Horse Racing

HYGAIN/MITAVITE COUNTRY TRAINER OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER 2021

HYGAIN/MITAVITE COUNTRY TRAINER OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER 2021

My thanks to popular Queensland race caller Russell Leonard for drawing my attention to a notable training performance at the Barcaldine meeting on September 4th. Respected local trainer Todd Austin prepared four winners and four placings on the eight race card.

GRAHAME BEGG GETS ANOTHER CRACK AT THE CAULFIELD CUP!

 GRAHAME BEGG GETS ANOTHER CRACK AT THE CAULFIELD CUP!

It’s unlikely there was a more contented horse trainer in Australia on Sunday morning than Grahame Begg. Not only had his talented five year old Nonconformist scored an emphatic win in the MRC Foundation Cup on his home track, but…

JOHN THOMPSON’S FLUCTUATING FORTUNES

JOHN THOMPSON’S FLUCTUATING FORTUNES

Chat’s barnstorming win in the Gr 2 Theo Marks Stakes at Kembla Grange was the highlight of a very disheartening few weeks for John Thompson.

GORDON SPINKS ON THE MEND AFTER HEART SURGERY

GORDON SPINKS ON THE MEND AFTER HEART SURGERY

Former high profile Sydney jockey Gordon Spinks is making an excellent recovery after major heart surgery at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital.

BROOKE BOUNCES BACK WITH A GRAFTON DOUBLE!

BROOKE BOUNCES BACK WITH A GRAFTON DOUBLE!

Brooke, who hadn’t ridden a winner in seven attempts at Gilgandra and Tamworth in the previous week, arrived at Grafton with a book of six rides in as many races.

THERE’S NO KEEPING BROCK RYAN DOWN

THERE’S NO KEEPING BROCK RYAN DOWN

In form apprentice Brock Ryan left Kembla Grange on Saturday content with his winning double, but knew in his heart it should have been three.

LAURI PARKER’S FIRST RANDWICK WIN WAS WORTH THE WAIT!

LAURI PARKER’S FIRST RANDWICK WIN WAS WORTH THE WAIT!

Covid restrictions currently being enforced in the Liverpool LGA caused one Warwick Farm trainer a great deal of anguish on Saturday. Horse loving Lauri Parker would have given anything to be at Randwick with her five year old stallion Torrens.

MICHAEL TRAVERS PROVES PERSEVERANCE ISN’T A LONG RACE; IT’S MANY SHORT RACES ONE AFTER THE OTHER

MICHAEL TRAVERS PROVES PERSEVERANCE ISN’T A LONG RACE; IT’S MANY SHORT RACES ONE AFTER THE OTHER

Michael Travers was quietly chuffed in late 2018 when Racing NSW announced that jockeys would be permitted to both ride and train horses in their home state from the beginning of the following year.

MICHAEL COSTA CONTINUES ON HIS WINNING WAY!

MICHAEL COSTA CONTINUES ON HIS WINNING WAY!

Experts say the effects of an adrenaline rush can be felt for up to an hour. If that’s the case Michael Costa was still well primed by the time the Missile Stakes field moved into the gates at Randwick on Saturday.

MITCHELL BEER RUNS A HAPPY STABLE!

MITCHELL BEER RUNS A HAPPY STABLE!

A trainer usually gets more bad news than good news, and most of the bad is beyond his or her control. You can’t be too hard on yourself and you’ve got to have a laugh. It’s easy to handle winners and success. Dealing with the bad news quickly, allows you to get on with the good things. A happy stable is a good stable.”

KRISTEN’S MIDWAY WIN WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE!

KRISTEN’S MIDWAY WIN WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE!

There were three breaths of fresh air to come out of an unremarkable winter meeting at Rosehill Gardens. Firstly apprentice Brock Ryan put behind him the horrors of a broken leg earlier this year, to ride four of the ten winners - a remarkable feat at such an early stage of his career.

JENNY DUGGAN BOUNCES BACK - THEY BREED ‘EM TOUGH IN SWEDEN

JENNY DUGGAN BOUNCES BACK - THEY BREED ‘EM TOUGH IN SWEDEN

Jenny Duggan wanted her return to race riding to be as low key as possible. After all she’d been off the scene for more than a year and knew her fitness and racecraft would need some fine tuning.