#JJ Atkins

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…

With the Magic Millions taking centre stage this week, we thought it would be a good time to catch up with Queensland racecaller Josh Fleming to talk about his journey in racing. A proud boy from the bush, Fleming talks about his punting highs and lows, along with his favourite calls and horses, among other things. 1. Who or what got you interested…

Richard (left) and Michael (right) Freedman with Tommy Berry after winning the Golden Slipper with Stay Inside. Pic: Getty Images. Golden Slipper winners Richard and Michael Freedman have enjoyed a golden autumn carnival and will kick off a Queensland carnival assault on Saturday with a young colt they think has the potential to emerge as a winter…

The Stradbroke Handicap never disappoints. Following an emotionally charged build up to Queensland's great race, Alligator Blood wound back the clock to announce himself back to the racing world in spectacular fashion. YAYS 1 - Group 1 handicaps In an era dominated by weight for age racing, Saturday's Stradbroke Handicap had all the elements of a…

John Hawkes was only a schoolboy when the mighty Tulloch won in Adelaide but he remembers the race like it was yesterday. "I was 12 years old when I saw Tulloch,'' Hawkes said. "It was at the old Cheltenham track and the place was jam-packed. "It was a long time ago but you don't forget those days.'' Tulloch was nearing the end of his magnificent…

The James Cummings-trained Mr Wallace looks hard to beat at Wyong on Wednesday. Picture: Michael Klein News Corp form analyst Mitch Cohen gives his best bets and runs the rule over Wednesday's Wyong Magic Millions meeting. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and…

KEIRA Dunn approached the podium at yesterday's barrier draw for the UBET Stradbroke Handicap confronted by a minefield, ensuring Care To Think's miserable run with wide gates will continue on Saturday. The good draws had been taken early and there was precious few options for Dunn as she chose her mini trophy from the table. She picked up barrier…

Dangers: 12. Key Largo has a strong finish on him, which often comes too late, but he also has a good platform to run well fresh. Yet to win first-up but was narrowly beaten fresh at the start of last prep. He'll be charging. 4. Queen Bellissimo ran well first-up then very game second-up before failing behind a smart one and spelled. Given a nice…

Queensland's famous Stradbroke Handicap will be catapulted to one of the richest sprint races in the country after receiving a huge boost on the back of sweeping prizemoney reforms across the state. It can be revealed the time-honoured Group 11400m handicap will be doubled from $1.5m to $3m from next year, in what is the most significant boost in…

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 -…

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…

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…

Alligator Blood (green) is one of the favourites for the Stradbroke Handicap. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography Racing writers Ben Dorries and Trenton Akers are still kicking after a massive Queensland winter carnival and are planning to peak on Stradbroke Day. With a huge local contingent in the mix, our experts will be cheering on the…

Desleigh Forster landed her first Group 1 with Apache Chase on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography. After a month of relentless rain, Group 1 racing finally returned to Queensland on Saturday, as the winter carnival rolls on towards the Stradbroke Handicap. YAYS 1 - Nash Rawiller The star hoop had every right to be more concerned…

Huetor stunned weight-for-age champion Zaaki to win the Doomben Cup as a few Sydney horses relished finally returning to some dry ground. Zaaki, the $1.24 raging favourite, had every chance, only to finish third behind French import Huetor with Maximal, another import, second. Zaaki's jockey James McDonald was upbeat afterwards, but plenty of…

AS one The Everest champion prepares to take on the world, another is about to resume trackwork after injury. Nature Strip, winner of The Everest last year and the number one ranked sprinter in the world, has arrived in England to prepare for the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot on June 14. But back in Sydney, the "grey flash"…

Selections based on a heavy track. 5. Divine Glory has the form on the board from a solid debut placing in the Gimcrack on a heavy track. She rallied to get into third after racing handy and with that race experience in the ground she's the one to beat. Dangers: 6. Her Excellency really looked the part scoring a runaway trial win at Rosehill…

Warwick Farm Racecourse will host a very competitive nine-race program on Wednesday, highlighted by the rescheduled Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1600m) from last Saturday. The track is currently rated as a Heavy 10 after rain all of last week; however, there is no rain on the forecast, so we may not be on a bog track come raceday. The rail will be out…

The Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights season gets underway at The Valley this week and the action is headlined by the 2022 Moir Stakes. The Moir Stakes has drawn an excellent field of sprinters and the market suggests that we are set for a very competitive race. We have analysed every single race on the card and our complete 2022 Moir Stakes Night tips…

The time-honoured Weetwood and Toowoomba Cups along with the first two-year-old race of the season herald the start of spring racing in Queensland. The undulating track can pose issues for visitors and it pays to be wary of the local trainers on what is their big day. Some rain is forecast but with the rail true all horses should get their chance…

The News Corp racing and sports wagering team has put together an expert panel to give you, the audience the early inside running on feature races in Melbourne and Sydney this spring. The panel of five will be offering their early thoughts on all of the Group 1 races and other feature contests during the spring, through until the end of the…

The News Corp racing and sports wagering team has put together an expert panel to give you, the audience the early inside running on feature races in Melbourne and Sydney this spring. The panel of six will be offering their early thoughts on all of the Group 1 races and other feature contests during the spring, through until the end of the…