#Vince Caligiuri

Veecee was an impressive winner in the opening race at Flemington. Picture: Reg Ryan - Racing Photos Veecee was a sharp mover in betting on next month's Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes after a dominant debut performance at Flemington. TAB promoted the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace colt to the third line of Blue Diamond Stakes betting at $10 after the…

Spanish Kiss (outside) is going to relish a mile and a half on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri -Getty Images Trainer Trent Busuttin is keen to see what talented import Spanish Kiss does when he steps out to a mile and a half at Sandown on Saturday. The son of Lope de Vega came to Australia with a bit of hype around him but hadn't delivered in…

Paul Shailer looks set to claim his first Country Cup at Kempsey. Picture: AAP Image-Jono Searle Freshly minted New South Wales trainer Paul Shailer steps straight into feature racing on his first day at the office with a red-hot chance of taking out Sunday's crucial Port Macquarie Cup Prelude via recent internet purchase, Relucent. Shailer, a…

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…

Trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman have a clear plan of attack for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. The pair have two clear hopes in Melbourne's big spring handicaps with Delphi the stable's top seed in the Caulfield Cup while Realm Of Flowers will carry their expectations in the Melbourne Cup. Both have changed significantly since punters last saw…

Well hopefully you enjoyed the Christmas cheer with family and friends, and imbibed responsibly of course. Now it is on to a new year and all those fatuous resolutions will be thought about. Punters - as you are - might even suggest it worth keeping a record of your investments (well at least for the first week or so of January) so as to know your…

Inundation crushed his rivals to break the 1000m record at The Valley. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Racing Photos via Getty Images Inundation has emerged as a stakes horse in waiting with a blistering 1000m victory at The Valley in track record time. Rated supremely by Jamie Kah, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained gelding stalked leader…

Jockey John Allen has a good book of rides on Tuesday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri - Getty Images Massive 10-race card at Terang on Tuesday where jockey John Allen looks set to have a big day, legging aboard seven runners that are hard in the market. BEST BET UNDER THE PALAIS Race 6 No 6 This Symon Wilde-trained filly looks to have a bright future and…

Trainers David Eustace and Ciaron Maher with the Melbourne Cup after Gold Trip's victory last month. Picture: Michael Klein A $10m Melbourne Cup is part of a Victoria Racing Club New Year's resolution. News Corp has established the Flemington hierarchy intends to lobby Racing Victoria for a $2m boost for the race that stops the nation. It follows…

Racing takes place at The Valley on Friday night. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images Form analyst Jett Hatton runs the rule over Friday's twilight meetings at The Valley and Cranbourne. BEST BET LA SPEIZA (R1 No.1 - $3.80) Has struck heavy tracks at her last six starts and hasn't been disgraced but is much more effective on a fast track. She…

Adelaide Ace is set to return to the winners stall in Sunday's Werribee Cup. Picture: AAP Image-Vince Caligiuri With rides in the first seven races on the program Blaike McDougall shapes as the jockey to follow at the Werribee Cup meeting on Sunday. BEST BET RESERVOIR DOG (Race 1 No 7 - $2.50) Gets his chance to break through at 10th start…

Juan Diva returns to Queensland where she is a stakes winner. Picture: Grant Peters-Trackside Photography Stakes-winning mare Juan Diva will need to overcome a visitors draw to win Saturday's Tattersall's Classic, but trainer Will Freedman believes she is equipped with the right tools to do it. The Sydney-based mare detests anything but a bone-dry…

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…

My Whisper is favourite for the Australasian Oaks. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images Rising star My Whisper is set to be the horse to beat in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) after drawing perfectly for Saturday's main event at Morphettville. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly has drawn barrier three in a capacity field of 16 runners…

It might have come as a surprise to some that the four-year disqualification penalty imposed on Darren Weir runs its course on February 6 next year. That is not to say he can resume training, even if he wants to, the very next day. There is a bridge over some many troubled waters to cross before that. But such news did not stop a raft of hastily…

Zaaki winning the Champions Stakes on the final day of the Flemington carnival, which produced a new high in turnover. Picture: George Sal-Racing Photos via Getty Images Champions day punctuated a Melbourne Cup Carnival record betting bonanza across the four days of the Flemington carnival. The $10m raceday and carnival climax last Saturday,…

Duais is at the top of the markets for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images The Melbourne Cup won't be the only multimillion-dollar target for Duais in the spring. The mare's trainer Ed Cummings also has the Japan Cup on the triple Group 1 winner's agenda. Duais is high in betting for the Caulfield and Melbourne…

Jockey Michael Dee poses with the Victoria Derby trophy. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images Jockey Michael Dee has had the golden touch this spring but he will be recognised as a deity if he can lift Dalasan to his maiden Group 1 win in Saturday's Champions Mile at Flemington. The hoop has already produced some magic to salute in the Caulfield…

The damaged section of the Flemington track before the start of the Melbourne Cup meeting. Picture: Supplied A Pakenham-based Australian turf industry leader has "dropped everything" to help Victoria Racing Club fix the section of Flemington racecourse vandalised by an alleged problem gambler. The damaged patch near the 1500m had to be removed and…

Jamie Kah guides Boogie Dancer to victory at Sandown in her first ride back from a holiday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images Star jockey Jamie Kah was quick to remind punters of her talents on her first day back from a month's holiday at Wednesday's Sandown meeting. Kah spent a month in the sun in Europe before heading back to the cold of a…

Craig Williams can end a personal drought while giving trainer Dan O'Sullivan his maiden Group 1 win in Saturday's Victoria Derby. Williams last won the Victoria Derby 15 years ago on the David Hayes-trained Kibbutz when the jockey and trainer enjoyed a superb partnership during the mid-2000s. Williams's best Derby result since that triumph was on…

Montefilia (centre) finishes fourth in last year's Caulfield Cup behind Incentivise and Nonconformist. Picture by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images Is Montefilia the forgotten horse of the Caulfield Cup? Owner and breeder Hugh Docherty, from Woonona, certainly reckons so. It's been a plan 12 months in the making to have the Kermadec mare run in…

Ethan Brown has won three Group 1s this year and is riding with confidence. Picture: AAP Confidence could take jockey Ethan Brown a long way in Saturday's Caulfield Cup. Brown will tackle the $5m event during his biggest year in the saddle, which has produced the three Group 1 wins of his career. Brown broke through for his maiden Group 1 win on…

Private Eye powered away with the Gilgai at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images Our Blackbook followers had a big day on Saturday with Excelida and She's Licketysplit both saluting and a couple of luckless runners as well. The track at Flemington was outstanding as you would expect from Liam O'Keefe and his track team with…

The New Corp Racing and Sports Wagering team have 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…

It's been hard not to miss Racing Victoria's spring message as Melbourne's sporting baton is handed from AFL to racing. The much hyped "Here For The Horses" documentary aired last Thursday and aired again and again. Slickly produced, fronted by sports crossing triple premiership hero Josh Gibson and including the right faces and voices of Jamie…

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…

Damien Oliver is not in favour city racing on Sunday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images Hall of Fame jockey Damien Oliver and champion trainer David Eustace are among leading figures to raise concerns about Racing Victoria's appetite for more targeted Sunday city meetings. A move by Victoria Racing Club this year to bring forward its Spring…

Trainer Phillip Stokes will test Brazilian import at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images How strong is Brazilian Group 1 form? Pakenham trainer Phillip Stokes has had to brush up on his Brazilian form after acquiring dual Group 1 placegetter Olympic Korhcnoi in the last few weeks but is none the wiser. So punters must rely…

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…