You bet we‘ll push brand
UBET’S new chief operating officer has vowed to grow a bigger revenue share for Queensland racing as preparations for the merger of Australia’s two TAB giants continue.
QLD Racing
Rodd’s nod is to the blues
CHAMPION jockey Michael Rodd is heading back to where it all started and will be a star attraction on day one of this year’s Origin Jockey Series.
Carnival woes lead to missed chances
AMID all the Doomben 10,000 debate last week, two questions struck me. Why is there a desperate need to change our carnival every year? And, is it really that bad?
Rock’s MM start Dunn and dusted
MATT Dunn has the best of both worlds from his Murwillumbah base and has perfected the art of placing his horses in the right state as the winners continue to roll in this season.
Nathan’s Racebook: Best bets for Sandown
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby looks for the winners on Zipping Classic day at Sandown on Saturday.
Doomben success might be just the tonic for trainer
TRAINER David Murphy is still waiting to get the all clear from two back fractures, but hopes a win at Doomben on Saturday will aid his recovery.
Munce steers Murphy in right direction
TRAINER Chris Munce knew exactly the right instructions to give his apprentice Michael Murphy, who rode his first metropolitan winner on Shapin Lady at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.
Jockeys take legal whip to concerns
QUEENSLAND jockeys are set to clash with officials over WorkCover, whip rules and appeal processes as the deadline looms for a new riding fee deal.
Move might be classic error
OFFICIALS have outlined reasons for the proposed Doomben 10,000 switch and what the bean counters are selling does not justify torching an iconic race.
Doom and gloom for famous race
THE iconic Doomben 10,000 — won by turf greats such as Bernborough and Apache Cat — will disappear under a radical proposal to shake up the Queensland Winter Carnival.
Merger deal to ‘re-ignite Qld wagering’
TABCORP chief executive David Attenborough is adamant a successful merger with Tatts Group will ensure significantly higher revenues for racing in Queensland.
Beating the bookie betting ban
PUNTERS frustrated by big bookmakers banning and limiting gamblers who stand to make some cash are starting to fight back, write Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries.
Alannah holds court after comeback win
TONY Gollan took more satisfaction than usual in the comeback win of My Girl Hayley, who gave stable apprentice her first win since returning from a near career-ending injury.
Nathan’s Racebook: Emirates Stakes Day
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby looks for winners on the final day of the Flemington spring carnival on Saturday.
Birchley hits the target with grey
LIAM Birchley’s happy knack of taking the right horse away to carnivals continued when Pepperano won the Subzero Handicap at Flemington on Thursday.
Rose has sweet smell of success
MACKAY truck driver Cliff Beckmann got cold feet initially when he considered forking out $2000 for a share in a horse being advertised on the internet.
Almandin in frame for tilt at Doomben Cup
MELBOURNE Cup winner Almandin is a potential Queensland winter carnival contender, with owner Lloyd Williams flagging the Doomben Cup as a potential target next year.
’Pissed off’ Cup punters in their thousands
TENS of thousands of ‘pissed off’ punters stormed out of a Melbourne Cup event in Brisbane after the unthinkable happened just minutes out from the big race.
High five: Lloyd the new Cups king
LLOYD Williams became the most successful owner in Melbourne Cup history and gave a once-spurned jockey the sweetest success of all in the 156th running of the race that stops a nation.
Trainer happy to take back seat
ROBERT Hickmott is the least recognisable dual Melbourne Cup-winning trainer in history.
Williams: ‘We are still learning’
MELBOURNE Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams says his team is still learning about racing European horses in Australia.
Cup Day blackout chaos at Eagle Farm
A MAJOR power failure and rain have marred Queensland’s biggest Melbourne Cup day party at Eagle Farm.
Finding the Cup winner
PICKING the Cup winner is tough — especially when one of the foreigners is called Bondi Beach. We run the rule over the horses that will stop the nation and give you a leg-up to finding the winner.
Bookies at odds over Cup fancy
TWO of Australia’s biggest bookmakers have taken polar opposite views on the chances of one heavily backed horse in today’s Melbourne Cup.
Brave bid to break Cup curse
FLAMBOYANT jockey Frankie Dettori believes his Melbourne Cup hoodoo is about to be broken.
Hall sees double as he stares down critics
HAVING watched all the lead-up races, nothing will sway Nick Hall from his belief that Jameka is the one to beat in the Melbourne Cup.
Don’t write off Japanese stayer
COMPARED to the wave of support enjoyed by previous Japanese visitors, Curren Mirotic is a relative outcast in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
Why Hartnell’s already won the Cup
HARTNELL has looked like the incredible hulk for most of the spring, but it’s an improved attitude off the track that has jockey James McDonald supremely confident.
