Wandering Eyes

THE odds are improving, albeit slightly, that Winx may race again this spring. View the full article

GODOLPHIN trainer James Cummings is channelling the lessons he learnt from the “Cups King” to ready Hartnell for another Melbourne Cup bid next Tuesday. View the full article

GAI Waterhouse declared she is a woman on a mission — but wasn’t referring to herself! View the full article

The six-strong roster and fees for the 2018 season of New Zealand-based Waikato Stud were announced early Friday morning. New Zealand champion sire Savabeel (Aus) (Zabeel {NZ}), who has a quintet of new Group 1 winners during the 2017-2018 season is standing for a private fee. The sire of 17 Group 1 winners stood for NZ$100,000 last year. Veteran champion sire Pins (Aus) (Snippets) is New Zealand’s leading living broodmare sire, with his daughters responsible for 28 black-type winners already, and his fee has been set at NZ$25,000. Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}), who sired G1 New Zealand Derby runner-up Mongolianconqueror (NZ) with his oldest foals just 3-year-olds, will command NZ$30,000, while Sacred Falls (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), whose oldest foals are yearlings, is also set at NZ$30,000. Tivaci (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) is slated for NZ$20,000 and is expecting his first foals and the roster is rounded off by Rock ‘n’ Pop (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) at NZ$9,000. “We are extremely proud and overwhelmed by the success and popularity of Savabeel and we are conscious of the numbers and book we will commit him to this season,” said stud principal Mark Chittick. “The Savabeel syndicate will therefore be managing the numbers and book he will serve from this season on and his book will be private going forward.” View the full article

DUSTIN Martin-owned favourite Main Stage will have to overcome a shocking barrier to claim Saturday’s AAMI Victoria Derby. View the full article

DARREN Pearce, who has resigned as Australian Turf Club chief executive, said his proudest achievement was helping to turnaround the club’s financial bottom line and secure long-term success for Sydney racing. View the full article

BIDDING for a record sixth Melbourne Cup victory, owner Lloyd Williams could have up to seven starters in Tuesday’s race. View the full article

SYDNEY trainer David Payne is confident his exciting three-year-old colt Ace High provides him with his best chance of winning Saturday’s Victoria Derby. View the full article

GODOLPHIN’s Qewy moved a step closer to running in the Melbourne Cup with a strong staying effort to hold out Kiwia to win the Bendigo Cup. View the full article

THE very essence of horse racing celebrates winning. Like the beaten grand finalists or runners-up in other sports, no one really cares who comes second. View the full article

HUGH Bowman believes English raider Marmelo has the perfect profile to win Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. View the full article

HARLEM and Jon Snow will need to pass vet tests on Saturday morning after stewards expressed concerns about their fitness following an inspection of the 36 second acceptors for Tuesday’s $6.25 million Emirates Melbourne Cup. View the full article

CHAMPION mare Winx has been ruled out of next Saturday’s Emirates Stakes and won’t race again this spring. View the full article

PUNTERS have identified Matt Cumani’s Greycliffe and the James Cummings-trained Astoria as the value runners in Saturday’s $1.5m Victoria Derby at Flemington. View the full article

IT’S like the grand final, Wimbledon and the Academy Awards rolled into one. View the full article

DAVID Payne’s Australian dream has come true with the former champion South African trainer realising his long-held ambition to win the Victoria Derby. View the full article

THE final 2017 Melbourne Cup field has been announced, with 11 internationals and 13 locally-trained horses to line up for Tuesday’s race. View the full article

ALMANDIN is poised to become only the sixth multiple Melbourne Cup winner and provide owner Lloyd Williams with his sixth win in the race that stops the nation at Flemington on Tuesday. View the full article

Four-time Melbourne premiership winner Peter Moody, trainer of the great Black Caviar, gives us his rundown on the Melbourne Cup horses, along with the odds, tips and a stab at who will dominate the field in the great race. View the full article

Retired four-time Melbourne premiership winner Peter Moody, trainer of the great Black Caviar, talks us through what it’s like for the trainers who will saddle up horses for the Melbourne Cup. View the full article

THEY jump. A roar explodes from 100,000 throats. And the 24 men and women with a horse underneath them and the eyes of a nation upon them are in a three-minute-long eye of the cyclone that could change their lives forever. View the full article

THEY are the critical pieces needed for solving the Melbourne Cup puzzle — performances in key staying events around the globe. View the full article

THIS is the easiest and best way to organise your office sweep for the Melbourne Cup. View the full article

EIGHT of the 10 runners in today’s Lexus Stakes will be staking a claim for automatic inclusion in the Melbourne Cup. View the full article

The Southern Hemisphere fees for the Darley roster have been set, with stalwart Exceed And Excel (Aus) leading the 28-strong roster at A$82,500. He stood for A$110,000 in 2017. Also standing at Darley Kelvinside in New South Wales is Lonhro (Aus) at A$55,000, while his son, G1SW Impending (Aus) is joining the Northwood Park roster for his first season at A$22,000 in 2018. Medaglia d’Oro, a regular shuttler from Jonabell Farm in Kentucky and sire of G1 Golden Slipper hero Vancouver (Aus), will remain Stateside. New shuttling recruit Ribchester (Ire) will command A$24,750 at Kelvinside and Epaulette (Aus), sire of two group winning juveniles with his first crop, sees his fee raised to A$27,500. Ribchester’s sire Iffraaj (GB), who has enjoyed Group 1 success with Jon Snow (NZ) and Gingernuts (NZ) in recent times is returning to Haunui Farm in New Zealand where he has been priced at NZ$25,000. “It has been a tremendous year for the Australian breeding and racing industry,” said Godolphin Australia Managing Director Vin Cox. “The yearling market is up, prizemoney is at record levels and foreign investment continues to grow. Breeders are now deservedly reaping those rewards. We are proud of Darley’s reputation for looking after our breeders and this is something we wish to continue to build on. We have already strongly signalled our intention to support breeders at the sales and look forward to these yearlings running in the Godolphin blue silks–and hopefully further enhancing the value of their dams. This support is a commitment we intend to maintain, and as you will see from this year’s fees, we are here to do business with you.” View the full article