QLD Racing
Acid test for Straddie surprise The Virginian
THE Virginian’s rise during the winter carnival paralleled his trainer Toby Edmonds, who has steadily built his stable into one of the most powerful in the state.
Nathan’s Racebook
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby gazes into his crystal ball in search of winners at Eagle Farm, Caulfield and Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Conman’s associate says horses are his
AN associate of conman Peter Foster says he’s the true owner of racehorse Azkadellia but a private investigator has told Racing Victoria the man is a convicted drug importer.
Gollan vows to fight fine over positive test
STEWARDS have fined premier trainer Tony Gollan $8000 and disqualified Amexed from his win at Ipswich in June after a positive test to the substance prednisolone.
Sacred Elixir keeps Pike’s spirits up
TONY Pike remains confident of plundering a major race in Melbourne this spring, despite the premature retirement of his Queensland Oaks winner Provocative.
Trainer wins appeal against cobalt ban
QUEENSLAND’s Lyn Paton has become the latest horse trainer to successfully appeal her cobalt ban.
Colt hero’s ratings leave rivals far Astern
HOW good is Astern? According to Timeform’s Gary Crispe, he is the best of the 14 Golden Rose winners since the race began in 2003.
Phone call lifts spirits in emotional cobalt drama
THE wife of leading Queensland harness racing driver Darrel Graham was grocery shopping when she took a phone call and burst into tears.
Apprentices can expect grilling over suicidal tactics
STEWARDS have adjourned an inquiry into the suicidal tactics adopted by apprentices Bridget Grylls and Josh Oliver in the Integrapay Handicap at Doomben.
Happy as Larry but pain lingers
WHEN you consider the star Winx has become in the past 16 months, it provides a clearer picture of the hellish time jockey Larry Cassidy had gone through before his breakthrough win on Saturday.
Zielke in buoyant mood to go south on raid
JOHN Zielke’s confidence of another successful Melbourne raid grew after watching Dreams Aplenty and Happy Event win back-to-back Cranbourne jumpouts this week.
Buffering makes sizzling start to spring
BUFFERING blitzed the clock but jockey Damian Browne still feels there is plenty of improvement needed before the nine-year-old’s return in the Moir Stakes on September 30.
Orman believes mare’s bound for glory
JAMES Orman will not be daunted riding against Australia’s best jockeys when Queensland mare Sold For Song resumes for an elite Spring campaign on Saturday.
Heathcote does it again thanks to old mate, Buff
ROB Heathcote has won the Wayne Wilson Medal for the second time, recognised for the stellar performances of superstar sprinter Buffering.
Trainer’s 12-month cobalt ban overturned
QUEENSLAND horse trainer Rochelle Smith has successfully appealed against a 12-month cobalt disqualification.
Qld adamant proposed rules reflect national standards
QUEENSLAND Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett insists the proposed draft penalty standards in circulation will not conflict with the Australian Rules of Racing.
Big wet leaves Birdsville-bound jockeys stranded
TWO Brisbane-based jockeys were notable absentees from Sunday’s bumper Birdsville card after the big wet conspired against them.
Cuddle and a song gets Monster home
BRIAN Smith heaped praise Andrew Spinks and Tegan Harrison after the stable landed a winning double with Shuda Known Better and Monster Of Energy.
Mr Epic steps up to plate
TOBY Edmonds will monitor The Virginian closely but hopes the Stradbroke placegetter will recover quickly after being a dramatic late scratching at Eagle Farm.
Nathan’s Racebook
PODCAST: THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby gazes into his crystal ball in search of winners across three states on Saturday.
Pearl shines light on long friendship
PODCAST: PART-owner Leon Cummins will continue a long friendship between Eagle Farm trainer Barry Lockwood and himself when Hidden Pearl contests the Concorde Stakes.
All clear: Hansen penalty canned
DARRYL Hansen has had his penalty against a nine-month ban overturned by the Racing Disciplinary Board, which ruled the B sample tested in Victoria was inadmissable.
Trainer ‘totally bewildered’ by cobalt positive
LEADING Queensland harness racing trainer Darrel Graham reckons he doesn’t even know how to spell ‘cobalt’ and will fight a 15-month disqualification.
Ryan happy with the lie of the Land
MEDAGLIA D’Oro was the stallion of the moment at Rosehill on Saturday, but at Doomben, trainer Steele Ryan was feeling grateful he missed out on training one of the Darley stallion’s offspring.
Dan desperate to win famous Birdsville Cup
QUEENSLAND’S reigning Champion Country Jockey Dan Ballard is keen to add to his tally of winners when he returns to Birdsville this weekend.
Barnett bombshell has trainers feeling nervous
QUEENSLAND Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett has dropped what has been described as “a bombshell” as the commission considers new hardcore mandatory sentences.
Ringo rocks city with a touch of Gray power
VETERAN trainer Norm Stephens combined with his one-time apprentice Matt Gray to land the apt-named Ringo’s A Rockstar a winner at Doomben.
Monsieur Gustave to prove first-up win no fluke
FLYING first-up winner Monsieur Gustave is poised to show his cavalier Sunshine Coast display was no fluke when he takes on tougher rivals on Saturday.
Nathan’s Racebook
THE Courier-Mail’s racing editor Nathan Exelby gazes into his crystal ball in search of winners across three states at Doomben, Rosehill and Caulfield on Saturday.
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