TUESDAY: November 4, 2025: HAWKESBURY husband and wife trainers Mitch and Desiree Kearney will front up at Flemington on Thursday with their first Group 1 runner in Melbourne – with ample encouragement from jockey Rachel King. Team Kearney arrived in Melbourne late this morning with their three-year-old filly Sheeza Diva, whom King will ride in the $1m Crown Oaks (2500m). Sheeza Diva returns to her own sex in the fillies’ classic after taking on the “boys” at her last two sta

MONDAY: November 3, 2025: BRAD Widdup is hoping a late riding switch will help him win Royal Randwick’s Big Dance tomorrow with his first runner. Hawkesbury’s leading trainer says he was fortunate to be able to book Jason Collett for Ruby Flyer in the $3m 1600m feature when Dylan Gibbons took the mount on Lord Of Biscay for leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, with whom he served his apprenticeship. Gibbons qualified Ruby Flyer for the Big Dance when he partnered him to victo

THURSDAY: OCTOBER 30, 2025: JACK Pilkington wasn’t going to be caught napping! The Hawkesbury trainer had set Alabama State for the $500,000 Four Pillars Midway at Rosehill Gardens 12 months ago, and was understandably downcast when his then three-year-old was left with trying to overcome barrier 18 in a capacity 20-horse field. Alabama State had no luck and in the circumstances did a terrific job to finish fourth to Kingston Charm (beaten less than a length). “It broke his h

TUESDAY: October 28, 2025: IT’S a pretty good habit to share! Hawkesbury trainers Brad Widdup and Jason Attard are making a practice of winning races at the same home track meetings. For the third time this season they did it again today; the only difference being that Widdup prepared a double. Having defeated all comers last season to become the first local trainer to win the Hawkesbury premiership in three decades, Widdup’s victories with Blue Eyes Brigid ($2.45 favorite) a

TUESDAY: October 28, 2025: JAMES Ponsonby was prepared to “take a punt” when he noticed an unraced three-year-old by Cox Plate winner Ocean Park listed for sale through Inglis Digital in January last year. Named Drunken Sailor, he had fetched $220,000 when sold as a yearling in New Zealand. At Queanbeyan yesterday, Drunken Sailor clinched his fourth victory for his Hawkesbury trainer and boosted his earnings to nearly $100,000. Not bad at all when it is considered Ponsonby pu

MONDAY: October 27, 2025: IT’S never a cinch for horses to go straight from a Maiden success to doubling up in a Class 1 next time out. But given local trainer Jason Attard’s track record this season and what his lightly-raced mare Nesrine has overcome, taking tomorrow’s Mental Health Matters Class 1 Handicap (1100m) at Hawkesbury is definitely on the cards. Attard’s four winners in the first three months have all been on home turn; the latest with Nesrine, who strolled home

SUNDAY: October 26, 2025: TERRY Croft received a pleasant surprise when he took a phone call from Peter Wynne after this year’s Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale. Former Richmond publican Wynne had already purchased a Zoustar filly from Positive Problems for $270,000 for the Hawkesbury trainer, and rang to say he was sending another filly to him. He had purchased an Ole Kirk youngster for $280,000 after she had initially been passed in. That filly races as Thrill Hunter

Get ready, fashionistas! The highly anticipated Fashions on the Field Competition returns to the Hawkesbury Race Club on Saturday 8 November, as part of the 2025 Evergreen Turf Ladies Day festivities. This year, will be bigger than ever, with an array of incredible prizes and all eyes turning to the main stage for a spectacular showcase of style, elegance and sophistication. Whether you’re a regular race day style icon or joining us for the first time, Ladies Day offers the

THURSDAY: October 23, 2025: HE’S confident he will do very well! Hawkesbury’s leading trainer Brad Widdup hasn’t hesitated to put Young Mister Grace’s unbeaten record on the line by testing his promising three-year-old in Listed company for his city debut at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Dylan Gibbons, who has ridden the Anders colt in both his victories at Hawkesbury on September 25 (1000m Super Maiden Plate) and October 9 (1100m CG&E Benchmark 64 Handicap), partners him again

MONDAY: October 20, 2025: HAWKESBURY co-trainers Mitch and Desiree Kearney are daring to dream! Come Saturday at Royal Randwick, the husband and wife team will have their first runner in a Group 1 race when Sheeza Diva lines up in the $2m Spring Champion Stakes (2000m). Rachel King rode the three-year-old filly when an excellent fourth at $91 to Shangri La Boy in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens on October 11 and sticks with her, hoping to win the featu

SUNDAY: October 19, 2025: HE’S a 10-year-old marvel who is still winning races, and on track for remarkably a fifth visit to Victoria’s annual Jericho Cup meeting at Warrnambool. Hawkesbury trainer James Ponsonby was entitled to be proud of himself when his veteran Will To Excel clinched a last gasp victory over 2400m on the Wagga Riverside track yesterday at his first start in nearly three months. Ridden by Mathew Cahill, the $19 chance proved the strongest stayer when he ma

And the milestone moment in the 18-year-old’s brief career at Bathurst yesterday carried extra significance as both winners were for her master, leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup. Gorton began riding only three months ago, and her first winner (also for Widdup) was a leg of her inaugural double. She was successful on Forcefilly at Goulburn on September 12, and the mare, along with stablemate Don’t’callmekathy, provided the young jockey with a memorable day. Gorton won th

WEDNESDAY: October 15, 2025: HAWKESBURY husband and wife trainers Phil and Tara Vigouroux had a “throw at the stumps” with Just Shane in last Sunday’s 1600m Coonamble Cup. “It was a bit ambitious,” Phil Vigouroux said this morning. “We were hoping to get a spot in either the Big Dance or Little Dance at Royal Randwick next month. “It didn’t work out, but he still ran well to finish fifth (to Victorian visitor Justadeel) in a strong race after being trapped wide for the first

SUNDAY: OCTOBER 12, 2025: THE world’s richest race on turf would not have even entered Brad Widdup’s thoughts when he caught sight of Lot...

THURSDAY: October 9, 2025: WHEN the going gets tough, the tough get going! It’s a well worn proverb (and a 1986 Billy Ocean hit as well)...

WEDNESDAY: October 8, 2025: HAWKESBURY’S leading trainer Brad Widdup is seeking his 60 th  success at home tomorrow. And his best chance...

SUNDAY: October 5, 2025: HAWKESBURY’S talented sprinter Jedibeel has earned a berth in the $20m The Everest field. Leading trainer Brad...

THURSDAY: October 2, 2025: IT’S a day Mitch and Desiree Kearney probably thought might never come around! For the first time the popular...

MONDAY: September 29, 2025: IT’S not often you get an instant return on a horse you’ve had for only three weeks! But that was certainly...

SUNDAY: September 28, 2025: ONE horse was named after a former Test cricketer, another prefers good ground, and a third gave her trainer...