Smart import Earlswood forgotten by bookies in Cox Plate markets

Racing Victoria has rubber stamped the 2023 spring carnival as an overall success with safe and competitive racing and strong crowds - up 12.5 per cent on 2022. The annual review confirmed a 12 per cent year-on-year wagering slide, in line with the ongoing cost-of-living-driven trend the past 12 months. Three marquee races - the Caulfield Cup, Cox…

This week's rain could not have come at a better time for Gold Trip's build-up towards a shot at his second Melbourne Cup crown next month. Co-trainer Ciaron Maher said Gold Trip is in career-best shape but the stallion needs moisture in the ground for optimum performance. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast up to 60mm of rain in the lead-up to…

Attrition will chase a Group 2 win over tough weight-for-age performers in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at The Valley. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images. Bypassing last Saturday's Memsie Stakes might have created an opportunity for a career-best win for Attrition in Saturday's Group 2 Feehan Stakes at The Valley. Attrition did it tough out wide…

The best time of the year is here, ladies and gentleman. Spring has arrived and the boffins at Punt Drunk could not be more excited. Group 1 racing returns to Caulfield on Saturday afternoon with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), while there is plenty of elite horse-flesh going around at Randwick, including the return of superstar sprinter Nature…

Prowess is likely to miss the Cox Plate. Picture: Bradley Photos Star Kiwi Prowess has suffered a setback that has put her spring campaign in jeopardy. This year's Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes winner was set to resume in the Memsie Stakes in a preparation aimed at the Cox Plate but that is now unlikely. PROWESS SMASHES THEM IN THE…

It may be 12 months later, but the result is still the same in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes, with Craig Williams piloting Mr. Brightside ($2.20) to victory at Caulfield. The Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained galloper staked his claim as one of the best horses in the country, after he rounded up a top field of runners in the feature event of the…

Unbeaten at Moonee Valley, Forgot You may be the forgotten horse in the Feehan Stakes. That is what his trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are banking on when the now five-year-old entire runs in the Group 2 weight-for-age contest over 1600m on Saturday. Forgot You won three races at The Valley as a three-year-old, once at 1500m then in the…

Trainer Grahame Begg was delighted with how his two Cups contenders came through there trials at Cranbourne in preparation for their spring returns. Lunar Flare and Nonconformist both trialled over 1000m on Monday, on a track that was rated slow. With a berth in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup already assured courtesy of her win in the Listed Andrew…

Prowess, winning the Vinery Stud Stakes in March, will have the Cox Plate in her sights - this year or next. Picture: Bradley Photos The Cox Plate is the race legendary Kiwi trainer Roger James has always craved and he thinks he can knock it off his wishlist with star filly Prowess. He just isn't quite sure whether that will be this spring or 12…

After last year's heartbreak of having what would've been his first Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) runner scratched on race day with a bruised heel, Grahame Begg has his sights on redemption with Lunar Flare to be aimed solely at the race that stops a nation. The daughter of 2013 Cup winner Fiorente has once again earnt a ballot free spot in the…

Glen Boss winning the 2005 Cox Plate on champion Makybe Diva. Racing Victoria is set to break with 100 years of tradition and move the Cox Plate with the showpiece now slated to be run two weeks after the Melbourne Cup Carnival. The Herald Sun understands the radical shift would see Australia's best race become a spring carnival grand final for the…

Don't give up on Duais for the Caulfield Cup on Saturday. That was trainer Ed Cummings' message to punters regarding the $11 winning chance with Neds. Cummings' high opinion of his five-year-old mare has not dropped, despite finishing eighth in the Turnbull Stakes last start on October 1. And the Sydney conditioner was pleased with the work his…

Two Spring Carnival hopes of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable have taken park in an exhibition gallop between races at Sandown. I'm Thunderstruck (Jye McNeil) and Illation (Jamie Kah) worked over 1200m, quickening up over the final 600m as they prepare for their racetrack returns at Caulfield on August 27. Price said I'm Thunderstruck…

Mr Brightside's connections will hold firm on the original plan and bypass Saturday's Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Ben and JD Hayes entered Mr Brightside for the $1m race as a potential option after his fifth to Alligator Blood in last Sunday's Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Sandown. Ben Hayes said connections would have considered running…

The last horse to win the Feehan Stakes carrying Lindsay Park's famous silks won the Cox Plate two starts later. Better Loosen Up carried the white, green and black colours of Lindsay Park to a narrow win in the 1990 Feehan Stakes before getting the money in Australasia's weight for-age-championship six weeks later. Better Loosen Up was a narrow…

Snapdancer will have a crack at a second Group 1 win when she resumes in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography Formguides might not accurately depict Snapdancer's lead-up into Saturday's Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. Snapdancer hasn't raced since her fighting second in the Group 1 Tatt's…

Craig Williams urges Mr Brightside to victory in the PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images Trainers Ben and JD Hayes sent Mr Brightside down a path blazed by their master trainer grandfather Colin 44 years ago in Saturday's Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. Colin Hayes won the Lawrence Stakes with So…

With the new racing season underway we've put it to our stable of experts to lay their reputations on the line and hand out some predictions for the next 12 months, including their early selections for The Everest and Melbourne Cup plus what's the next'big thing' we've got to look forward to. THE NEXT BIG THING RAY THOMAS - Dylan Gibbons: The son…

Despite a strong push from Peter V'Landys and Racing NSW to try and encroach, with some levels of success, there is no denying that the Melbourne Spring Carnival is the place to be for the end of the year. The best horses, the best trainers and best jockeys want to be seen in Melbourne and want to win the big races in Melbourne. There is no denying…

It will be a different scene this year at the Cox Plate, with champion mare Winx now retired after an illustrious career that saw her win the race four consecutive times. The 2019 edition of the Group 1 Cox Plate will be held on the final weekend of October at Moonee Valley on a fantastic weekend of racing, that also includes the Manikato Stakes on…

After finishing last in a Cox Plate qualifier at Moonee Valley, Maddie Raymond immediately set about revising spring plans for Earlswood. Out the window went a start in the Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 22 and into focus came the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), run a week earlier. Earlswood will take the next step on his path towards…

A fitter but still underdone Mr Brightside is ready to tackle his first Group 1 assignment of the Melbourne Spring Carnival. The Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday is the spring opener and Mr Brightside will enter the race second-up. He has already collected the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes over Saturday's course and distance for Ben,…

Ben Hayes will chase Group 1 success this weekend in Brisbane, but the Lindsay Park co-trainer can't help but be excited by what will take place in Victoria this week. Stable star Mr Brightside returns to work as he strives to assert himself as Australia's premier middle-distance performer. The son of Bullbars hasn't started since winning…

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are not afraid to throw their horses into the deep end, providing they have the talent. For that reason, the stable has elected to tackle Group 1 company with Amenable when he lines-up against some of the nation's best in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. After a first-up win at Caulfield on August…