Lass has speed to overcome wide gate in Roses
BJORN Baker believes Queensland Oaks favourite Imposing Lass has plenty up her sleeve and he isn’t perturbed by a wide barrier in The Roses.
QLD Racing
Little harness stars off and racing
THE future of the Queensland harness racing industry is embedded in the charge of the very light brigade.
Grand old lady is back on track
GRAND old lady Pat Cook couldn’t wait to reacquaint herself with another grand old lady, the Eagle Farm racecourse.
Carnival Capers: Farm’s sand trap, Doomben Cup
ALTHOUGH Ben Dorries was denied a punt on Thursday night at the new Eagle Farm track, he did see enough in Azkadellia’s run to confirm favouritism in the Straddy.
Azkadellia thrives as gates reopen at Eagle Farm
AZKADELLIA franked her high rating for the winter sprints as Eagle Farm went under the microscope for its first serious test in five barrier trials on Thursday.
Life at the Farm a welcome sight
AFTER more than $22 million of renovations and lying dormant for two years, Queensland’s premier racetrack Eagle Farm has sprung to life with a series of trials.
Cadogan’s speed catches Shinn’s eye
BJORN Baker added to his winter carnival arsenal when Cadogan showed an exciting turn of foot to win over 1400m at Randwick.
Best stepping stone to Stradbroke ticket
THE golden ticket up for grabs in Saturday’s Fred Best Classic looms as boom or bust for many of the best backed runners in this year’s $1.5 million Stradbroke.
Smerdon expects Noble run
AHEAD of the Doomben Cup, trainer Robert Smerdon says Noble Protector is ‘somewhere near’ the form that made her one of Australia’s most exciting horses last year.
Pike chasing Oaks bite with Provocative
AFTER unleashing a potential star two-year-old in Queensland last Wednesday, Tony Pike is hoping to qualify his impressive filly Provocative for the Queensland Oaks.
Suspended jockey in another controversy
FORMER leading Queensland apprentice jockey Luke Tarrant was due to return from suspension next month, but a police raid on his home has dealt another blow.
Ding, ding! Another round in trainers’ feud
THE icy feud between Brisbane’s two top thoroughbred trainers will be spotlighted in a stewards’ inquiry on Tuesday.
Azkadellia to grace new Eagle Farm playground
VICTORIAN trainer Ciaron Maher will be in Brisbane on Thursday to oversee speed machine Azkadellia have a historic spin around Eagle Farm.
Cahill thanks his lucky stars after frightful fall
MICHAEL Cahill was feeling “stiff and sore” on Sunday after his fall from Artlee in the BTC Cup, but he has been given the all clear to ride this Saturday.
Hauraki poses as Doomben Cup teaser
GODOLPHIN’S Australian boss Henry Plumptre has a simple message for those punters who regard Doomben Cup favourite Hauraki as a tease.
Trust in me: The QRIC model is a very sound one
QUEENSLAND’S new Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett chats with Courier Mail racing editor Nathan Exelby about his expectations of the QRIC.
Colless dedicates Group 1 victory to gym buddy
TAB BIG BETS: IT was the moment that made the Ice Man thaw as veteran jockey Glen Colless dedicated Malaguerra’s BTC Cup victory to his late personal trainer.
Baker’s baby proves to be a real Classic
THE VERDICT: WINNING Rupert dented a few reputations as the Bjorn Baker juggernaut continued its early path of destruction at the Winter Carnival.
Doomben Rewind: BTC Cup Day
THE Courier Mail’s Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries review Saturday’s BTC Cup meeting, with comments from the beaten division and the big winners.
Long-range Derby plans on track for Murphy
DAVID Murphy left Doomben trackwork on Tuesday morning convinced his 12-month Derby plan is set to come to fruition with budding stayer Shotacross The Bow.
Life’s a Beach: Painful yet inspiring tale
IT was Melbourne Cup Day last year when heartbroken Tracey Lees knew she had lost her beloved husband.
Happy crew set to Swoop
IF Fell Swoop can attain Group 1 success in Saturday’s BTC Cup, you can be sure part-owner Matt Condon will praise the persuasive powers of his good mate Paul Armstrong.
Welcome to the Sun-Shinn State
FORGET Hugh Bowman or James McDonald. Blake Shinn is the man when it comes to landing the big dollars in Queensland at the moment.
Nathan’s Racebook
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby breaks down the big races at Doomben, headlined by the $500,000 Group 1 BTC Cup, on Saturday.
Back Waller to save your pennies
DELTA Goodrem gets a good run in this week’s Carnival Capers but Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries quickly move on to more important matters, namely the BTC Cup.
Apprentice has first Group One target in sight
TEENAGE apprentice jockey Jimmy Orman has already paid off his first house and now he is striving to win a Group 1 at his first attempt this weekend.
