HE’S a 10-year-old marvel who is still winning races, and on track for remarkably a fifth visit to Victoria’s annual Jericho Cup meeting at Warrnambool. Hawkesbury trainer James Ponsonby was entitled to be proud of himself when his veteran Will To Excel clinched a last gasp victory over 2400m on the Wagga Riverside track yesterday at his first start in nearly three months. Ridden by Mathew Cahill, the $19 chance proved the strongest stayer when he made up many lengths in the

HAWKESBURY apprentice Poppie Gorton has wasted no time posting her first double. And the milestone moment in the 18-year-old’s brief career at Bathurst on Friday carried extra significance as both winners were for her master, leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup. Gorton began riding only three months ago, and her first winner (also for Widdup) was a leg of her inaugural double. She was successful on Forcefilly at Goulburn on September 12, and the mare, along with stablemate

Bec Dunn with Anne Janet Hayes EMOTION is described in the Oxford Dictionary as being a strong feeling from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others. As far as Bec Dunn is concerned, it’s been all of that and more this week. The Newcastle trainer’s gamut of emotions have flowed from the lowest of lows to highest of highs in the space of five days. Dunn had a heart-breaking decision to make last Monday to put down the first foal of her maiden city winner and now

WHILST Private Harry is missing from the $20m The Everest, Nathan Doyle still will be strongly represented at Royal Randwick tomorrow. The Group 1 winning Newcastle trainer’s three runners include half-sisters Emalyn and Churchill’s Choice, both bred and raced by Kevin Hill – and Ash Morgan will ride the pair in their Group 3 assignments. Last start impressive Newcastle winner Emalyn tackles the Reginald Allen Quality (1400m), and the year older Churchill’s Choice lines up in

IT’S regarded as the unkindest cut of all! But the decision to geld the now six-year-old Adelaide River during an enforced break could reap a $5m Caulfield Cup windfall tomorrow. Melbourne jockey Jordan Childs will ride Adelaide River, currently a $26 chance for the Caulfield 2400m Group 1 feature. “Adelaide River ran fourth (to Deny Knowledge, Mr Brightside and Atishu) in the Group 1 wfa Might And Power Stakes, 2000m at Caulfield 12 months ago,” leading Newcastle trainer Kri

DUAL State acceptor Rapt is on her way to Melbourne tonight for an important mission at Caulfield on Saturday. The Dynamic Thoroughbreds raced mare will contest the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at the Cup meeting rather than the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick. Rapt drew awkwardly in both races, and Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer readily explained why the Melbourne event was chosen. “Rapt is a half-sister to Peter Snowden’s Sebring mare Tashi (now retired),

KERRY Parker wants a genuine speed in Saturday’s ATC St Leger Stakes at Royal Randwick to test Flying Bandit’s staying mettle. The multiple Group 1 winning Kembla Grange trainer says provided the $500,000 Group 3 feature over 2600m is truly run, it will determine whether his talented gelding can stay. Flying Bandit’s regular rider Jay Ford reunites with the five-year-old, who has won six of his 16 career starts. He won the Listed Wagga Cup (2000m) in May – his second success

HE is as good as ever! That was leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s summation this morning of Jedibeel, his first ever runner in Saturday’s $20m The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick. Widdup wasn’t disappointed with the talented sprinter’s barrier (eight in a field of 12) when they were released last night. “I would have been devastated if he had drawn 10, 11 or 12, but eight is okay,” he said. “There is a lot of speed in The Everest, and from there hopefully we can get

IMPORT Adelaide River will carry Kris Lees’ hopes in Saturday’s $5m Caulfield Cup. The leading Newcastle trainer decided to rely on the six-year-old gelding as his sole runner after ruling fellow import Changingoftheguard out. Melbourne jockey Jordan Childs will ride Adelaide River, who drew barrier nine in a capacity field of 18. Lees took a tongue tie off the gelding before he ran an excellent second – pipped at the post – to Cup rival Birdman in the Group 3 Kingston Town S

HAWKESBURY husband and wife trainers Phil and Tara Vigouroux had a “throw at the stumps” with Just Shane in last Sunday’s 1600m Coonamble Cup. “It was a bit ambitious,” Phil Vigouroux said this morning. “We were hoping to get a spot in either the Big Dance or Little Dance at Royal Randwick next month. “It didn’t work out, but he still ran well to finish fifth (to Victorian visitor Justadeel) in a strong race after being trapped wide for the first half.” With Big Dance or Litt

“I thought she had lost a leg!” That was co-trainer Luke Price’s reaction to lightly-raced filly Aisle Two’s breakthrough victory at her home track at Kembla Grange today. “The win wasn’t a surprise because we were confident she would run well,” Price said this afternoon. “But her odds certainly were.” Despite placings at her first two runs this preparation, Aisle Two, aided by a superb Brock Ryan ride, was a $31 outsider when she bolted away with the Super Maiden Plate (1300

THE world’s richest race on turf would not have even entered Brad Widdup’s thoughts when he caught sight of Lot 343 at the 2021 Inglis...

KRISTEN Buchanan is at last on the new season scoreboard - and has some thinking to do! Not so much with Chess Master, her Port Macquarie breakthrough winner yesterday, but stablemate Tambeloa, who ran ninth to Shangri La Boy in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at the corresponding Rosehill Gardens meeting. Magnus four-year-old Chess Master ($12), ridden by Newcastle apprentice Ben Osmond, landed the Maiden Plate (1000m) from Gosford trainer Jake Hull’s luckless debutante

AS one stable door closed, another has opened. With star four-year-old Private Harry an unfortunate absentee from Saturday’s $20m The...

KRIS Lees is banking on an important gear change helping Rivellino “jump” into Group 1 company ay Caulfield tomorrow. The leading...

TALENTED Hawkesbury mare Lady Extreme will wind up a successful campaign, and connections haven’t lost faith in fellow mare, Kembla...

WHEN the going gets tough, the tough get going! It’s a well worn proverb (and a 1986 Billy Ocean hit as well) which surely applies to...

Rubi's Serve with part-owners Chris & Shelley McLennan MARK Minervini’s first-up success with Rubi’s Serve on the Kensington track today...

DALE Wagstaff obviously has the key to backing up horses. The Newcastle trainer had no qualms about saddling up his seven-year-old mare...

HAWKESBURY’S leading trainer Brad Widdup is seeking his 60 th success at home tomorrow. And his best chance of doing that shapes clearly...