Horse Racing: Australian Derby

Punters are confident the Danny O'Brien-trained Shamrocker can become the first filly since Research in 1989 to complete the AJC Australian Derby-Oaks double. The filly won the Derby last weekend and was heavily supported with betting houses yesterday to claim the second leg at Randwick on Saturday. One Sportingbet Australia punter had $50000 on…

The market says the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) is wide-open and the Punters Inside Run team have come up with three different picks for the staying feature. Mick Sharkie is going with She's Fit - the lone filly in the 16-horse field - to improve on her narrow second-placing in the Australasian Oaks (2000m). "She was good enough against…

Explosive Jack is the favourite for the South Australian Derby. Almost half a century of history will go on the line when star colt Explosive Jack puts a rare hat-trick of Derby triumphs in his crosshairs at Morphettville this Saturday. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained three-year-old is racing to become the first horse in 49 years to win…

Ready Set Sing has his 90th start when he travels south from Warwick Farm to Goulburn for the eleventh time on Friday in search of a seventh career win. Clearly, the Mark de Montfort-trained eight-year-old doesn't win as frequently as some but he has placed 30 times, 20 of those seconds which is more than most. "And unbelievably, I reckon he's run…

The Sydney Cup is one of the most prestigious horse racing events in Australia, taking place annually during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. This two-mile handicap race attracts the best stayers from across the world, providing an excellent opportunity for bettors to make some good money. With the right Sydney Cup tips and betting strategies,…

The Victoria Derby is months away but Randwick trainer John Sargent will audition a candidate at Flemington on Monday. Sargent will give Perfect Thought his debut in the Listed ANZAC DAY Stakes (1400m) with the aim of assessing his performance at Flemington before deciding his medium-term plans with the colt. Perfect Thought has trialled three…

MIGHTY Phar Lap heads an imposing, star-studded list of AJC Derby winners since Kyogle won the first running of the blue riband classic at Randwick 146 years ago. No Australian race has produced more champions, and that includes the Melbourne Cup. PHAR LAP Jim Pike rode Phar Lap for the first time in the 1929 derby, forming what was the most…

The blaze-faced Strauss (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) attained his first stakes victory under Joao Moreira in the G2 Tokyo Hai Nisai S. at Tokyo on Saturday. A winner on debut over 1600 metres locally in June and a solid third in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup on Oct. 7, he was sent off at 4-1 in this return to group company. Content to track Teleos Lulu…

The Saturday Slingshot presented by Bettingsite.com.au is here and it brings you the best bets for horse racing in Australia on Saturday, November 18, 2023 to help you launch into a winning weekend on the punt. All odds are provided by leading online bookmakers recommended by Bettingsite.com.au Our best bet of the day comes up in the opening event…

Skylou (Sweet Lou) produced a powerful harness racing staying performance when winning a thrilling edition of the A$200000 Group One Western Australian Derby (2536m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night. The NZB Standardbred graduate added another victory to trainer Gary Hall's long list of winners of the classic event with his outstanding…

Hope springs eternal for Cummings with luckless Tom Kitten We're sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We're working to restore it. Please try again later. Godolphin trainer James Cummings has had a singular focus for Spring Champion Stakes favourite Tom Kitten since August, but success in the Randwick group 1 classic on Saturday could open…

During the dark days, Tommy Berry found out more about himself. From feeling alone and vulnerable, he realised family and friends were there by his side. With his riding career on hold, he learned what was truly important. Suddenly, there was light in his life - and a new beginning. "Mentally, it was tough," Berry admitted. "I think obviously…

There's still 175 days to the $5 million Golden Slipper and this season's juveniles haven't even started racing yet but already punters can start betting on who will win the world's richest two-year-old race. TAB Fixed Odds has released the first market on next year's Golden Slipper with Scampi at the top of betting at $17. The Ciaron Maher and…

Struggling for form and confidence, Benaud's career was at the crossroads just six months ago but some meticulous attention to detail and a little faith has the classy stayer back in the Group 1 arena. Benaud lines up in Saturday's The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick as one of the form horses having followed a Wyong Cup (2100m) victory two starts…

Adrian Bott isn't expecting a winning return from Major Beel in the Winx Stakes, but he is expecting the ATC Australian Derby victor to run better than his double-figure odds suggest. The gelding was competitive over similar journeys at his initial campaigns, albeit in much easier races, but he did claim the scalp of subsequent Stradbroke Handicap…

Strong fields with good depth make this an interesting meeting and I am expecting those from the bigger stables with Saturday form to carry the day. There is a bit of rain around which should soften the track and with the rail out eight metres the fast lanes near the crown in the straight will come into play.