Move has been good for starters
DAVID Vandyke feels Sir John Hawkwood has a slight edge in Saturday’s JRA Cup but stablemate Astronomos may end up the better long-term prospect.
Fell Swoop will have to make history to win Cup
FELL Swoop will have to do what no horse before him has done as betting rival Japonisme fared best at Wednesday’s draw for the Group 1 BTC Cup.
Gai a fan of proactive Harrison
EVEN before Tegan Harrison slips into the saddle of Group 1 contender Echo Gal at Doomben on Saturday, Gai Waterhouse has been impressed by her boldness.
Following in Takeover’s footsteps
JAY Ford has plenty of Takeover Target memories and he can see some similarities between the world-beating sprinter and Saturday’s BTC Cup favourite Fell Swoop.
Lee focused on Stradbroke repeat
WHEN Danasinga won the 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.
Queensland spirit will lift underdog trainer
TONY Gollan knows he probably won’t take out the overall UBET Super Six Trainer’s Challenge, but he’s hoping Tiyatrolani can help land him one of the weekly bonuses.
A case of weight and see for handicaps
NATHAN Bourke, the man charged with allocating weights for the Straddie, says nominations for this year’s race “don’t include a natural topweight”.
Lightning strikes twice for Leebaz
MICHAEL Cahill was the latest jockey to climb aboard the Team Hawkes bandwagon as he guided Leebaz to victory again in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes.
Baker already an Imposing figure in north
THE emerging Bjorn Baker juggernaut hit full steam when his astonishing recent record in Queensland continued with a pair of Gold Coast winners.
Gold Coast Rewind: Leebaz goes back-to-back
THE Courier Mail’s Nathan Exelby and Ben Dorries review Saturday’s Gold Coast meeting, with comments from the beaten division and all the big winners.
Can’t Sheik that feeling
IT’S one thing to ride for the Sheik … it’s quite another to get to shake his hand.
Steve chasing more Moments in spotlight
TRAINER Steve O’Dea is not shying away from the challenge of a tougher task than last year in Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes.
Santa has presence to atone
LEE Freedman has tipped a quieter ride will bring a change of fortune for costly last-start Randwick failure Santa Ana Lane in Saturday’s Gold Coast Guineas.
Not so perfect prep has Dawnie in for long run
WILY trainer Clarry Conners concedes he has struck trouble trying to get Dawnie Perfect fit as she heads towards a crack at the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
Nathan’s Racebook: Gold Coast
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby breaks down the big races on the Gold Coast, headlined by the $350,000 Group 2 Hollindale Stakes, on Saturday.
Son of a gun pulls the right rein
NATHAN Purdon, son of the great New Zealand trainer-driver Mark, says fate made the decision for him leave his nest and test himself Down Under.
Value on the Volks wagon in Hollindale
HE has won more prizemoney than any rival and has two Group 1 wins in his past three starts, but Volkstok’n’barrell has been shunned as a $15 chance in the Hollindale.
Miss Cover Girl slips nicely into Silk Stocking
KELLY Schweida’s impressive mare Miss Cover Girl will not know herself at the Gold Coast on Saturday after finally snaring a decent barrier.
Blue army wheels out big guns for winter assault
GODOLPHIN has only been a bit player in Queensland since John O’Shea took the reins, but that could change over the next month, starting with Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes.
Ghisoni shakes up Stradbroke market
JOHN O’Shea has a good idea of what a three-year-old filly needs to win a big winter feature and bookies took note on Wednesday when Ghisoni was a surprise nom for the Stradbroke.
Currie throws Honey Toast in deep end
TOOWOOMBA trainer Ben Currie can’t wait to take on racing royalty and blue bloods when he proudly flies the Queensland flag in Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes.
Flying Baker has a winter hotpot
AS the Queensland Winter Carnival lost two of its biggest drawcards, it may have unearthed a rising new star in Bjorn Baker’s Oaks-bound filly Imposing Lass.
English stays home for winter
STRADBROKE Handicap markets have been shuffled after Gai Waterhouse confirmed Group 1-winning filly English will miss the Winter Carnival.
Buffering cleared of serious injury
A NIGHTMARE 24 hours came to an end for Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote on Monday with news star sprinter Buffering could race on after being cleared of serious injuries.
Stewards not hot over base in city
ROSS Barnett will officially start as Racing Integrity Commissioner this week as stewards wait anxiously to hear how their roles will change.
Xtravagant plan coming right up
MANAGING owner David Ellis said a decision on a Brisbane campaign for New Zealand star Xtravagant will be made on Tuesday after his return to winning form on Saturday.
Gold Coast meeting can expect a bit of French flair
CHRIS Waller starts his Queensland carnival campaign with a team of runners at the Gold Coast on Saturday, which may include the Australian debut of French Group 1 winner Spiritjim.
