Hometown hero Mighty Lucky wants it dry for Gosford Cup

Chris Roots   The summer heroics of Mighty Lucky have left him with "few places to go" and his hometown Gosford Cup on Friday is one of them, but only if it's dry.

Get the Kensington track right this time, please

Chris Roots   The Kensington track will not be replaced until winter because that is the optimum time to plant a new surface, and the Australian Turf Club and Racing NSW must get it right this time.

McEvoy hopes to make it a Magic Millions before suspension

Chris Roots   Kerrin McEvoy heads to the richest day of racing in Australian history with a book of rides that might have him living up to the tag of Magic Millions at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

O'Shea delighted as Asinara stays unbeaten

Chris Roots   James McDonald reckons Godolphin head trainer John O'Shea has been Asinara from him and he found out why as she kept her unbeaten record with a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday.

Oliver genius overcomes a rocky start

Andrew Garvey   The race might not have worked out as trainer Henry Dwyer had expected but a smart ride from champion jockey Damien Oliver saw the Dwyer-trained Rocky Boomboa take out the $150,000 Vobis Gold Carat (1200 metres).

Maher and Calthorpe get first wins

Andrew Garvey   It might not have been one of the biggest meetings for the year but for Bryan Maher and Chris Calthorpe, the Moonee Valley fixture on Saturday had special significance, with the country trainers recording their first wins at metropolitan level.

Peter Snowden hoping for joy in Light Fingers

Chris Roots   Scott Darby will head to the Magic Millions buoyed by Darby Racing best day in Sydney after the wins of Scarlet Rain and Selita at Rosehill on Saturday.

Scarlet stakes a winning claim for a Magic Millions start

Chris Roots   She is a chestnut filly with flashy tail like Tommy Berry's first Magic Millions winner Karuta Queen, but whether impressive debut Scarlet Rain makes her way to the Gold Coast remains unclear.

Open Book has timing and confidence heading to the Magic Millions Cup

Chris Roots   Timing and confidence is everything in racing and Open Book has it heading into next Saturday's Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast.

Berry chase back-to-back Narooma Cup for Murray

Chris Roots   Globetrotting jockey Tommy Berry will make his annual New Years trip to Moruya attempting to honour ailing trainer Bede Murray and by lift Monday's Narooma Cup with O'Reilly Revenge.

Neverland the pick of Peters and Pike

Chris Roots   There is always one better at home and for West Australia's biggest owner Bob Peters that one was always Neverland.

Inside word proves testing for one GOM

Max Presnell   The security guard, employed at my expense, will be stationed at the racecourse media room doors to prevent entrance by trainers due to 2015, the year of the female, ending badly.

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Vilanova finds mojo to hand Waller Cup

Chris Roots   Vilanova has become one of those horses that punters know and learn to detest, but as is the case with a lot of Chris Waller stayers his day comes and that was New Year's Day 2016.

Strong Capitalist ready for Magic Millions

Chris Roots   Magic Millions Classic favourite Capitalist passed the little test set for him by Peter and Paul Snowden in a gallop between races at Randwick on Friday – perhaps too well.

Martin thinks of bigger things with pair

Chris Roots   Tim Martin admits he is rebuilding his stable and his reputation but things are going all right.

Flemington duo score four

Michael Lynch   Good double acts always work best when they come as a pair of opposites.. 

No comparisons for neighbours Fell Swoop and Bitburg

David Polkinghorne   Stablemates following different paths as Canberra trainer Matthew Dale's stable star edges closer to return.

McDonald to make the difference at Randwick

Chris Roots   The difference maker James McDonald returns to race riding after suspension at Randwick on Friday, and punters would be wise to cast eyes back a couple of runs for a trio of his mounts.

Boljun's back lays down foundations for long day at the races

David Polkinghorne   When Rado Boljun's back started to go, the then 35-year-old brickie needed to find another job.

Hyeronimus on a winning roll since break

Chris Roots   Sometimes a break from work can give you clarity, for jockey Adam Hyeronimus it literally was a broken collar bone and two months on the sidelines that did the job.

Royal ascent as full brother to Sweet Idea looms as Magic Millions star

John Holloway   Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth broke new ground in her involvement in Australian racing with the purchase of the superb sprinting filly Sweet Idea, auctioned off at the National Broodmare Sales for $1.6 million at the Magic Millions complex in June.

Paceman up to stakes company and ready to continue his rise

Chris Roots   Start Wondering and Paceman may have been the best two horses at Rosehill two weeks ago and the same could be said for this Saturday. Trainer Joe Pride is just relieved they don't have to face each other again.

Sir John Hawkwood tough enough to carry big weight in Tatts Club Cup

Chris Roots   David Vandyke concedes Jiayuguan deserves Tattersalls Club Cup favouritism over his Christmas Cup winner Sir John Hawkwood but has faith in his horse's toughness and fight to complete the summer staying double on Friday.

After innumerable wins, Tony McCoy is a knight

Champion jumps jockey Tony McCoy will become Sir Anthony after receiving a knighthood in the Queen's New Year Honours list.

Kensington track set to be ripped up and resurfaced

Chris Roots   There will not be another race meeting held on the Kensington track at Randwick until it is ripped up and resurfaced after another disastrous performance during a set of barrier trials on Tuesday.

Jiayuguan a Tatts Club Cup hope at her favourite trip

Chris Roots   John Thompson took a while to work out Jiayuguan but the secret might have been the 2400m journey of Friday's Tattersalls Club Cup at Randwick.

Matthew Dale, Brenton Avdulla dominate at Thoroughbred Park

Jon Tuxworth   Canberra trainer Matthew Dale finished off an outstanding year in style by combining with jockey Brenton Avdulla for a running treble at Thoroughbred Park on Tuesday. 

Avdulla making rare visit to Thoroughbred Park

David Polkinghorne   Top NSW jockey expanding his horizons to become one of Australia's top hoops.

A year lit up by record-breaking Payne and darkened by cobalt

Michael Lynch   If there is one story that has dominated the Australian racing year even more than Michelle Payne's extraordinary Melbourne Cup triumph it is the running sore that is the cobalt drug issue.