TALES OF THE TURF
TALES OF THE TURF
Step inside the world of Australian racing through the eyes, and voice, of one of its greatest storytellers. In each article, John Tapp brings the sport to life with the same warmth, insight, and passion that made him the Voice of Australian Racing. These are the moments, the people, and the horses that shaped the turf, told by the man who called them home.
NIPOTINO GIVES DANIELLE SEIB HER SEVENTH TAB HIGHWAY SUCCESS
Last week brought a gamut of emotion to emerging training talent Danielle Seib. Few people were aware of her innermost thoughts as she watched two year old filly Sweet Treats
DANNY BEASLEY’S IN RARE FORM BUT IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON
Danny Beasley may well have had second thoughts about his impending retirement as he politely reeled off a winning treble at Wagga on Friday.
GORDON SPINKS PREDICTS A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR GOLD COAST APPRENTICE JACE McMURRAY
When someone as eminently qualified as Gordon Spinks heaps praise on a new apprentice, you tend to take it on board. The former star Sydney jockey was on the phone last week to spread the word about a seventeen year old Gold Coast rookie called Jace McMurray.
TOUGH AS TEAK ELSON BOY MAKES IT FIVE STRAIGHT AT SCONE.
Elson Boy’s effortless win in a Mudgee barrier trial on Sunday March 31st, gave veteran trainer Dar Lunn almost as big a thrill as an official race win.
TANGLEWOOD HITS THE RIGHT CHORD AT NEWCASTLE
Todd Howlett was in buoyant mood on December 2nd last year as he parked his four horse angle loader at Rosehill Gardens. The float was occupied by his trio of TAB Highway runners Tanglewood, King Rupert and Talons.
CEJAY AND GARY DELIVER A GROUP 2 FOR YET ANOTHER HAPPY LAUREL OAK SYNDICATE
When Jamie Kah elected to ride in Adelaide on Saturday, trainer Gary Portelli wasted no time in recommending Cejay Graham to Kintyre’s many owners as a worthy replacement jockey in the Gr 2 Queensland Guineas.
PRYDE’S EASIFEED COUNTRY TRAINER OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL 2024
Cindy Monaghan can be justifiably proud of her training statistics for the month just gone. The Dubbo trainer had only five horses in the stable during April and all earned their keep.
TO HONG KONG AND BACK - FATE BROUGHT DIAMOND DIESEL TO THE DUGGAN STABLE
Adam Duggan was watching his eleven year old son Jack competing in a Central Coast basketball match when distracted by the shrill ringtone of his mobile phone.
WET OR DRY - IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO MAGIC TIME
What a comforting thing it is for any owner, trainer or jockey to be involved with a horse capable of delivering a peak performance no matter what the conditions.
PRIDE OF JENNI DID IT HER WAY
For those who’d supported Pride Of Jenni it was an exciting watch. For those who’d backed any one of her eight rivals it was a frustrating experience.
FORMER JOURNALIST DOUG GORREL WAS HAPPY TO LET OTHERS WRITE HIS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP STORY.
When you’ve trained the winner of a one million dollar Country Championship Final at Royal Randwick you’re entitled to celebrate accordingly…
PRYDE’S EASIFEED COUNTRY TRAINER OF THE MONTH AWARD MARCH 2024
March turned out to be a bittersweet month for Dubbo trainer Dar Lunn. His five wins for the month included the all important Country Championship Qualifier at Coonamble with Elson Boy.
BANDI’S BOY COMES OFF A GR 3 WIN TO THE COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
When Shelby Sixtysix grabbed Gr 1 glory in the 2022 Galaxy, trainer Danny Williams was confident he had another one at home likely to tread a similar path.
CLIFF CLARE 1930-2024. ONE OF THE LAST OF THE OLD BRIGADE
Ray Selkrig, Bill Camer and Cliff Clare were close in age and carved out distinguished careers for themselves in an era when the Sydney riding ranks were as strong as they’ve ever been.
EVERGREEN GRISEDALE DOMINATES AT KEMPSEY
Chris Parnham’s four win haul at Ascot on Saturday was almost certainly Australia’s best riding performance numerically. At Rosehill Gardens James McDonald calmly snared a black type treble including the Gr 1 Coolmore Classic on Zougotcha.
PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE HAS NO PLANS TO BE A MOTHER JUST YET
When Passive Aggressive went off to Yarraman Park Stud last spring, trainer Grahame Begg was probably hoping he’d get to train some of her progeny down the track.
STEVE HART CHATS WITH KERRIN McEVOY
Steve Hart recently caught up with Kerrin McEvoy who added another Gr 1 to his impressive CV by winning Saturday’s Randwick Guineas on Celestial Legend.
VETERAN NASH SHOWS ‘EM HOW IT’S DONE
James McDonald’s tactics on Fangirl in the Verry Elleegant Stakes were a carbon copy of his Apollo Stakes ride two weeks earlier.
PRYDES EASIFEED COUNTRY TRAINER OF THE MONTH FEBRUARY 2024
Astute Wagga trainer Gary Colvin maintained his trademark strike rate throughout February posting four winners for the month. Dupride Star and Danny Beasley got the stable away to a good start with an Albury win on February 1st.
MARC QUINN GETS TWO INTO THE FINAL AS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GATHERS MOMENTUM
Trainers of horses who qualify early for the $1 million Country Championship Final are obviously relieved to get the hard part out of the way, but then they have to deal with a different kind of problem.