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.
QLD Racing
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.
Sears over moon for unbeaten filly
TONY Sears scaled a career high in the Weetwood and now he is warming to the idea of winning feature races in consecutive weeks.
Stewards push for change to whip rules
STEWARDS are set to recommend Racing Australia make changes to the controversial new whip laws.
Nikitas on target for winter mission
MAGIC Millions placegetters Nikitas and Candika took their first steps to winter stardom on Tuesday as the pair gear up for J.J. Atkins tilts in June.
Skye fall surprises Zielke
JOHN Zielke was stunned to learn of Skye Bogenhuber’s two-month suspension and says he and owner Evan Hartley intend to give the jockey their full support at appeal.
Waterhouse eyes Queensland winter hot streak
BUOYED by her success in the All Aged Stakes, Gai Waterhouse is now looking to Queensland to build on her tally of 134 career Group 1 wins as the season draws to a close.
Hope for trainers over lab testing of cobalt
RACING Queensland was the subject of national ridicule last year when five cobalt cases were thrown out, but the jurisdiction could now be used as a precedent for appeals.
English, Bart set for Stradbroke re-match
THE final day of the Sydney autumn shapes as an enticing prelude to the Brisbane winter carnival with English and Black Heart Bart likely to clash against each other.
Wehlow cops ban for positive meth test
QUEENSLAND trainer Greg Wehlow has been handed a six-month disqualification following a positive swab to the horse Island Tang.
Far from Happy as filly soon found Skye’s limit
SKYE Bogenhuber has vigorously defended a charge of not giving Happy Event every chance in the Dalrello Stakes before being suspended for two months.
Sweet delight after cup plan comes off
BEN Currie thought it was almost too good to be true. Everything had gone to plan with his Toowoomba Cup plot and the young trainer was waiting for something to go wrong. It never did.
Sears, Currie toast of the town
CELEBRATIONS carried on well into the night in Toowoomba after local trainers Tony Sears and Ben Currie landed the big feature double on Saturday.
Toowoomba Rewind
THE Courier Mail racing editor Nathan Exelby reviews Saturday’s Toowoomba meeting, with comments from the beaten division and the big winners.
Jumbo-sized effort might deliver Weetwood
JUMBO Prince runs faster than his plain looks suggest and Michael Nolan believes he is poised to give Toowoomba’s most famous race an almighty shake.
Nathan’s Racebook: Toowoomba and Randwick
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby breaks down the big races at Toowoomba and Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Trot spot: A winning partnership
THE Chinese call it yin and yang, contrasting personalities fusing together to become a winning formula. It is tough to dispute the theory when you meet Shane Graham and Vicki Rasmussen.
Currie homes in on cup win
AS Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie ponders the next phase of his career, he would love nothing more than to live out a childhood ambition of winning his hometown cup.
Eagle Farm track launch setback
THE BRC insists Eagle Farm will be fit to stage its showpiece winter carnival meetings, despite Thursday’s decision to cancel a planned soft launch for May 11.
Racing stalls in planning vacuum
WITH Racing Queensland still unable to confirm a release date for its Tracking to Sustainability plan, fears are growing for the industry in the wake of Racing NSW’s massive prizemoney increases this week.
Snitzel price rises after stellar sales
OFF the back of a stellar sales season, Snitzel will join his sire Redoute’s Choice off a fee of $110,000 at Arrowfield Stud this year.
Coolring rises in Baker bid for Weetwood
BJORN Baker made his flying visit to Queensland worthwhile on Wednesday when he plucked barrier one for Coolring in Saturday’s Toowoomba Weetwood.
Swim star fails to make splash on return to track
SUPER swimmer Rebel Rover couldn’t convert his recent Moreton Bay heroics into a return victory at Doomben on Wednesday, winding up fourth behind Moss Harry.
Pike primed to strike back after nightmare
NEW Zealand trainer Tony Pike hopes to put a last year’s nightmare winter carnival behind him when he brings a strong contingent to Queensland this year.
Gai time worth weight in gold
THE opportunity to spend a day at the sales with Gai Waterhouse was the catalyst for emerging trainer Chris Anderson to back himself to build his own stable.
Lees could still be major player in winter
EVEN without Lucia Valentina, Kris Lees could still be a major Queensland carnival player, with his Randwick Guineas winner Le Romain being aimed at the Stradbroke.
Stradbroke finds some Azkadellia action
AZKADELLIA has zoomed to the top of Stradbroke betting charts with her sizzling Coolmore Legacy (Queen of the Turf) win at Royal Randwick.
Oink brings home the bacon on emotional day
EMOTIONS ran high after Oink gained the judge’s verdict and defied a protest to win at Doomben on Saturday.
Doomben Rewind
THE Courier Mail racing editor Nathan Exelby reviews Saturday’s Doomben meeting, with comments from the beaten division and the big winners.
Oradonna can make up for week from hell
LINDSAY Gough can be forgiven for being a shade pessimistic about Oradonna’s chances at Doomben on Saturday given the week the Eagle Farm trainer has endured.
Nathan’s Racebook: Saturday preview
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby looks for the winners on Day Two of The Championships at Royal Randwick.
Buffering settles in for Hong Kong assignment
THE rock star treatment afforded to Queensland sprinting idol Buffering now extends to his travel.
