Australian Open: Jones breaks ground
The Australian Open may still be just over four weeks away, but the tournament has already produced its best story.
Join The Roar
Become a member to join in Australia's biggest sporting debate, submit articles, receive updates straight to your inbox and keep up with your favourite teams and authors.
Oops! You must provide an email address to create a Roar account
When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address
By joining The Roar you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions
Login and get Roaring
Oops! You must provide an email address to create a Roar account
When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address
Roar Guru
Joined November 2013
88.7k
Views
33
Published
589
Comments
Author, freelance journalist and owner
Published
Comments
The Australian Open may still be just over four weeks away, but the tournament has already produced its best story.
The Melbourne Racing Club did an excellent job of turning Caulfield into an exciting hub to kick off the Spring Carnival.
Saturday’s Epsom Handicap is officially a disaster. The compressed weights system and a 56kg minimum has ensured the race is anything but a handicap.
Day 2 of The Championships promises to deliver more high-quality racing with (touch wood) drier conditions.
The state of Australia’s metropolitan tracks is worsening with major works required on a number of racecourses around the country.
Welcome back the Doncaster Mile! After over a decade in the wilderness, the famous handicap is once again the centrepiece on a terrific day of racing.
As the barriers opened in the 2014 Melbourne Cup, winning jockey Ryan Moore, on board winner Protectionist, had one thing on his mind – patience.
RACE RESULT: The 2014 Melbourne Cup has been won by Protectionist, following a strong sprint to the finish ahead of Red Cadeaux and Who Shot Thebarman.
Melbourne Cup day is finally here, and with a huge 10-race card at Flemington you won’t miss any action here at The Roar.
The Melbourne Cup was and still is the race that stops the nation. When the race was conceived, it brought together the best handicappers from around Australia, and today the Victoria Racing Club has broadened the search to all corners of the globe.
The Mackinnon Stakes (2000m, weight-for-age, Group 1) is our second feature here on Derby Day. Will the Cox Plate form hold up? Start time is 3:00pm AEDT, so join us for all the updates from the mounting along with the race coverage.
The biggest week of racing is finally upon us, once again bringing to the fore ways we could improve the Victoria Racing Club’s Spring Carnival.
Every year, we hear and read the same stories: too many drunken teenagers at Caulfield, too many internationals in the Cup and too many C-grade soap actors on the Channel Seven coverage.
The 2014 Cox Plate (Group 1, weight-for-age, 2040m) is one of Australia’s greatest races and the latest instalment is set to run at 5:40pm. Join The Roar for live coverage, tips and post-race analysis.
The Manikato Stakes (1200m, Group 1, handicap) brings together some of Australasia’s best sprinters under lights at 9:45pm (AEDT). With a $1 million purse, this is a sprint of the highest quality.
The Melbourne Racing Club has provided another sensational Caulfield Cup carnival.
Japanese topweight Admire Ratki has stormed home to win the 2014 Caulfield Cup ahead of New Zealand pair Rising Romance and Lucia Valentina.
The Caulfield Guineas (1600m, Group 1, set weights) at 5:40pm AEDT brings together Australia’s best colts and geldings at a mile. Keep up to date with our live blog for the best up-to-date coverage of the Group 1.
The Thousand Guineas (1600m, Group 1, set weights) at 5:05pm is our third major for the day here at Caulfield. Join us for our live coverage as some of Australia’s best fillies battle for Group 1 glory.
The Metropolitan (2400m, Group 1, handicap) at 5:20pm (AEST) is the final Group 1 feature at Randwick on Super Saturday. Join us for our live coverage of Sydney’s premier spring race for the stayers.
Handicaps by their nature aren’t always won by genuine Group 1 horses however its nice to have a quality performer at the top of the weights to provide it with some respectablity.
Epsom Handicap or Epsom Stakes?
Hooked ended up top weight as all the other higher rated geldings did not accept. The weight scale will mean a few mares will be carrying weight-for-age which is a big disadvantage particularly considering only one mare has won the Epsom in 30 years.