Former Gold Coast trainer John Page has sadly passed away aged 89. John Page who was most well known as the trainer of triple Derby winner Royal Sovereign who won the AJC Derby, Victoria Derby and the Queensland Derby. Born in Muswellbrook, he was the son of a railwayman, John's father had shown little interest in racing although young John spent…

The depth is back at Tulloch Lodge this season, which harks back to the glory days as co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott enjoy their best season together. While the Sydney premiership that the legendary Randwick operation dominated for so long is out of reach these days, Waterhouse and Bott could take second place behind Chris Waller away…

Benaud is more accustomed to Group 1s than Class 1s and it showed at Wyong on Tuesday when the grey gelding beat up on four hapless rivals in the $40000 Happy Retirement Isorich Class 1 & Maiden Plate. The John O'Shea-trained four-year-old recorded his first win since debut victory at Nowra in September 2021 when he ambled home by 6-1/4 lengths…

Trainer Chrissy Bambry celebrated her recent engagement with a huge result at Hastings on Saturday when Flower Of Wanaka downed a solid line-up of fillies and mares in the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m). The four-year-old daughter made light of her support on the tote, which saw her start at odds of better than $45, as she produced a resolute…

Eagle Farm hosts the Queensland Derby Day this Saturday with two group one events and top quality horses racing throughout the day. Kovalica is the favourite in the Queensland Derby and will be out for revenge after a third place finish last weekend while Think About It is the preferred pick in the Kingsford Smith Cup as it looks to build on its…

The Queensland Derby is the first of two Group 1 feature races at Eagle Farm on Saturday! Won by plenty of outstanding three-year-old stayers throughout its storied existence, 2023 Queensland Derby betting has been dominated by Kovalica this week, who has well and truly built an enormous case for himself. Have I put him on top? Read on to my 2023…

All the big guns are represented as the Winter Carnival moves towards its climax and with form lines coming from everywhere staying with the tried and true may be the way to go. Eagle Farm plays perfectly these days and with the rail true form should hold up though it helps if horses have prior experience on the track.

Aberfeldie Boy will race in the $1m Queensland Derby on Saturday. Picture Getty Images Respected Melbourne based trainer Robbie Griffiths hopes a change of luck will help the chances of Aberfeldie Boy win the $1 million Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Griffiths, who trains in partnership with Matthew De Kock at…

TRAINER John O'Shea has sent stable star Lost And Running for a spell but is still hopeful of making his mark on the Brisbane carnival with Stroke Of Luck and Andalus in the Group 1 $700000 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Lost And Running, winner of more than $4.3 million, had tough runs on wet tracks when unplaced in the TJ…

Named after the Aboriginal jockey who walked tall and rode classic, the Darby McCarthy on the Doomben Cup card is well placed with rugby league's Indigenous round this week, while the Sydney meeting, which is back at Rosehill after stand-alone Saturdays elsewhere - could unearth some topliners. The Annabel Neashan-trained Zaaki is the highlight up…

Her legendary father T J Smith won the ATC Derby nine times but incredibly, Gai Waterhouse made it a first win in the Sydney classic with Major Beel on Saturday. Waterhouse has captured most of the Group 1 races in her hometown but the Australian Derby (2400m) had eluded her and Tim Clark, who does much of the riding for Tulloch Lodge, was rapt to…

Daily Telegraph form analyst Mitch Cohen gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Canterbury. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! BEST BET Race 2 No.13: VOMO ISLAND A promising colt returning from a break. He…

Gunsynd's final start was 50 years ago but legendary racecaller John Tapp remembers the race as it if was yesterday. It was April 28, 1973, and a huge crowd at Royal Randwick was cheering for popular champion Gunsynd in his farewell race, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Tapp, 82, told The Daily Telegraph there was an "astonishing atmosphere and sense…

This is not perhaps surprising given his stellar pedigree. Not only is Ready To Charge a son of champion sire Gimmethegreenlight, the latter on course to be crowned South African Champion Sire for a second time this season, and Gr3 Sycamore Sprint winner San Fermin (Charge Forward), the two-year-old hails from one of the very best families in the…

The hectic schedule of racing in Victoria has resulted in jockey Daniel Moor heading overseas for a'working holiday'. Moor will plie his trade in Singapore for the next two months, although he may extend that, if granted by Singapore authorities, by a few weeks after his work permit was delayed. Success aboard Jigsaw in the Listed Hareeba Stakes…

The Salanitri stable concedes Midnight Glow still has a bit to learn, but the progressive stayer has one big thing in his favour ahead of Tuesday's $300000 VRC St Leger - the distance of the race. The Listed event will be run over 2800 metres, which Frank Salanitri considers a huge asset for the son of Sebring. "This race has always been on the…

