Irish jumper joins Aaron Purcell stable

Glitter'N' Gold, ridden by Tom Madden, wins the Colac Cup. Picture by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos HONEST mare Glitter'N' Gold put her hand up for a start in the $250000 Warrnambool Cup on May 2 after winning the Colac Cup on Friday, February 9. Glitter'N' Gold, with Irish-born jockey Tom Madden in the saddle, hung on to beat the fast-finishing…

Rockstar Ronnie gives Ciaron Maher his seventh Grand Annual win. Picture by Sean McKenna WITH the curtain coming down on the 2023 racing season, it's an opportune time to reflect on some of the highs and lows of the sport which appeared in this column over the past year. Former Koroit based jockey Declan Bates to be on the sidelines for a month…

The feature jumps races at Warrnambool are likely to come around too soon for Wil John but the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper could still be a player at the May Carnival. Wil John will make his long-awaited return to racing when he steps out in the VOBIS Gold Heath (2100m) at Sandown on Saturday. The gelding has not raced since…

Brungle Bertie caused quite a surprise when he emerged victorious in the $400000 Grand National Steeplechase held at Ballarat on Sunday. The eight-year-old, ridden by Lee Horner was considered an outsider with odds of $21 offered up with online bookmakers. Brungle Bertie dominated with a 5.5 length victory over Bell Ex One ($13), while…

Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde has three runners in this year's Grand National Steeplechase. Picture by Sean McKenna SYMON Wilde has three runners in Sunday's $400000 Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat. Count Zero, Vanguard and Tolemac carry Wilde's hopes in the last jumps feature for 2023 but the Warrnambool trainer admits they face a tough…

It has been a bucket list item for many a racing fan and the team involved at Punt Drunk embarked on the three-hour journey down the highway to live it up at all three days of the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival. From arriving in Warrnambool in freezing cold conditions and sideways rain, to thunderstorms at 7am on Wangoom Handicap Day, to the 5000+…

After a week of playing on his'home deck' at Warrnambool, Aaron Purcell will make the trip to Sandown looking for another city win. The Warrnambool May Carnival was completed on Thursday where Purcell saddled 11 runners over the three days, coming home with two winners along a third-place finish in the feature race of the meeting, the Grand Annual…

ROCKSTAR IN NAME AND PERFORMANCE Rockstar Ronnie lived up to his name in front of an enthralled crowd with his breathtaking Grand Annual Steeplechase win but co-trainer Ciaron Maher said it was not that long ago that he thought the Annual dream was over for the import purchase. The horse was scratched from a flat race at Sandown after playing up…

Steven Pateman rides Zed Em to victory in the Grand Annual Steeplechase Picture: Jake Nowakowski Rivals can expect jockey Steven Pateman to be as formidable as ever during jumps racing's version of Melbourne Cup week at Warrnambool. Jumps racing will provide showpiece contests on all three days of the carnival, starting with Tuesday's $175000…

It would not be Warrnambool if trainer Eric Musgrove did not win a jumps race at the May Carnival. Musgrove has been coming to the three-day Carnival for more than 40 years and has won the feature jumps races - the Grand Annual Steeplechase, Brierly Steeplechase and Galleywood Hurdle - on numerous occasions. With a new breed of trainer now coming…

Declan Maher knows only too well what is required to win Australia's longest race, Warrnambool's Grand Annual Steeplechase. A round table discussion between those involved in Stern Idol has led the jumper to the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained former French jumper had been entered for the Brierly…

Jockey William McCarthy celebrates after Heberite won the 150th running of the Grand Annual Steeplechase in May. The prizemoney will increase by $50000 in 2023. Warrnambool's time-honoured Grand Annual Steeplechase will have a $50000 prizemoney hike in 2023 with the feature jumps race at the famous May Racing Carnival worth $400000. The Grand…

Trainer Aaron Purcell dressed to impress at a previous Warrnambool May Racing Carnival. Picture by Rob Gunstone AARON Purcell left Flemington with a spring in his step on Sunday after his three-year-old galloper Dashing ran a gallant fourth in a $55000 restricted race over 1420 metres. Dashing, ridden by Linda Meech, finished just over three…

