest of The Pinnacles carnival at Ascot. SCROLL DOWN FOR JAY ROONEY'S BEST BETS AT ASCOT A virus wiped out the Playing God gelding's last campaign, but last year's Railway Stakes (1600m) runner-up has returned in top order after two…

Another off-season meeting brightened by some talented ones resuming. With fine weather forecast a good track is likely for Eagle Farm and with the rail out seven metres all horses will get their chance. With no standouts on the card I will be avoiding the short-priced ones and looking for value runners from in-form stables.