Phillip Stokes has not always been as complimentary towards Russian Dancer as what he was after his win at Sandown on Saturday. It's no surprise the Pakenham trainer had some nice things to say, given the gelding secured Stokes and connections a $275000 payday when he ran down Toronto Terrier in the VOBIS Sires Guineas (1600m), which carried a…

Champion jockey Joao Moreira doesn't need much in the way of riding instructions, but he will be given one clear mission when he jumps aboard Williamsburg in the Frank Packer Plate. The colt's four wins have all come when he has been ridden off the speed and co-trainer Gerald Ryan wants to see the three-year-old revert to that pattern for…

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O'Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Kembla. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! BEST BET Race 5, No.2: MENTALISM Kembla-based son of So You Think who boasts some…

Breeding authority Peter Wharton presents all the harness racing news on breeding from Australia, New Zealand and North America every week brought to you by Garrard's Horse & Hound. The New Zealand bred five-year-old Betterzippit (Betterthancheddar) has joined the growing list of horses to enter the 1:50 list at Menangle. He recorded 1:48.6 when he…

The Autumn racing carnival returns to Royal Randwick this weekend with the first day of The Championships boasting a high quality program. Randwick, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, hosts four group one races, a group two and the Country Championship Final in a blockbuster carnival featuring some of Australia's best horses. The Harbour City has…

Four years ago, Peter Tighe felt the weight of the world on his shoulders when Winx was sent around at $1.06 in her farewell race in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Fast forward to 2023 and the Brisbane businessman will walk into Randwick on Saturday with a vastly different feeling with $151 Group 1 Australian Derby contender Twigman. But there is…

Godolphin trainer James Cummings is relying on his crack squad of young guns to attempt an unprecedented Group 1 clean sweep on Day One of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Cummings decided to keep stable warhorse Cascadian for another day and rely on three-year-old Golden Mile in the $4 million The Star Doncaster Mile…

Tapildoodledo will back up in the Group 1 Australian Derby on Saturday after winning the Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images Ian Taplin used to run a dairy farm for a living, now the Kiwi is looking to milk one of Australia's premier races on Saturday after causing a boilover with the little known Tapildoodledo. Taplin, who…

It's one of the Autumn Carnival's most highly coveted prizes, and another talent crop of three-year-old stayers will chase glory in Saturday's Group 1 Australian Derby. Won by many stars of the Australasian turf throughout its rich history, the Australian Derby boasts a cool $2 million purse in 2023, and the likes of Pericles, Sharp'N' Smart and…

It is one of The Championships' iconic races but the ATC Australian Derby has been an unhappy hunting ground for Sydney's emerging young stayers. Only three NSW-trained horses have won the classic in the past 15 years and no Sydney-based horse has been successful since Criterion in 2014. Graeme Rogerson claimed the 1997 renewal with Ebony Grosve…

The enigma that is Benaud heads the Ladbrokes.com.au market for the Chairmans (2600m) this Saturday at Randwick in what is a key lead up towards the Sydney Cup next week. The four year old went within a lip of winning the Australian Derby this day last year but fast forward 12 months, he hasn't really gone on with it but the market says he is the…

Roger James reckons he's waited 40 years for a filly as good as Prowess but his Kiwi sensation proved she was well worth the wait at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Prowess confirmed her status as an emerging superstar of Australalasian racing with a stunning performance to win the $600000 Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). The daughter of Proisir…

Hong Kong-bound trainer Mark Newnham has two chances to land another Group 1 win before he bows out of Sydney racing and they both rest with import King Frankel. The first comes at Rosehill this weekend when the stayer lines up in the Tancred Stakes (2400m), on the way to his main mission in next month's Sydney Cup (3200m). Newnham is the first to…

Laurie's having a throw at the stumps at Flemington on Saturday. Respected value hunter Laurie Sainsbury says a horse at huge odds is worthy of an each-way bet at Flemington on Saturday. ANA JAAHZA (Race 2 No 7) One start for this filly at Ballarat when she defeated Mollynickers. Jumped cleanly from the gates and sat outside the leader and then…

THE Winx connection of trainer Chris Waller and owner Debbie Kepitis were back in Group 1-winning mode on a race day their mighty mare made her own at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Lindermann, the tough frontrunning three-year-old, outstayed favourite Pericles in a thrilling $600000 Rosehill Guineas (1600m). Kepitis, who bred and races Lindermann,…

Andalus will head across the Tasman next month after nearly pulling off a massive upset in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Punters who backed Sharp'N' Smart for Saturday's feature were briefly put into a state of panic as Andalus came to challenge in the final 150m. But despite a strong fight, Andalus fell a long neck…

Andalus will head across the Tasman next month after nearly pulling off a massive upset in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Punters who backed Sharp'N' Smart into 2-5 odds for Saturday's feature were briefly put into a state of panic as Andalus, a 100-1 chance on the tote, came to challenge in the final 150m. But despite a…