#Stradbroke Handicap

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…

Apache Chase had no trouble winning the Nudgee Old Boys' Cup at Eagle Farm. Picture: Trackside Photography Desleigh Forster and Jim Byrne will consider braving 14 days in hotel quarantine to take top Queensland galloper Apache Chase to the super-rich Golden Eagle in Sydney later this month after asserting himself as one of the state's best at Eagle…

All roads lead to Newcastle for the running of the $1m The Hunter over 1300m. The race has drawn together a capacity field of 15 runners with four emergencies. There's not a huge amount of pace in the race with Prime Candidate the likely leader. It's an even race with a few winning chances given the handicap conditions. 1. LOST AND RUNNING He ran…

The Magic Millions Cup will feature a full field of 15 runners with five emergencies accepting for the $1 million race over 1425m. The 2023 Magic Millions field is littered with Group and Listed race winners as well as the top weight, Vega One, who is trying to win his second in four years. The winner of the Magic Millions Cup will take home…

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…

Far north Queensland sensation Paniagua has been strongly backed to continue his winning roll as new trainer Glen Baker declared him ready to rumble in the $250000 The Gateway at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Shooting for his ninth consecutive win in his biggest test to date, Paniagua opened as long as $16 in some places and was as short as $6 on…

The Peter and Paul Snowden stable is set to smash the $100m prizemoney barrier if Mazu and Mirra Vision can snare a feature race double across two states on Saturday. Boom sprinter Mazu is favourite for the Group 1 $1m Doomben 10000 (1200m) at Eagle Farm and Mirra Vision among the main chances in the Group 3 $200000 Arrowfield Dark Jewel Classic…

The need to change calendars is as good a time as any to pull out the crystal ball and Brad Bishop has taken on the job of trying to find five horses who are not yet Group 1 winners but boast a ratings profile that suggests they have a strong chance to be in 12 months' time. A number of obvious contenders have been overlooked with the purpose of…

The need to change calendars is as good a time as any to pull out the crystal ball and Brad Bishop has taken on the job of trying to find five horses who are not yet Group 1 winners but boast a ratings profile that suggests they have a strong chance to be in 12 months' time. A number of obvious contenders have been overlooked with the purpose of…

She says he is an adrenaline junkie. He says she can be a stress-head at times. But there is little doubting the admiration that Ciaron Maher and his former trusted lieutenant Annabel Neasham have for each other. It's a case of master (Maher) versus apprentice (Neasham) at Doomben on Saturday as the two square off in the race for a Group 1 with…

Tambo's Mate holds off Tumbler Ridge to win the Recognition Stakes at Doomben. Picture: Trackside Photography If at first you don't succeed, try again. That was the theme for Tony Gollan's tough sprinter Tambo's Mate who rebounded to win on home Brisbane turf, seven days after a hit-and-run mission to Sydney didn't hit paydirt when he finished…

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…

Jamie Kah stunned the Eagle Farm crowd with her winning ride aboard Vega One in the Kingsford-Smith Cup. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography Jamie Kah morphed into Wonder Woman at Eagle Farm as she courageously snatched Group 1 triumph from the jaws of defeat and knocked her mate Michelle Payne out of the record books. Kah now has six Group…

Garibaldi winning at Doomben. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography. Can Garibaldi go from a former problem child for punters to their pin-up and scoop a golden ticket into the Stradbroke Handicap? Tony Gollan says the proof will be in the pudding on Saturday as his talented sprinter steps into the big league and aims for his first stakes…

Within six months Apache Chase has morphed from the hunter to the hunted. The speed machine made his name upstaging boom horse Ayrton to book a last-minute ticket into the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap during the winter carnival, now trainer Desleigh Forster has the best part of six months to plot her way to the race after securing a spot by winning…

The Harrovian. Picture - Grant Peters, Trackside Photography. The Harrovian's extraordinary racing journey from obscurity to stardom has a new chapter with the retirement of the popular Queensland galloper. The Harrovian, owned by north Queensland hotel and property high-flyer Tom Hedley, was affectionately known as "The Big H" and captivated the…

Brookspire has gone from a dominant race favourite one week to almost be a forgotten runner the next. But jockey Jay Ford has suggested punters should be more forgiving of Brookspire going into the Group 3 $200000 Arrowfield Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at the Scone stand-alone meeting on Saturday. The Chris Waller-trained Brookspire was all the rage…

Annabel Neasham is chasing more Group 1 glory during the Queensland winter carnival. Picture: Getty Images Annabel Neasham's quest for her second Group 1 win is gathering momentum with Saturday's Gold Coast meeting to provide a springboard for a couple of contenders at the elite level. The English-born trainer, who scored her maiden Group 1 win…

The final spot for next weekend's Stradbroke Handicap is up for grabs on Saturday with the running of the $200000 Group 2 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm. HorseBetting's Queensland form analyst has previewed the race and offers his top three picks and a $100 betting strategy for the 1200m event. Splintex ($2.90) holds the key to the betting, with Varda…

Not even the likes of global conglomerates Godolphin have landed back-to-back Stradbroke Handicap victories but punters are backing North Queensland property tycoon Tom Hedley to achieve the feat with The Harrovian on Saturday. The horse with a cult following after his incredible winning streak has been heavily supported with TAB, recording more…

