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Very keen racing fan and Olympics enthusiast, now working for the South China Morning Post's horse racing desk in Hong Kong. Lucky to have attended some of the biggest racing events worldwide - but the Melbourne Cup is still my favourite event of all!
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It's here - the most comprehensive free Melbourne Cup preview on the internet, a tome that is longer than War And Peace, all devoted…
The Australian flag may be flying high at Sha Tin today, but it is highly unlikely it will be thanks to an Australian-trained winner…
A decade ago, Darren Weir left Flemington disconsolate, despondent and dejected. His star mare She's Archie, a one-time favourite for the 2004 Melbourne Cup…
November is here, which means only one thing - the Melbourne Cup, the race that stops the nation for three minutes on the first…
For many people, the Melbourne Cup conjures up memories of Makybe Diva's three Cups, of Damien Oliver's heroic victory aboard Media Puzzle and even…
It's easy to chat about how and why the Melbourne Cup is such a great race, but it's even more exciting to see some…
It's here - the race that stops the nation for three minutes on the first Tuesday in November every year. It's Melbourne Cup time,…
A horse's chances in the Melbourne Cup can live or die at the hands of Mother Nature. In Australia, there are 10 track ratings…
While Derby Day is named for the spring staying test of three-year-olds, the Victoria Derby, it is the Mackinnon Stakes which has long been…
Saturday's Caulfield Cup is further proof the race has progressed from a mere lead-up to the Melbourne Cup to become a target race on…
The focus of the racing world is on this weekend's Caulfield Cup, but it is Saturday week's Cox Plate which may be the big…
The Caulfield Guineas has long been the premier race of the spring for three year olds. Run over the mile, now 1600m, it has…
As the spring racing carnival nears, it's easy to forget that the industry revolves around what happens off-track as opposed to on-course activities. Spend…
If ever there's an official starting point of the road to the Melbourne Cup, it's the next 24 hours, with the international band of…
With the best month of racing for the year right on our doorstep, it is easy to look towards the many positives - for…
The latest fad in racing is to run the feature race as the last race of the meeting, an endeavour which has generally been…
The Underwood Stakes on Saturday was jokingly labelled the "race of the millennium" before the race, but it lived up to its star billing…
While all attention is likely to be on the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield this weekend, there is another race on the…
With a month until the Caulfield Cup and just under seven weeks until the Melbourne Cup, now's the time to reassess the Cups picture…
The first European visitors to Melbourne go into quarantine tonight our time, ahead of the first shipment which arrives into Melbourne on AFL grand…
I can’t see it the same way as you Alfred, I think the blame lies with Glory Awaits who’s then come out into Magician causing all problems.
Dawn Approach should be safe.
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
Yep, apparently suffered extensive bruising to his front legs.
Dawn Approach isn’t bombproof, sure, but I’m not sure whether the form around Magician is overly strong either. I think Dawn Approach is probably at his best at a mile and I think he’ll win this.
Might have a saver on Mars.
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
I’m becoming more and more confident about Dawn Approach, especially after hearing the problems that Magician suffered the last week.
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
Johnny Murtagh has veins of ice, just so cool.
I reckon they should back Shamexpress up next Saturday, his run was full of merit.
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
Can’t believe it – labelled Sole Power the main danger to Shea Shea in my preview, but didn’t back him! Ouch!
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
I thought the same thing. I’d say give him a go in Melbourne! Even if not, run him in the George Main in Sydney!
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
How far does Farhh win if he turns up for the Queen Anne Stakes?
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
I had a ridiculous day on Sunday – turned $50 into…an amount significantly larger than $50! #dayofdreams
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
Still keen on maybe pursuing a Roar horse? Justin?
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
Interested in your thoughts Alfred – do you stand by the piece you wrote a few weeks back that Shamexpress will embarass us tonight?
I really hope he wins for the owners, who are a good group of guys…but I just can’t see it happening!