Injured Dawson won’t miss Destreos milestone
IT was going to take a whole lot more than a busted tailbone and sore ribs to keep Kelli Dawson from partnering Destreos when he sets an Australasian record on Saturday night.
Big push to bundle Rundle
THE appointment of Rockhampton-based Jim Rundle as the thoroughbred industry’s sole representative on the new RQ board has been met with heavy criticism.
New RQ chairman promises to be a listener
NEW Racing Queensland chairman Steve Wilson has vowed to adopt “an aggressive listening attitude” as he aligns his building blocks for industry.
Winx and knowing nod to Sunline comparison
THE VERDICT: SUPER mare Winx was handicapped slightly more leniently, but on Saturday she did what Sunline could not and won the Doncaster as a four-year-old.
Byrne proposes Honey Toast to Cup chances
JIM Byrne declared beaten favourite Honey Toast spot on for the Toowoomba Cup, despite finding My Quilter too nippy over the Doomben mile on Saturday.
Doomben Rewind
THE Courier Mail racing editor Nathan Exelby reviews Saturday’s Doomben meeting, with comments from the beaten division and the big winners.
Kermadec chance at double
KERMADEC’S biggest problem last year was getting a run in the Doncaster. This time the obstacle is a lot closer to home.
New racing chief takes Queensland reins
FORMER long-time South Bank Corporation chairman Steve Wilson AM has been appointed the new interim chairman of Racing Queensland.
Boss chasing seventh heaven in famous mile
THE most successful jockey in Doncaster history may have been shunned at Randwick, but Azkadellia still gives Glen Boss a chance to add to his record tally in the famous mile.
Nathan’s Racebook: Saturday preview
POLL: THE COURIER-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby looks for the winners on day one of The Championships at Randwick.
Why Winx gets nod over Sunline
LARRY Cassidy’s one ride on Winx was enough for him to declare her a good thing in Saturday’s $3 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick.
Greyhound owners fuming over cuts
THE Queensland Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association is considering launching legal action against Racing Queensland and the State Government.
History beckons for Winx, Tarzino
POLL: RATING experts and punters are backing Winx and Tarzino to claim a slice of history in The Championships opener at Randwick on Saturday.
Buffering eases Browne’s travel pains
JOCKEY Damian Browne detests travel so much that the five-minute drive from his home to the Sunshine Coast track feels like a cross-country marathon.
Boom times are back again
THEY say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But you can teach a retired racehorse to become an equestrian star.
Aussie Buffering beats best in world in Dubai
UPDATE: TRAINER Robert Heathcote hailed the character and resilience of Buffering after the eight-year-old stormed to victory in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai.
Wonder horse Winx “has become public property”
WINX’S owners are set to have 2000 caps made to hand out to fans at Randwick as Australian racing’s latest wonder horse tries to make it nine straight wins.
Wheels of change turn slowly in racing industry
THE VERDICT: ANOTHER week and another non-announcement on the new (interim) Racing Queensland board.
O’Dea believes Diamond can sparkle in Listed grade
STEVE O’Dea is thinking Listed grade for Tan Tat Diamond after his win at Doomben on Saturday, but not before picking off another Class 6 Plate in a couple of weeks.
Doomben Rewind
THE Courier Mail racing editor Nathan Exelby reviews Saturday’s Doomben meeting, with comments from the beaten division and the big winners.
McLachlan to take indefinite break
GOLDEN Slipper-winning trainer Jason McLachlan will take an indefinite break from racing to travel and pursue other interests starting next week.
Straight-shooting champ all set for Dubai dance
REPORTS from Rob Heathcote that Buffering has settled in without a glitch has Damian Browne believing the Queenslander is going to be a key player on Saturday night.
Nathan’s Racebook: Saturday preview
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby breaks down the big races at Rosehill on Saturday.
Retired Tinto off to broodmare sale
QUEENSLAND Oaks winner Tinto has been retired and will be put up for sale at the May-June Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
New interim boss at Racing Queensland
RACING Queensland has appointed bright young legal mind Sam Adams as their interim chief executive as they search for a permanent boss.
Maher: Life won’t be same without Moods
PETER Moody didn’t get the last laugh. But it is that very same laugh that his Caulfield training colleague Ciaron Maher will miss the most.
Magical Slipper result for the Queenslanders
AS Capitalist strode clear to stamp himself as Australia’s premier two-year-old in the Golden Slipper, there were big smiles coming out of two stables in Brisbane.
Buff has the right stuff for Dubai tilt
THE comfort of seeing Buffering had travelled in superb order helped ease trainer Rob Heathcote’s frustration out of a luckless day at Doomben on Saturday.
Purton: Rose unable to bloom until “too late”
GIVEN the furore around the whip rules in Australia the past week, Zac Purton’s comments regarding Golden Slipper runner-up Yankee Rose made for interesting reading.
Doomben Review
DOOMBEN review brings you an all-compassing breakdown of what the beaten brigade and the big winners had to say at Saturday’s Brisbane meeting.
Wicked’s happy feet help beat veterans
THE VERDICT: CHRIS Munce heaped praise on farrier Gary Dagnell in the wake of Wicked Intent’s brave denial of older horses at Doomben on Saturday.
Nathan’s Racebook: Saturday preview
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby looks for the Group 1 winners at Rosehill on Saturday.
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