Hartnell is right horse for Cup
IF Hartnell wins the Melbourne Cup, it will be easy to say in hindsight “that was obvious’’. Equally, if he gets rolled, you will hear that the writing was on the wall.
Waller hits the right note
CHRIS Waller has a theory that he hopes will have his horses on song for the Melbourne Cup.
Godolphin trainer has ‘best job in racing’
JOHN O’Shea admits being head trainer for Godolphin in Australia is something he often pinches himself about, having grown up in Queensland wanting to one day be a top horse trainer.
Heartbreak City is no Cup joke
DID you hear the one about the Irishman who walked into a New York bar and walked out with a Melbourne Cup winner?
Maher aiming to be cream of the crop
CIARON Maher realised long ago he was not going to win a Melbourne Cup in the saddle.
Mullins hopes fortune favours the Brave
WICKLOW Brave’s trainer Willie Mullins figures his jockey Frankie Dettori is “due” in the Melbourne Cup and will leave tactics on Tuesday entirely up to the riding genius.
Nichols finally gets Star billing
TRAINER Shane Nichols was celebrating his first Group 1 triumph at Flemington on Saturday but only seven years ago he was a broken man.
Remembering the mighty horse from heaven
THE legendary Bart Cummings won the Melbourne Cup a staggering 12 times but none of his horses won more hearts than Saintly. Twenty years on, NATHAN EXELBY looks back at the horse sent from heaven.
Beadman’s fan at heart of Godolphin
DARREN Beadman was “sweating bullets” when he went to shake the hand of Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in the middle of last year. But a Princess came to his rescue.
Punter’s guide to overseas raiders
GETTING a handle on the locals running in the race that stops a nation is difficult enough. but analysing the credentials of the overseas horses can be a minefield.
Lexus winner set to give Cup big shake
DID the Cup winner run at Flemington on Saturday?
Can Sheik say hooroo to Cup hoodoo?
LEICESTER City did it. The Cowboys did it. South Sydney, the Western Bulldogs and Cronulla did it. How about one of the world’s richest men?
Beach party on the cards
HANDICAPPER Greg Carpenter believes Bondi Beach could be the big improver in next week’s $6.2m Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Waller regroups after Winx whirlwind
THE racing public may be disappointed Winx has been put in cotton wool for the remainder of the spring, but her trainer Chris Waller is happy to see her on the sidelines — at least for a little while.
Zac’s advice: Stay away from “the rubbish”
TAB FIXED ODDS: ZAC Purton has a simple plan when he rides Victoria Derby hotpot Sacred Elixir on Saturday. Stay out of the way of “the rubbish”.
Nathan’s Racebook: Derby Day tips
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby looks for the Group 1 winners on a cracking Derby Day card at Flemington on Saturday.
O’Shea’s heart is claiming Cup win
JOHN O’Shea has momentarily shed his poker face to give the greatest hint yet of how confident he is of winning next week’s Melbourne Cup with Hartnell.
Bowman hopes to kick Derby Day goals
HUGH Bowman has likened the emotional comedown after riding Winx to playing a State of Origin match and then returning to club footy.
Draw boosts potency of Elixir
SACRED Elixir’s chances of emulating fellow J.J. Atkins winner Mahogany were enhanced further following yesterday’s Victoria Derby barrier draw.
Price is right in Coolmore mix
TWELVE months ago Mick Price was intent on ridding his back of the monkey that had dogged him in the Victoria Derby; this year the stakes are even higher.
Jameka peaking for Cups double
AS THE Melbourne Cup guessing game about the calibre of imports rolls on, Ciaron Maher is confident the Aussies have the measure of the foreign invaders.
Buffering at home among Legends
BUFFERING is proving just as popular in retirement as he was on the racetrack and he’s set to find a new best mate in Tasmanian warhorse The Cleaner.
Pike upbeat about Elixir after “soft win”
HAVING the interrupted run in transit in Saturday’s Vase might be a blessing for Victoria Derby favourite Sacred Elixir, who pulled up in perfect order.
A nudge and Winx goes boom
BILLED as a match race, Saturday’s Cox Plate instead became a race against champions of the past, as Winx donned an aura of invincibility in a performance for the ages.
Hartnell can give big race a titanic Sheikh
GODOLPHIN have said a decision will be made no later than Monday on whether Hartnell takes his place in the Melbourne Cup field after running second in the Cox Plate.
Buff earns spot at Living Legends
QUEENSLAND warrior Buffering will join former champions of the turf at Living Legends in Melbourne after he was retired after Friday night’s Manikato Stakes.