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
Must say – if you ever get the chance, don the top hat and tails and get to Royal Ascot. It is truly one of life’s great experiences.
I was lucky enough to get there last year, probably the best year for an Australian to be trackside given the wins of Frankel, So You Think and Black Caviar!
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
I’m happy to stick with Championship, blocked for a run and finished off hard to get up on debut, winning the maiden which was won in the past by previous winners Strong Suit and Canford Cliffs.
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
I think Justin’s spot on. I think the tough mile should be right up his alley, fingers crossed anyway!
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
I think Animal Kingdom is getting out to his right price now, really. He should still win, all being equal, but there are still queries about how he’ll handle the undulating Ascot straight.
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
Definitely agree it is the highlight. Just depends how fit both horses are for this race!!!
I’m in the Dawn Approach camp!
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results
As I said many times throughout the article, I’ve only focused on the last five years, so both Choisir and Miss Andretti are missing. Also missing are the likes of Bentley Biscuit and Glamour Puss who travelled across, while it also ignores a number of Melbourne Cup runners.
Australia's Royal Ascot interest stretches beyond our runners
For mine, the two key formlines are the Doomben 10000 and the Scone race.
From the Doomben 10000, the weights and measures horse is Spirit of Boom, who ticks all the boxes of a Stradbroke winner except he’s a non winner, while it’s hard to think Epaulette won’t be around the mark.
From the Scone race, Decision Time’s the weight horse while Fontelina is probably at his best at this trip.
Happy for them to form my top four, with Spirit of Boom on top at the odds for mine.
Can’t have Streama for a number of reasons – every winner since 2002 has had a run two weeks before, each of those has had a drop of weight into the race (Streama goes up in weight, the only horse in the field to do so) and I’m not sure she’s quite as effective fresh. That’s without mentioning the record of mares. That said, Crawl (winner in 2001) did exactly what Streama’s trying to do, so can’t rule her out entirely.
Stradbroke Handicap 2013: Preview, tips, live updates
I’d say it’s a combination of both. Wasn’t bred to stay, and given the way the race was run, just couldn’t see it out.
I’m sure they were kind to him too once he was beaten.
I’d love to see Ruler of the World have a crack at the St Leger – atone for Camelot’s defeat, albeit not racing for the same legendary status.
Epsom Derby 2013: Live updates, blog
Chatham’s my number 33 – had to have him in there, as I say though, if he’d raced a decade later probably rates higher.
It’s clear I’m biased in the Sunline v Northerly debate!
The Roar’s top 50 Australian racehorses of all-time (Part 7) 35-31
Thanks for joining us for tonight’s racing. It may not have been a winning night for Australia, but we leave with our heads held high – albeit in the wake of the gallopers from Hong Kong.
We look forward to bringing you more international race blogs in the future, in particular for Royal Ascot next month. We look forward to joining you then!
Singapore Cup, Krisflyer Sprint: Horse racing preview, tips, live blog
It was as dominant performance as I’ve seen this year…
Mawingo was brilliant, he’ll win races up there for sure.
Singapore Cup, Krisflyer Sprint: Horse racing preview, tips, live blog
He’s absolutely smashed them. Bring him to Australia for the Cox Plate, John Moore!!!!!
Singapore Cup, Krisflyer Sprint: Horse racing preview, tips, live blog
Meandre leads into the straight, but through on the inside is Military Attack and he races away to give Hong Kong the double from Dan Excel – it’s a Hong Kong quinella.
And look at that – Mawingo third!!!! Good night for Australia really.
Singapore Cup, Krisflyer Sprint: Horse racing preview, tips, live blog
Meandre pushes on to take on Flax for the lead.
Singapore Cup, Krisflyer Sprint: Horse racing preview, tips, live blog
Perhaps I should be sticking with the namesake! Haha.
2013 Royal Ascot: Day 1 preview, live race updates, blog and results