Clash between Oliver and McDonald the highlight
MAX PRESNELL The battle for supremacy between champion Damien Oliver and the New Zealand whizz-kid James McDonald will be a feature of Saturday's Canterbury card.
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Hopes for Jetwings hinge on takeoff
Caryl Williamson Two races 900 kilometres and three hours apart will determine favouritism for the summer's richest race.
Hawkes hums along after losing All Too Hard
Adam Pengilly Sending All Too Hard to stud should have left a large void in the Team Hawkes arsenal, but the stallion's shadow seems to have barely cast any darkness on the training partnership.
BC3 could lose training facility
Patrick Bartley and Ben Butler Embattled BC3 Thoroughbreds may lose its $3 million Surf Coast training facility, Grace Park.
Last race at Hollywood Park
Los Angeles Fans waited in a long line to get into Hollywood Park at Inglewood for the final time.
Belle Couture, pleases O'Brien despite loss
Adam Bourke Trainer Danny O'Brien is confident Belle Couture will make it in group class despite her defeat on debut at Bendigo on Sunday.
Nash Rawiller out of Magic Millions
CHRIS ROOTS Premier jockey Nash Rawiller admitted to hitting ''a flat spot'' following the spring carnival as he earned his second careless-riding suspension in as many days at Rosehill on Saturday.
Latest racing news
Trainer Mike Moroney has high hopes for Voleuse de Coeurs in the autumn
PATRICK BARTLEY Trainer Mike Moroney is confident that his much talked-about import Voleuse de Coeurs can make a significant impact in two states in the autumn after the Irish mare returned to work recently.
Moorings Capital just keeps on winning at Canberra's Thoroughbred Park
DAVID POLKINGHORNE Moorings Capital keeps coming back from injury and winning - especially at Canberra's Thoroughbred Park.
Racing Results for Friday, December 27
11:04pm Racing Results for Friday, December 27
Sydney shorts
Adam Pengilly Terry Robinson has the type of horse any trainer covets in Duke Albert, shooting for a fourth straight win in the 1250m fifth at Canterbury.
Chris Waller and Ray Murrihy discuss (my imaginary) race tactics
MAX PRESNELL 'Chris, will you take that ergonomic seat we have had designed for you. We appreciate all the sitting you do before the stewards could lead to saddle soreness."
Clarry Conners hoping Stratalena will help to exorcise Magic Millions ghosts
Adam Pengilly He might soon be at the cusp of a new year, but the same old thoughts of what could have been are haunting Clarry Conners.
Trainer Darren Weir extends his lead in the Melbourne premiership with a winning treble
MICHAEL LYNCH Darren Weir consolidated his position at the top of the Melbourne metropolitan trainers' premiership with a Boxing Day treble at Caulfield.
Trainer Frank Cleary praises evergreen jockey Kevin Sweeney
CHRIS DUTTON Veteran jockey Kevin Sweeney got a perfect late Christmas present with a dominant day at Queanbeyan, and leading trainer Frank Cleary declared age is no barrier for the star hoop.
Imposing lunge wins Summer Cup for Chris Waller
Warwick Barr An eight-year-old with a history of tendon trouble added to Chris Waller's unstoppable run in Sydney racing at Randwick on Thursday.
Racing Results for Thursday, 26 December
Racing Results for Thursday, 26 December
No shortage of magic or millions among hottest babies at Gold Coast sale
John Holloway The countdown is on for the Magic Millions carnival and once again Bloodlines has sought the inside mail on what yearlings appeal as standouts for the five days of selling, beginning with 190 lots on Wednesday, January 8.
Trainer Rick Hore-Lacy has comeback galloper Chase The Rainbow on track for Christmas Handicap
Patrick Bartley Trainer Rick Hore-Lacy faces the challenging task of winning the $120,000 Christmas Handicap at Caulfield with a horse that has not been seen since late in 2011.
Trainer Joe Cleary to call last race at Queanbeyan meeting
JON TUXWORTH Ttrainer Joe Cleary reckons calling a race at Queanbeyan's Boxing Day meeting will be the most nervous minute of his life.
Dynaste aims to fulfil Pipe's King George dream
London Talented French import will line up against eight rivals in traditional Boxing Day showpiece.
