Darwin-based apprentice Jade Hampson, who represented the NT during the final leg of this year’s National Apprentice Race Series at Doomben on Wednesday, celebrating victory aboard Mighty Murt at Alice Springs in January Picture: Nikki Westover Photography The National Apprentice Race Series has put aspiring young NT jockeys on the map. After a nine-year absence, the NT returned to the NARS last year, finishing well adrift of eventual winners Queensland. Before the fifth and final leg, comprising two heats, took place at Doomben on Wednesday, the NT (31 points) were second behind South Austral ..read more

Good Oil will contest Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) in Victoria. Photo: Race Images Good Oil has continued to impress Andrew Forsman this season and the Cambridge trainer will give the eye-catching frontrunner his first Australian test in Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup (2400m). The son of Dalghar took time to develop, only breaking his maiden early as a four-year-old, but a season later he has rapidly stepped through the grades over middle-distance trips with 11 top-four finishes in his 13 starts this term. In his familiar pace-making role, Good Oil almost caused an upset in both ..read more

Jimmysstar will return to the races at Randwick on Saturday. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Ciaron Maher is poised to make waves at Randwick this Saturday as Jimmysstar, one of the stable’s up-and-coming stars, returns from a brief spell. While his appearance in the Benchmark 100 over 1400 metres may not rival the grandeur of Pride Of Jenni’s triumphant Queen Elizabeth Stakes victory, it holds significant importance for the promising runner. The ultimate ambition for this campaign is set on the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in Brisbane come June, yet Jimmysstar must first elevate his ..read more

Group 1 winner Chain Of Lightning. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Chain Of Lightning is gearing up for a thrilling journey that could take her all the way to Royal Ascot in June, but not before a potential change in ownership in May. According to co-trainer Peter Moody, the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) champion is eyeing the prestigious Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot. “She’s slated for the broodmare sales in May, and we’ve accepted an invitation to Ascot, so she’ll be sold under that arrangement at the Magic Millions broodmare sale,” Moody disclosed to Racing.c ..read more

Amelia’s Jewel is the favourite for The Quokka at Ascot this Saturday afternoon. The second edition of The Quokka will headline proceedings at Ascot this Saturday afternoon, with a full field of 14 runners expected to compete in the $5 million slot race. There appears to be a plethora of chances in the 2024 edition, with five of the runners marked in single figures. Online bookmakers have the Simon Miller-trained Amelia’s Jewel heading the market at +230 as the four-year-old mare seeks to go one better than her runner-up finish last year. Unfortunately for the mare’s connections, the luck of t ..read more

The Maggstar and jockey Jade Hampson return to the mounting yard after dead-heating for the win in the National Apprentice Race Series at Sandown in April 2023. (Photo: Pat Scala/Racing Photos) The Northern Territory could seal its first National Apprentice Races Series (NARS) title on Wednesday. The fifth and final leg takes place at Doomben, and with two heats remaining it’s South Australia on 37 points leading from the NT (31). Jade Hampson, Darwin’s third-year apprentice, will be seeking points after drawing Aces Up in a 2000m maiden and Under Twenty Two in a 1200m Class 1. The 20-year-old ..read more

Magic Time winning the 2023 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Magic Time is set to amplify her Group 1 achievements as she gears up for Saturday’s All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. Trained by Grahame Begg, the four-year-old prodigy clinched the prestigious Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on her final outing last season. This time around, she commenced her campaign with commendable sixth and seventh-placed finishes in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) respectively. “I thought she ran very well,” remarked Begg regard ..read more

Nereus winning the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) at Trentham. Photo: Race Images PN New Zealand’s champion jockey, Michael McNab, is poised to make his Victorian debut this weekend when partnering the Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained Nereus in Saturday’s Mornington Cup (2400m). The Kiwi sensation, Nereus, boasts an impressive record of five wins from eight career starts, including a recent triumph in the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) at Trentham. Ritchie is optimistic about the prospects of the four-year-old progeny of Savabeel (Zabeel) in this weekend’s Listed event. “Nereus is ve ..read more

Group 1 Australian Oaks winner Autumn Angel. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) After securing a victory in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m), Autumn Angel could be poised for further elite-level success, with considerations for either the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) on June 1 or the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) on June 8. The talented filly, trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, is currently enjoying a spell in Queensland. Managing owner Wylie Dalziel disclosed that the decision to extend her season is under deliberation. “At this stage, she’s having a spell in Queen ..read more

Without A Fight winning the 2023 Melbourne Cup. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Sam Freedman is brimming with optimism regarding the outlook for stable standout Without A Fight as the Spring Racing Carnival looms on the horizon. Since his commanding victory in last year’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), the imported talent has been absent from the track, sidelined during the autumn season due to a minor tendon strain. However, Freedman shared encouraging updates on the gelding’s recuperation. “He’s going great,” remarked Freedman, who operates in collaboration with his father Anthony. “I had ..read more