Author: Ben Triandafillou

HORSE RACING AFTER having more than a year off the scene, Dean Binaisse’s smart mare Felicia has her eyes set on some more black type races this winter. The Group 3 winner who thrives on rain affected tracks has sprints such as the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) and the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on her radar in July. Binaisse said the mare just hadn’t had a decent spell for some time after having to undergo rehabilitation for her knees. “The owners and I decided to give her a really good spell,” the Mornington-based trainer…

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HORSE RACING CLIFF Brown certainly hasn’t lost his knack for getting South Australian Derby runners ready. The Mornington-based trainer saddled up his first runner in the race in over 20 years with the improving talent Yaphet taking his place in the three-year-old staying contest on Saturday 14 May at Morphettville. Brown has had remarkable success in the Derby having saddled up three winners within five years with Cheviot (1996), Markham (1997) and Blue Murder (2000) saluting during the late 90’s, and once again Brown was right around the mark with his newest talent. After winning third-up at Sale over 1600m…

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HORSE RACING MORNINGTON-based jockey Ethan Brown is now a Group One winning rider. The 23-year-old who grew up in Alice Springs combined with the powerhouse stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace to win the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) aboard Snapdancer at Morphettville on Saturday. Brown, who had ridden in eight prior Group 1 races, was coming to grips with landing every jockey’s dream. “I’m still spinning a bit, I can’t really believe it but to get my first Group One here especially for Ciaron and Brad Spicer (owner) it’s just amazing,” Ethan Brown said post-race. “I moved…

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HORSE RACING AFTER four years out of the saddle, former trainer, now returned jockey Adam McCabe has claimed his first winner back. McCabe, who returned to race riding in February this year, combined with Mornington-based trainer Paul Rocke to win comfortably aboard State Of Class at Moe last Monday 25 April. The 31-year-old jock who shares his riding duties between Mornington and Cranbourne trainers was thrilled to knock off his first winner back. “You can start to overthink it when you’re running around the mark and getting placings on the lower grade horses,” McCabe said. “It’s good to get the…

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HORSE RACING MATT Laurie has once again found success at the rich VOBIS raceday at Caulfield. Laurie, who took out the $950,000 VOBIS Showdown with Prince of Sussex three years ago, combined again with the same ownership group to win the $500,000 VOBIS Sires Guineas with Chartres on Saturday. Also by rising Victorian stallion Toronado, Chartres was given a perfect ride by jockey Ethan Brown to swoop around the field and continue to kick in the straight to win by just under a length. The Mornington-based trainer was pleased to see their plan pay off. “This was the priority. In…

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