SHE is named after the acclaimed Ukrainian-born American actress Mila Kunis – and isn’t short on talent either! But it’s been a long haul to get her to the races, and actually contest a race. Thus trainers Rob and Luke Price and Kunis’ owners were entitled to be chuffed when the three-year-old filly made a successful debut at her home track at Kembla Grange today. Ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, Kunis ($6) defeated Our Lady Peace ($5) and Life Young Ever ($16) in the Maiden Pla

BLAKE Ryan was ready to “sell out” on the home turn at Kembla Grange today, and thought his horse Smoke ‘N’ Darts had come to the end of his first racing campaign. And there were one or two more occasions afterwards when he was also resigned to defeat. Thankfully for the Hawkesbury trainer that didn’t happen – and he notched his 10th winner of the season when Smoke ‘N’ Darts ($3.50 favorite) broke through in the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1300m). The three-year-old son of No

A formal recruitment process has begun to find a new Chief Executive at Hawkesbury Race Club following James Heddo’s decision to finish his duties in mid-July. Hawkesbury Race Club announced today that Heddo will end his four-year tenure on July 17 to semi-retire and take up a part-time position as General Manager of Central Coast Basketball. Heddo joined the club on April 1, 2022 and has overseen a period of significant operational, financial and governance improvement there

FOR want of a better explanation, it’s often referred to as “character building”. Nacim Dilmi can certainly attest to it. The Wyong trainer, who has done a terrific job in his maiden season, winning 31 races so far for Domeland, has had a forgettable weekend. His talented three-year-old I Am Carrot performed below expectations at Eagle Farm yesterday, and Oceanfront suffered a bleeding attack for the first time at Rosehill Gardens and incurred a mandatory three months’ ban. T

THE new Illawarra Grange track has a real supporter in Brad Widdup. The leading Hawkesbury trainer has won three races at the two meetings conducted on the circuit inside the course proper. After snaring a double with favorites Whoa Nellie and Tequisoda at the opening fixture on May 5, he backed up by scoring with Kosrae yesterday. Whilst the lightly-raced filly wasn’t favorite – she was an $8 chance – jockey Christian Reith made every post a winner in the Provincial Benchmar

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush – or the provincials to be more exact! Multiple Group 1 winning trainer Kerry Parker lost the lead in his home track’s local premiership to rivals Mitch Beer and George Carpenter yesterday, but celebrated a Rosehill Gardens victory with lightly-raced filly All The Way Mae (above). Parker and Team Beer were tied on 12 wins each beginning yesterday’s meeting at the new inside Illawarra Grange track, but the latter posted a double to b

Newcastle Jockey Club Chairman and Director Brian Judd has advised the Newcastle Jockey Club (NJC) Board of his intention to retire from both roles, effective 30 June 2026. Mr Judd leaves the Club in a strong position, with a clear direction for the future and continued momentum under the leadership of the Board, CEO and executive management team. Mr Judd has served as a Director for ten years, including six years as Vice Chairman and two years as Chairman. He also served as

KRIS Lees has sent Tavi Time north as he chases a Lord Mayors Cup in two States tomorrow. The totally luckless Scone Cup runner has arrived safely at the Gold Coast, and will take his place in the Group 3 Lord Mayors Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm, with Tommy Berry to ride. The leading Newcastle trainer has withdrawn Tavi Time from the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at a rain-soaked Rosehill Gardens, and will rely on You Wahng (Jay Ford) and Zaphod (Andrew Gibbons) there. Rosehil

NACIM Dilmi’s gamble to send I Am Carrot to Queensland at least will get the promising three-year-old a start at Eagle Farm tomorrow. But he is still hoping for a couple more scratchings to give the gelding a shot at the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) against his own age. “I took a punt and sent I Am Carrot north on Wednesday evening as he was fourth emergency for the Fred Best, and sixth emergency for the Benchmark 85 Handicap (1500m),” Wyong-based Dilmi said this morning

SHOW us a Red Henno – and we’ll show you a winner! Especially if one of his stock is prepared by talented young Gosford trainer Jake Hull. Fittingly, the former jockey chalked up a half century of winners on the other side of racing’s fence when the stallion’s daughter Red Chick won at Port Macquarie yesterday. Ridden by Shannen Llewellyn, the three-year-old filly broke through in the Maiden Plate (1000m) at only her third start, and first on resumption. In doing so, she upse