Far north Queensland sensation Paniagua has been strongly backed to continue his winning roll as new trainer Glen Baker declared him ready to rumble in the $250000 The Gateway at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Shooting for his ninth consecutive win in his biggest test to date, Paniagua opened as long as $16 in some places and was as short as $6 on…

Extremist (pink and black checks) will aim to raise the bar again in The Gateway on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography Rob Heathcote knew Extremist had some ability in her early days. But he never would have believed she would be stakes-placed and shooting for a spot in the rich Stradbroke Handicap, a race that the 12-time Group…

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…

Trainer Cameron Richardson with Zuma California and jockey Angela Jones. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography Cameron Richardson is a captain in the Australian Army but has given up full-time service to focus on his racing passion. And the Toowoomba trainer could on Saturday march away with a $3m Stradbroke Handicap golden ticket for his…

It wasn't that long ago racing in Queensland was viewed by many as a basket case but now it has become a bonanza. A $3 million Stradbroke Handicap, a beefed-up Gold Coast Magic Millions day featuring lucrative new races and a pair of fresh slot races. And increases in prizemoney across the board. Horses can't race all year and Victoria and NSW will…

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…

Trainer Peter Snowden will recommend Mazu miss the rest of the Brisbane carnival to concentrate on the $15 million The TAB Everest in spring after the boom sprinter's breakthrough Group 1 win in the Doomben 10000 at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, said Mazu proved he is a legitimate The Everest…

Prince Of Boom winning the QTIS Jewel 3YO for trainer Rob Heathcote and jockey James Orman. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography Rob Heathcote says Prince Of Boom and Startantes are like apples and oranges - impossible to compare - but feels bookmakers have got it right in their assessment of his star three-year-olds in Saturday's Mick…

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 -…

Alligator Blood has been banned from racing in the Victorian spring carnival. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography Headline horse Alligator Blood has been sensationally banned from racing in the Victorian spring carnival. In a bombshell development, News Corp can exclusively reveal the two-time Group 1 winner has been barred by Victorian…

Queensland's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap could be the big 2022 goal for slashing Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas runner-up Me Me Legarde which will also have some big fish to fry in the Sydney autumn carnival. Me Me Legarde will trial on her home Gold Coast track on Monday in her first public outing since storming home from the back to finish…

The Harrovian has been strongly backed to win the Stradbroke Handicap. Picture: Trackside Photography Not even the likes of global conglomerates Godolphin have landed back-to-back Stradbroke Handicap victories but punters are backing North Queensland property tycoon Tom Hedley to achieve the feat with The Harrovian on Saturday. The horse with a…

Brodie Loy is proud of his Indigenous heritage. Picture: Ben Dorries As he prepares to ride the odds-on favourite in a race named after the nation's greatest Indigenous jockey, Brodie Loy has proudly opened up about being Indigenous himself. The 25-year-old Queensland hoop is riding rising star galloper Uncommon James in the Darby McCarthy, the…

WHEN Danasinga won the first million-dollar Stradbroke in 1996, it was a snap decision by Lee Freedman to revert to the shorter course after he failed as favourite in the Hollindale Stakes. Two decades later, Freedman's Stradbroke mission with Malaguerra is more deliberate and has been in the pipeline for more than six months. The Hall Of Fame…

Versatile galloper Private Eye can round out a remarkable preparation with a second career Group 1 with the Joseph Pride-trained talent opening favourite for Saturday's Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington. Private Eye has announced himself as one of the most exciting horses in the country this preparation and can highlight his rise in the $3m…

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…

Gypsy Goddess storms to victory in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks under jockey William Pike. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography. Better than Yankee Rose, better than Alligator Blood. And a hell of a lot better than the dark days when he was in the depths of a drug addiction spiral and sleeping in his car in Sydney. Gypsy Goddess' remarkable…

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…

Her antics in the unsaddling enclosure, when Apache Chase crossed the line to win the Fred Best, captured every emotion of a winner overcome with the joy of a special success. (With the win Apache Chase gained a golden ticket into the Stradbroke). Trainer Desleigh Forster went down on her knees, got up, punched the air, did a jig which broke into a…

She's the queen of Australian racing but don't expect to see her in a dazzling tiara. She could wallow in the trappings of her new-found fame but one close observer says don't expect to see Jamie Kah whizzing around town in a flash new car or showing off a new trendy haircut. "A lot of young riders have fast cars and groovy haircuts, she doesn't…

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…

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…

The Harrovian resumes in the Keith Noud at Doomben on Saturday. Picture: Magic Millions Country cups king The Harrovian returns on Saturday at Doomben with high-flying owner Tom Hedley dreaming of another run at the super-rich All-Star Mile in Victoria for his ageing warrior. The horse with a cult-like following famously reeled off 11 straight wins…

Swiss Exile winning at Eagle Farm. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography Zaaki was set to be Annabel Neasham's star attraction at Eagle Farm on Saturday despite not even racing, but Swiss Exile stole the show, breaking his maiden in impressive fashion in the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic. The colt was a beaten odds-on favourite in a midweek…

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"…

The Chris Waller numbers continue to astound as the master trainer fell just short of $50m in prizemoney with 352 winners while the Wizard of the West headed east to put his wares on show landing 189 winners to be the most prolific jockey in the land. James McDonald kisses the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Quinn Rooney-Getty Images THE NATIONAL HONOUR…