Racing results for Monday December 23, 2013
Racing results for Monday December 23, 2013
Gai Waterhouse tops memorable 2013 on and off the racetrack
CHRIS ROOTS It was the best of years. It was the worst of years. Gai Waterhouse could have borrowed from the start of Charles Dickens' Tale Of Two Cities to describe her 2013.
Luckily for Nash Rawiller, stewards apply double standards to tearaway leaders
MAX PRESNELL The Calming Influence cakewalk in Saturday's benchmark 80 over 1100 metres at Rosehill on Saturday came into the category of just another raised-eyebrow event in recent weeks.
Black Caviar's sister Belle Couture beaten on debut
Adam Bourke Trainer Danny O'Brien confident Belle Couture will make a group class filly.
Racing results for Sunday December 22, 2013
Racing results for Sunday December 22, 2013
Chicka Pearson confident Flaming Star is ready to fire at home
Tony White Moruya trainer Chicka Pearson will use Sunday's class 3 handicap at his home track as a stepping stone for Flaming Star into the $27,000 Moruya Cup on January 20. Flaming Star, owned by brothers Bill and Bob Laundess, has had two runs after an 11-week spell and is ready to peak, according to Pearson.
From hamburgers to horse haven: Lapointes' impressive legacy
MAX PRESNELL Muskoka Farm, a brilliant complex for equine rest, recreation and education, was built on a menu of chicken, Kentucky Fried, with a side of pizza of the Hut variety.
Leading harness driver Amanda Turnbull to set up in Victoria
CHRIS ROOTS Premier NSW driver Amanda Turnbull will move to Victoria next year to join partner Nathan Jack.
Gai Waterhouse's foreman Mark Newnham caught in the middle of sticky spot in protest
CHRIS ROOTS It was the protest that Gai Waterhouse's foreman Mark Newnham wanted to stay out of and left it to the owners to sort out.
Emblems finds the form to force Peter Snowden to chase richer targets
Matt Jones Emblems will chase black-type glory in next month's Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford after again proving too strong at Rosehill on Saturday.
Features
No shortage of magic or millions among hottest babies at Gold Coast sale
The countdown is on for the Magic Millions carnival and once again Bloodlines has sought the inside mail on what yearlings appeal as standouts for the five days of selling, beginning with 190 lots on Wednesday, January 8.
Chris Waller and Ray Murrihy discuss (my imaginary) race tactics
'Chris, will you take that ergonomic seat we have had designed for you. We appreciate all the sitting you do before the stewards could lead to saddle soreness."
From hamburgers to horse haven
Muskoka Farm, a brilliant complex for equine rest, recreation and education, was built on a menu of chicken, Kentucky Fried, with a side of pizza of the Hut variety.
Early results back brothers' faith
A sparkling double for freshman stallion I Am Invincible last weekend at Flemington and Doomben could mean the winners face off in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic on January 11.
Blinkers get nod
Tim Martin hopes blinkers will help Pampelonne back into winning form in the Razor Sharp Handicap on Saturday.
Stewards apply double standards to leaders
The Calming Influence cakewalk in Saturday's benchmark 80 over 1100 metres at Rosehillcame into the category of just another raised-eyebrow event in recent weeks.
Snowden snaps at Waller's heels
While negatives around Sydney racing abound, Peter Snowden's form in the home stretch of his Darley involvement is a highlight.
Gentleman Jack was a master of old school
Former jockey Andy Tindall, who later became chief steward in Queensland, often related that during his time in the saddle he had not been suspended. ''But you were never a top-liner,'' a recalcitrant challenged.
Monkeys, gorillas and other characters of the ring
"The bookmaker plucked the betting sheets from the betting board and ripped them into 100 tiny pieces, and then he did a sort of pseudo lap of the betting ring showering punters with confetti.''
Occitan has the goods to cause upset
Waterhouse youngsterswill give a strong indication of future talent with Cyclone and Our Catch in Saturday's Ascend Sale Trophies Plate on the Kensington circuit at Royal Randwick.
Honour at stake for Caviar's sibling
Perhaps a Bendigo maiden lacks pizazz but one is scheduled to relaunch the Black Caviar dynasty, which is undergoing a horror stretch, on Sunday.
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