Buffering bows out after Valley loss
QUEENSLAND idol Buffering has run his last race after fading out of the finish in Friday night’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes, won in a shock result by outsider Rebel Dane.
Nathan’s Racebook: Cox Plate Day tips
POLL: THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby says Winx looks set to win back-to-back Cox Plates in his regular Saturday column, Nathan’s Racebook.
Winx’s strong Tighe’s to Queensland
POLL: THE colours may be blue and the trainer and jockey may be based in NSW, but Winx is very much considered a representative for Queensland by part of her ownership team.
Hendra vaccine won’t be mandatory
THERE still is no cure for the Hendra virus, but a parliamentary committee has recommended against compulsory vaccination of horses.
Yankee Rose’s trainer beats the odds
THEY are making a movie about Michelle Payne’s Melbourne Cup but the back-from-the-brink story of David Vandyke also has the hallmarks of a Hollywood script.
‘I don’t want to get treated like that again’
COLMAN’S CALL PODCAST: Surrounded by 30 bloodthirsty kids and told by school bullies to get down on his knees, Queenslander Jeff Horn vowed never to be afraid again.
Buff still up for fight: Heathcote
ROB Heathcote has reiterated Buffering will be retired if he shows any signs of losing interest in racing, but he does not anticipate that happening in Friday night’s Manikato Stakes.
Wagering giants set to combine
AUSTRALIA’S TAB powerhouses Tatts and Tabcorp are set to combine in a deal that is likely to bring an instant $50 million in additional funding to the national racing industry.
Summer set to shine as RQ adds bonus
RACING Queensland has dangled three new $500,000 bonus carrots as it ramps up efforts to make summer in the Sunshine State one of the most sought-after carnivals in the country.
Plate memories flood back of champs’ clash
POLL: COULD Hartnell be to Winx this weekend what Northerly was to Sunline 15 years ago?
Spring roll as Maher finally finds his feet
THE resurgence of Ciaron Maher this spring is typical of trainers that take some time to transition to a new stable.
Big O gone but memories will last a lifetime
IT’S perhaps fitting we are farewelling Octagonal in Cox Plate week, the race where he fulfilled his potential 21 years ago and launched him to Hall of Fame status.
Heathcote salutes Farm’s maturing surface
TRAINER Rob Heathcote gave the Eagle Farm track a glowing endorsement and apprentice Tiffani Brooker high praise after his winning treble on Saturday.
Articus almost a good thing, says owner
PODCAST: ASTUTE international scout Luke Murrell believes his German import Articus is ‘a moral’ in Saturday’s $3m Caulfield Cup, although he has one little concern.
Nathan’s Racebook: Close up at Caulfield
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby says Jameka looks the goods in the Caulfield Cup in his regular Saturday column, Nathan’s Racebook.
Farm firmers guaranteed to make you money
PUNTERS betting on Eagle Farm races on Saturday are best off tossing the form guide and waiting until just before start time to support the best backed runner.
Top tourists in flying form
INTERNATIONAL ratings suggest the imported raiders are poised to build on their imposing Caulfield Cup record this weekend.
RQ take charge of Capalaba dog track
RACING Queensland on Tuesday night stepped in to take control of the iconic Capalaba greyhound track in the wake of an ugly financial squabble.
Guns ‘N’ Rose promises to be one hell of a show
DAVID Vandyke has done the maths and figured Yankee Rose is more likely to run a place than not in the Cox Plate, even allowing for the presence of Winx.
Gloves off as Important crew gets aggro
UGLY is the best way to describe the previously disappointing Most Important, who carved out a blistering time to win at Doomben on Saturday.
Yankee puts rose back in cheeks of Maroons
QUEENSLAND’S dud spring carnival took a turn for the better after adopted Banana Bender David Vandyke landed the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes with Yankee Rose.
Nathan’s Racebook
PODCAST: THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby looks for the winners at Caulfield Guineas Day and at home at Doomben.
Heathcote labels debutant a Pinch under the odds
ROB Heathcote has labelled the short price being offered about debutant Pinch Passion at Doomben on Saturday as “ridiculous” and labelled him “a huge risk”.
Steward resigns over stable tip offs
A QUEENSLAND harness racing steward has resigned after an investigation alleged he had been tipping off participants about stable raids.
Top job for dog steward
JAMIE Dart, who was chief steward of the greyhound industry at the time of the live baiting scandal, has controversially been appointed to Queensland’s highest stewarding role.
Prophet preaches the power of one
OWNER Tony Falcone is hoping a link of firsts can be the chain reaction needed for Divine Prophet to give him a breakthrough Group 1 success at Caulfield on Saturday.
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