Dufficy: Swear and Flow dominate on debut
SKY Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy gives his assessment of the most notable performances from Saturday’s meeting at Hawkesbury.
Gai has English in commanding fashion
TRAINER Gai Waterhouse has indicated English will bypass the BTC Cup and go fresh into the Doomben 10,000.
Cylinder fires first-up for proud Forster
DESLEIGH Forster labelled it the most satisfying moment of her training career as Cylinder Beach denied stablemate Too Good To Refuse in a thrilling Gunsynd Quality.
Canberra raider swoops on Victory
THE margin may have been narrow but Fell Swoop’s gutsy display earned him a first Group win in Saturday’s Victory Stakes at Doomben. .
Punters on top early at Doomben
MAURUS kicked punters off on the right foot and punters have had their eye in right through the first half of the Doomben card.
Nathan’s Racebook: Doomben
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby breaks down the big races at Doomben, headlined by the Group 2 Victory Stakes, on Saturday.
Art of doing enough for Straddie ticket
TOWERING gelding Artlee is on a mission to clinch a place in the Stradbroke field as he starts a campaign that was mapped out a year ago in Saturday’s Victory Stakes at Doomben.
Harrison warns not to ignore Didntcostalot
TEGAN Harrison has assured punters Didntcostalot will give odds-on favourite Fell Swoop something to chase in Saturday’s Victory Stakes at Doomben.
Costa not asleep behind wheel as upcoming trainer
YOUNG Sydney trainer Michael Costa spent a year sleeping rough in his Holden Barina but now luxuriates in the simple pleasure of having a roof over his head.
Old mates ready to take on the world
MICHAEL Hawkes isn’t in Hong Kong for a holiday with Chautauqua. But if the grey flash doesn’t win on Sunday, he hopes Buffering scores another Group 1 for his old mate Rob Heathcote.
Butler finds his comfort zone
TO his great relief, Bathurst-raised Jack Butler has been living in Queensland for 15 months and hasn’t looked like kicking the bucket.
All cylinders loaded for Desleigh trifecta
DESLEIGH Forster has assured punters Cylinder Beach is fit enough to win first-up as the trainer attempts the rare feat of a stable trifecta on Saturday.
Kermadec joins big boys at stud
LAST year’s Doncaster Mile winner Kermadec is the latest in a long line of stallions to be retired to stud this year.
Why I’m riding for my brother
SATURDAY is the most important day of the week for most Australian jockeys. For Brisbane Group 1-winning hoop Ryan Wiggins, Thursday is just as important.
Buffering has champ in his sights
BUFFERING has stared down countless rivals during his career and on Wednesday in Hong Kong, he lined up the world’s highest-rated sprinter Chautauqua as his next victim.
Broadcaster goes the extra mile for Wilson
RACING broadcaster Radio TAB has paid tribute to late Queensland racecaller Wayne Wilson by sponsoring a race named in his honour.
Queensland glory in one Fell Swoop
MATT Dale is trying to replicate the serene surrounds of his Canberra base as gun sprinter Fell Swoop prepares for his first stay away from home to make tilts on the four major Queensland sprints.
Miracle escape in frightening horse float accident
HOPFGARTEN found his best form to win Saturday’s Ascot Handicap at Caloundra, but it was a race run in a cloud of darkness after a shocking float accident.
Accolades for rescuers in highway float crash
WITNESSES to Saturday’s float accident were full of praise for everyone involved in the rescue of the horses.
Fixed odds freeze targets pros but angers racegoers
PUNTERS are crying foul, while wagering provider UBET claims it is merely trying to meet its obligations to the industry and shareholders in the wake of a fixed odds row that has erupted.
Sunshine Coast Rewind
THE Courier Mail racing editor Nathan Exelby reviews Saturday’s Sunshine Coast meeting, with comments from the beaten division and the big winners.
New Queensland era won’t be cost to industry
THE State Government has given an iron-clad guarantee the new model for racing in Queensland will not cost the industry one extra cent.
Rosy run’s in the Stars for Vandyke
DAVID Vandyke is not expecting any early miracles from his new Sunshine Coast base, but he is keen to claim a Group 1 from his new digs with gun filly Yankee Rose.
Nathan’s Racebook: Caloundra
COURIER Mail racing editor Nathan Exelby runs his ruler over the main races at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday and reckons Hopfgarten is the value bet.
Barsby maintains high standard from bad spot
IN our frantic, modern world it is often said a person is “between’’ jobs, houses or even relationships. Chris Barsby is between grandstands.
Dittman calls for change in claims
QUEENSLAND riding great Mick Dittman has called on authorities to change the rules so jockeys are not forced out of the industry after they finish their apprenticeship.
He’s a whip off the old block
LUKE Dittman has set his sights on some big races this winter but none would give him more satisfaction than winning the race named in honour of his father.
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