#Scott Barbour

Verry Elleegant and Nature Strip, the nation's best racehorses, are defying time - but for how much longer? Since the retirement of all-time great Winx three years ago, the Chris Waller-trained duo have reigned supreme. Nature Strip inherited the Horse of the Year title from his former stablemate in 2019-20 before Verry Elleegant claimed the honour…

Allan Endresz (right) following Alligator Blood's win in the Champions Mile. Picture: Michael Klein Forget Allan Endresz. Love him or loathe him, put your thoughts on Endresz and the latest saga involving cult horse Alligator Blood to one side for a moment. And now take a dispassionate look at the sweeping ramifications for racing of the decision…

You hear plenty of familiar names around the Magic Millions sales grounds. It seems like it was headed by either Gai and Adrian - and you didn't need to add Waterhouse and Bott, or thanks Maher/Eustace when another was knocked down to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock. Annabel, as in Neasham, was on the charts with a bullet. Or then there was "Vinnie", as…

Trainer Mark Newnham (left) believes Sunshine Rising still has some good racing in front of him. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images One look at the formguide will tell you why ex-Hong Kong galloper Sunshine Rising is attracting plenty of attention ahead of his first run in 671 days in Saturday's Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill. The…

The finish of the Premiere Stakes proved champion Nature Strip will have some real competition for the $15m The TAB Everest in a fortnight. Lost And Running narrowly defeated Mazu and Masked Crusader with the trio showing they will be worthy rivals to Nature Strip in the world's richest turf race at Royal Randwick on October 15. Throw spectacular…

Daqiansweet Junior has a new rider in the Sydney Cup. Picture: Scott Barbour-Racing Photos via Getty Images Star jockey Kerrin McEvoy has swiftly picked up a replacement ride aboard Daqiansweet Junior in the $2m Sydney Cup after Edward Cummings elected to head to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Duais. McEvoy's manager Bryan Haskins confirmed on…

You know you are watching Group 1 racing anywhere in the world when you see the Godolphin blue salute at the highest level. Of course, it happened twice at Caulfield on Saturday with Anamoe and Golden Mile. And while Godolphin's James Cummings seemed to be channelling Barry Humphries true-blue Aussie character Barry McKenzie at The Heath with "that…

I Wish I Win (NZ) is favourite for the Toorak Handicap. Picture: Scott Barbour-Racing Photos via Getty Images Punters are backing boom galloper I Wish I Win to overcome a tricky draw in Saturday's Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield. I Wish I Win was $3.20 into $2.60 when TAB markets opened for the feature mile where Peter Moody's in-form…