Superstorm lands Cantala Stakes in blanket finish

26 February 2024 • Brad Waters Accumulating 30 Group 1 victories at Flemington, Damien Oliver boasts an impressive record. Concluding his stintat Headquarters during Cup Week 2023, Oliver clinched three additional wins, expanding his remarkable tally to88. While he may have completed his last lap as a jockey, Oliver's presence in the racing scene…

A former Hong Kong horse and people connected to the city were central to the storybook ending of Australian jockey Damien Oliver's illustrious career on Saturday. Munhamek, who competed in Hong Kong as Hall Of Champ and won up to Class Three level before Caspar Fownes retired him in January 2022, won the A$1.5 million (HK$7.5 million) Group Three…

A decision to stick to what works can produce a big payday for South Australian trainer Michael Hickmott in Saturday's $500000 Cranbourne Cup. Hickmott will attempt to become the first SA trainer to win the Cranbourne Cup since Peter Montgomerie won the race in 2004 with On A Jeune when Lord Vladivostok tackles the Listed feature. Lord Vladivostok…

Retiring great Damien Oliver has some advice for young sportspeople making their way. Picture: Getty Images. As he prepares to farewell his final Melbourne Cup week, racing's GOAT Damien Oliver has delivered some wise advice to Australian sport's next generation. Australia's greatest jockey of all-time says sporting ability is one thing but there…

As he prepares to farewell his final Melbourne Cup week, racing's GOAT Damien Oliver has delivered some wise advice to Australian sport's next generation. Australia's greatest jockey of all-time says sporting ability is one thing but there is something just as important which has sustained him throughout a long and glittering career. It's words…

Keen to back the 2023 Melbourne Cup winner and claim bragging rights over your friends, workmates, and family? Racenet has compiled some critical form indicators for this year's big race. Racing and Sports Wakeful Stakes Punters have many theories during the Melbourne Cup Carnival and some look to land a roughie or two during the massive four-day…

Daniel Moor riding I'm Thunderstruck returns after galloping during the All-Star Mile trackwork session at The Valley on Tuesday morning. Picture: Getty Images Saturday's $5m All-Star Mile will present a different scenario for dual Group 1 winner I'm Thunderstruck. Punters and pundits alike have been critical of I'm Thunderstruck in his defeats in…

Champion jockey Craig Williams has committed to a trip to Perth for Damien Oliver's final meeting. Williams has picked up the ride aboard Super Smink in the Damien Oliver-Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot on December 16. The race is expected to be Oliver's final ride before the curtain comes down on his glittering career. "I'm going over to ride at Damien…

1992 Newmarket Handicap winner Schillaci. He was the first of 3 wins in the race for jockey Damien Oliver. (Matthew Absalom-Wong/Fairfax) 7 March 2023 • Andrew Lemon From its inception, the Newmarket Handicap has been the Victoria Racing Club's richest sprinting handicap, run every autumn since 1874 down the straight course at Flemington - the…

The Lindsay Park stable is looking to bounce back after the disappointment of a narrow Cox Plate defeat in the first of three Group 1 races on the opening of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington. Mr Brightside was beaten in a deceptive photo finish in the Cox Plate last weekend and the gelding's trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes are looking to…

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…

News Corp form analyst Brad Waters looks at the chances of every runner in Saturday's $3m Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. $3m GROUP 1 CAULFIELD GUINEAS 1600m, Caulfield race 8 Saturday at 4:30pm 1. TIJUANA (10) - $11 Trainers: Ben & JD Hayes. Jockey: Mark Zahra 57kg BRAD SAYS: Quality three-year-old proven at 1600m after winning the Stutt Stakes.…

Champion jockey Damien Oliver has teamed with a new jockey manager following the disqualification of Mark Van Triet in July. Rayan Moore, also the Racing Manager for Ballarat-based trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy, has taken over following Van Triet's disqualification by Racing NSW Stewards for betting on races in NSW that riders he managed rode…

The year's biggest races are here again and as usual it's a tantalising puzzle, as the best horses from Australia and some of the best stayers from Europe descend on Melbourne. To hopefully help you find your way through the puzzle, here's five horses to follow this spring. Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to…

Danny O'Brien has emerged as Australia's latest master trainer of stayers after scoring a second feature race win during Melbourne Cup week at Flemington. Two days after Vow And Declare put O'Brien on the international racing stage with a maiden Melbourne Cup success, Miami Bound gave the trainer his first win in the VRC Oaks. Meticulous planning…

The Lindsay Park stable of Ben and J D Hayes is again looking forward to seeing Nicolini Vito racing around a bend. After a first-up performance down the straight at Flemington on July 1 in which Nicolini Vito finished fifth, the gelding returns to Caulfield on Saturday to run in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m). It will be Nicolini Vito's…

Damien Oliver landed his first Group 1 win since announcing his impending retirement when the champion jockey partnered Alligator Blood to a second-straight win in the $750000 Underwood Stakes. Oliver made the most of one final ride aboard gritty on-pacer before regular rider Tim Clark returns from injury in the 1800-metre event at Caulfield. The…

Champion French stallion Siyouni has been riding high in Europe this year thanks to his outstanding three year old colt Paddington and dominant three year-old filly Tahiyra with his considerable talents on show in Australia last Saturday at Flemington where star mare Amelia's Jewel and Cups contender Carini (Fr) were both in the winner's circle.

Group 1 dreams of a winning major three-year-old race with Muramasa kick off at Flemington. The Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) on Saturday is where the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained colt kicks off his autumn campaign in the colours of Ozzie Kheir, John O'Neill and partners. The Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in April is…

Group 1 dreams of a winning major three-year-old race with Muramasa kick off at Flemington. The Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) on Saturday is where the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained colt kicks off his autumn campaign in the colours of Ozzie Kheir, John O'Neill and partners. The Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in April is…