TRIBUTE: Veteran jumps trainer Eric Musgrove (pictured) has paid tribute to Collingwood great Bill Picken. Picture: Morgan Hancock VETERAN jumps trainer Eric Musgrove was shocked to hear of the sudden passing of Collingwood great Bill Picken at Hamilton on Saturday. Picken, 66, who played 212 games of VFL-AFL footy, received numerous accolades from…

Flying Agent (NZ) ridden by Lee Horner jumps on his way to winning the Hammonds Paints Thackeray Steeplechase at Warrnambool. Photo / Racing Photos. Trainer Amy McDonald, rider Lee Horner and their banner horse Flying Agent gained compensation for last year's Thackeray Steeplechase (3450m) defeat by winning the latest edition of the 3450m race at…

This Thursday marks four weeks until the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival and D-day is looming regarding whether Gold Medals makes a historic 10th appearance at the jumps extravaganza. Trainer Symon Wilde will in the next week get serious with the 12-year-old's work to determine whether he attempts to defend his Grand Annual Steeplechase crown. The…

Jumps racing will take centre stage at Warrnambool again this week and Ballarat trainer Amy McDonald says she can't help but feel the anticipation. Last year, McDonald carried the weight of expectation into the first day of the three-day May racing carnival, but she was put at ease when her star jumper Flying Agent won the $150000 Brierly…

Australia's longest race, the Grand Annual Steeplechase, is the preferred option for Budd Fox Trainer Henry Dwyer will let the weather decide which race his jumper Budd Fox will run in over the final two days of the Warrnambool Three-Day Carnival. Budd Fox was entered for Tuesday's Brierly Steeplechase (3450m) but was not among final acceptors on…

WINNING FEELING: Liam Hoy and Symon Wilde celebrate Gold Medals' remarkable victory in the Grand Annual Steeplechase. Picture: Chris Doheny Vic Douglas trained three Waterfront by Lyndoch Living Grand Annual Steeplechase winners and never shed a tear. But the waterworks came before his son, jockey Clayton, crossed the finished line aboard champion…

Jockey Clayton Douglas has a chance to be part of a Warrnambool legend with Gold Medals on Thursday. Picture: AAP Star jockey Jamie Kah gets the plaudits most weeks but her fiance Clayton Douglas is set to relish his time in the limelight during the three-day carnival at Warrnambool this week. Both Kah and Douglas will be in action at Warrnambool…

Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell has already realised the thrill of winning a Grand Annual Steeplechase and a Galleywood Hurdle at his home track. He would love to add one of the feature flat races with his runners this year but knows the 2020 Warrnambool carnival, to be held this week, will not be the same as usual. Only key personnel are allowed…

Dual purpose jockey Clayton Douglas has been attending the Warrnambool May carnival for as long as he can remember. His father Vic trained three winners of the Grand Annual Steeplechase (Hoki 1995-96, Miracle Star 2000) while Clayton's first ride in the 5500m marathon resulted in victory aboard the Symon Wilde-trained Gold Medals in 2018. They ran…

The New Plymouth trainer will be listening from afar as Tobouggie Nights tackles the $75000, 5500m feature around the Trentham figure-eight course. Wheeler is in Scotland and will be a spectator at the British Open golf tournament at St Andrews next week. He is a part-owner of Tobouggie Nights and while the Wellington Steeplechase prize money will…

There was a time where it was uncommon to see a horse in Australia have their first start over a mile and even rarer at 2000m. As for a hurdle race, that is almost unheard of. But the Warrnambool May Carnival is like no other with 30 races spread over the three days with a mix of feature races for sprinters and stayers, maiden races, restricted…

Sunday's Grand National Steeplechase was delayed after Chris McCarthy was dislodged at an early jump in the race preceding the day's feature. McCarthy fell from Twin Spinner after that horse slipped upon landing early in the Henry Dwyer Racing Steeplechase leaving McCarthy with a suspected shoulder injury. The incident happened early in the…