HE’S just a gem! With those words Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan summed up her evergreen gelding Stylebender, who returns to racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Newcastle apprentice Shannen Llewellyn has the mount in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m); her 3kg city allowance lessening his weight to 57.5kg. Buchanan has done a superb job with Stylebender, winning eight races with him since joining her stable three years ago after the New Zealand-bred gelding had raced 28 ti

ILLAWARRA Turf Club has got on the front foot and moved Saturday’s course proper meeting to the inside Illawarra Grange track. As a result of the move, a number of distance changes have been made. Both the 1000m Benchmark 64 Handicap and 2YO Maiden Plate are now at an increased 1150m, whilst the Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap and Super Maiden Plate have been reduced marginally from 1600m to 1450m. “The course proper is very heavy, and we wanted to give trainers early notice bef

MARC Chevalier is one trainer who isn’t minding the current wet spell – provided tomorrow’s Canterbury meeting isn’t rained out! The Hawkesbury trainer says it’s the first time he has an opportunity to take two horses to a city meeting – both with live chances. Chevalier will be represented by The Iron Star in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1900m), and Xpresso in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1250m). Tyler Schiller rides The Iron Star, and Adam Hyeronimus has been booked for Xpresso

RACING historians know all about Archer travelling from Nowra to take the first ever Melbourne Cup at Flemington in 1861. But what about a NSW provincial horse travelling even further afield to try to win the Darwin Cup? It’s an ambitious plan Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi has to snare the Northern Territory’s marquee race in August. The $200,000 Cup (2050m) on Monday, August 3 won’t be run on turf, but on Fannie Bay’s unique oil-mixed sand track. And it’s because of the surface

OH what might have been? Brad Widdup left Doomben racecourse yesterday shaking his head in disbelief! Hawkesbury’s leading trainer had won a race at Royal Randwick earlier in the day – his 53rd this season - but an ounce of luck could have seen him land a treble across two States. A pair of all-conquering Sydney trainer Chris Waller’s runners robbed him of a great day. After a resurgent Bella Khadijah ($11) had stormed home from well back in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (

THEY were at opposite ends of the purchase price as yearlings – and it’s the same with their racing careers! Irrespective, both mares were winners at their home track at Newcastle yesterday. Having only her fourth start – and first since joining Kris Lees’ team – four-year-old Oakfield Neptune (Aaron Bullock) was too good her rivals in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m) against her own sex as a heavily backed $1.70 favorite. Age isn’t worrying rising eight-year-old Rothrock (L

LOOKING for well researched provincial racing tips – and they’re FREE? Then The Provincial Punter is your best bet. It would be hard to come across a more devoted provincial racing fanatic than DAN MEDZ, who is currently supplying his selections for every provincial race meeting in New South Wales free of charge. “I have always wanted to have a full-time involvement with the racing industry,” Medz told ProvincialRacingNSW. “That’s been a long-time goal, and I’m doing two jobs

KRIS Lees has decided to pit his Queensland Oaks candidates Crathie Kirk and Erin Jo against each other at Doomben tomorrow. The three-year-old fillies will line up in the Group 2 The Roses (2000m); the traditional lead-up to the $700,000 Group 1 Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm in a fortnight. Tim Clark rides Crathie Kirk, and Tom Sherry is booked for Erin Jo. Lees also accepted with Crathie Kirk and Erin Jo at the Gold Coast tonight in a 3&4YO Benchmark 68 Handicap (1800m), but h

JASON Attard scored with a famous set of colours, Ed O’Rourke was back in the winning list, and Brad Widdup is giving his home track premiership defence the best shot. The trio’s winners at home at Hawkesbury today boosted the number prepared so far this season by the local training base to 141. Attard made it 14 wins for the season when lightly-raced Fitzclarence (pictured $9) broke through in the Turfmate International 3YO Maiden Handicap (1300m), O’Rourke clinched his thir

MULTIPLE premiership winning Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price are having one last throw at the stumps with Our Gold Hope at Doomben on Saturday. And the father and son tea, is hoping a return north will help click the mare back into winning form in the Group 3 Magic Millions Fillies and Mares Plate (1600m), with Tom Sherry aboard. Our Gold Hope, narrowly beaten in the 2024 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm, is listed to be sold at the Magic Millions Natio