Epsom Handicap or Epsom Stakes?
Good point. While some like small fields and $1.50 favourites, I just love big fields with a big weight spread and plenty of value.
Epsom Handicap or Epsom Stakes?
Funny you mention that as this week’s Turnbull Stakes is a set weights and penalties. I would like to see more of them as the unusual weight scale adds a different dimension to the race.
Epsom Handicap or Epsom Stakes?
I’d love your reasons. Half the field have won a Group 1 in the past twelve months and plenty of the others are Group 1 placed in that time. I think in terms of depth, this is a great Doncaster.
The Doncaster Mile is back where it belongs
Wrapping up here at Flemington after a great staying performance from Protectionist, who will now be trained by Novacastrian Kris Lees. Stay tuned to The Roar as we keep you updated with all the latest news and views. There is plenty of quality racing still to come at Flemington, with the VRC Oaks on Thursday and the Emirates Stakes on Saturday along with a mouth-watering Darley Classic for the sprinters. Thanks for your company!
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
A quinella for the Snowdens, who are having a great carnival after leaving Darley and starting their own training partnership. Another great ride from James McDonald, who had to be very brave to take the run.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
RACE 10 – Results
1ST – MAHARA
2ND – ROSE OF CHOICE
3RD – VIBRANT ROUGE
4TH – BELLE DE COEUR
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Racing in the last – Lady Lakshmi jumps well with Danestroem and they lead from Rose of Choice pulling on the fence with Mahara in behind her. Around the bend, Lady Lakshmi goes out after the leader with Red Fez and She’s Clean. Rose of Choice ducks up on the fence with Mahara off her back. Belle De Coeur out wide storming home, but Mahara scores!
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Big support for Lady Lakshmi into $8 after opening at $14 as they are being loading into the barriers.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Mahara has the shades on for the first time today. James Mcdonald rides.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Rose Of Choice looks in great order, heading to the barriers. She has firmed into $4.80 outright favourite ahead of her stablemate Mahara at $5.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Looking forward to seeing Griante over the 1400m. She has drawn wide, but is still great value at $13.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Belle De Coeur is one of the picks of the mounting yard. She looks bright and has freshened up nicely since her failure behind Woodbine in September.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Horses are in the mounting yard for the final race on Cup Day. Rose of Choice and Mahara are equal favourites at $5 with another Sydney galloper, She’s Clean at $7.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Anthony Freedman may freshen the winner up for the Standish Handicap on New Years Day after thriving down the straight.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Once again, the first five all came down the middle of the track, which has been the place to be all day down the straight.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Great ride from Wayne Lordan, who gets in eye in for the big ride on Slade Power on Saturday. Anthony Freedman was happy with his trackwork and felt he would perform well first-up.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Race 9 – Results
1ST – REPARATIONS
2ND – OFFICE BEARER
3RD – FINAL CRESCENDO
4TH – TARGET IN SIGHT
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Racing in the sprint. Notlistenin’tome bounces out of the gate and leads from Sea Lord as they come down the middle of the track. Target In Sight has found cover midfield. At the 400, Reparations hits the front from Office Bearer and he sprints away. Reparations bolts in at a good price as well!
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Office Bearer has been passed fit to run.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Office Bearer playing up in the barriers with Vlad Duric out of the saddle. He will be taken out and vetted.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Watermans Bay has plenty of support and is a great chance at $19. Horses are loading for the sprint.
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
Plenty of support for the mare Jazz Song, who was competitive in stakes company over the Brisbane winner. She is unbeaten first-up
Melbourne Cup day 2014: Raceday live updates, tips and results
A bit harsh on Stratum Star. He ran Kermadec to a nose in the Carbine Club after sitting three wide and giving weight before being narrowly beaten by Wandjina and Alpine Eagle in the Australian Guineas. While I question his quality there is no doubting his consiatency.
Epsom Handicap or Epsom Stakes?