News

Jul 2026

BIG WIN FOR PETITE PALACE

PETITE PALACE cruised to a comfortable win at Ipswich to bring up the fifth success of a very profitable career. Having run a mighty race over the track and trip on Ipswich Cup Day, the homebred mare had been building to another victory and she duly justified favouritism in the Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) thanks to a mature ride by apprentice Olivia Kendal. The three-kilo claimer looked to be in an awkward spot in the home straight, but she took her time before extricating PETITE PALACE from the fence and the daughter of Under The Louvre promptly left her rivals trailing in her wake. The one-length win took PETITE PALACE’s race record to five victories and seven minor placings from 21 starts, and she has collected a tick over $170,000 in the process. Many congratulations to the team at Dovedeen, who bred and race the mare.

Jun 2026

VENOM RUSH IS IN A HURRY AT IPSWICH

VENOM RUSH stormed back to form in some style at Ipswich with an emphatic win in the last race of the day.The chestnut ran right up to his flashy looks with a two-and-a-half length victory in Thursday’s Class 1 Handicap (1200m) under Brandon Lerena, who had the luxury of easing him down near the line.VENOM RUSH had finished down the field at his previous start in the Queensland Day Stakes (1200m), but the three-year-old had legitimate excuses having been trapped wide throughout the Listed contest.Punters jumped off him as a result, but those who kept faith at $7.50 were duly rewarded when the gelding left his rivals standing to bring up his second career win from eight starts.“He’s clearly a very talented horse,” said Michael.“The mental side of things has been a struggle for him at times, and we’re still learning about him as we go. But it was great to see him put it all together. It was a pretty nice field for a Class 1, so I was half kicking myself before the race that we were jumping from the outside gate in a very competitive race, but he was very impressive.“I’m sure it won’t be the last race he wins in his career, and I think we’ll step him up to 1350 or 1400 metres next time. That win will probably sneak us into the Grafton Guineas (1600m) next month, so that will be his main target and we’ll look to leave enough petrol in the tank. He’s relaxing so much better in his races, so I think he should handle the step up in trip no problem.”Many congratulations to his owners: S U Liyanasuriya, Mr U S Liyansuriya, A P Parkinson, Mr M Romeo, Mr A Latina, Mr G T Stephenson, Mr G S Curtiss, Pig Sty, Mr A W Mcleod, Mr A M C Pearson, Mr G A Bishop, Mr P Beddoe, Mr J Wijey, Mr B D Clarke.

Mar 2026

BEAUDESERT BLITZ BY MAJESTIC LOUVRE

MAJESTIC LOUVRE extended the stable’s red-hot streak with an all the way romp at Beaudesert on Thursday. The gelding led from pillar to post under another enterprising ride by Brandon Lerena, who had also been aboard CROSS OF SCARLET and SMART ACTION at Warwick and Doomben respectively. MAJESTIC LOUVRE bounced out of the gates and took charge of proceedings from the outset of the Maiden Handicap (1200m). With several of his rivals floundering, the 4YO continued to pile on the pressure and the result was a formality a long way from home. The three-and-a-half length success justified his strong market support and earned connections a cheque for $16,800. Many congratulations to the team at Dovedeen.

Mar 2026

SAVVY WIN BY SMART ACTION

SMART ACTION extended the stable’s terrific run of recent form when he powered home at Doomben’s midweek metro meeting. The bargain buy carried the stable’s recent record to two victories and a minor placing from our last four runners when he won with something in hand in the Class 3 Handicap (1650m). Given a peach of a steer by in-form jockey Brandon Lerena, who was also aboard for CROSS OF SCARLET’s maiden win at Warwick on Tuesday, SMART ACTION took his career prizemoney earnings to the brink of $150,000. The 6YO son of Smart Missile had put the writing on the wall with a minor placing second-up, and he duly relished the step up to the mile – as well as some juice in the track. “It was a really good result,” said Michael. “He won a race in similar fashion 12 months ago, but he’s had a few issues with his joints since then. But he put it all together today and showed what he’s capable of. “He used to love the ground rock hard, but these days he prefers a bit of give so he had the perfect conditions today and made the most of them.” Many congratulations to For Real Racing and The Ten Percenters, who picked him up for a mere $14,000 in the 2024 Inglis Online Sale.

Mar 2026

CROSS OF SCARLET RUNS HER RIVALS RAGGED

CROSS OF SCARLET led her rivals a merry dance thanks to a bold front-running ride at Warwick on Tuesday. The lightly-raced mare broke through at start number eight after a display of sustained speed and stamina under Brandon Lerena. CROSS OF SCARLET entered the Fillies & Mares Maiden (1350m) off the back of an improved showing at Kilcoy, where she led before failing to see out the 1500m trip. The drop back to 1350m proved pivotal as the daughter of Rothesay took charge of proceedings from the outset and sprinted clear in the home straight to score by two lengths. Many congratulations to the team at Dovedeen, who bred and race the mare.

Jan 2026

FAB FOUR FOR PETITE PALACE

PETITE PALACE enhanced an already impressive race record when she scored her fourth career victory at Warwick on Thursday. The four-year-old homebred mare now has four wins and the same number of placings to her name after powering home in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1100m). Her three-length victory came after a freshen-up and carried the daughter of Under The Louvre’s prizemoney earnings to $116,000 from 13 career starts. Given a confident ride by Brandon Lerena, who was also aboard stablemate DOWN UNDER STUNNAH for her recent win, PETITE PALACE struck the front at the 200m mark and promptly pulled well clear of her rivals in the closing stages. Victory continued a strong run of recent form for the stable, with our last nine runners producing a trio of winners. Many congratulations to the team at Dovedeen, who bred and race the mare.

Jan 2026

MARE STUNS HER RIVALS AT IPSWICH

DOWN UNDER STUNNAH showed speed and stamina in equal measure when she raced away to her second career victory at Ipswich. The mare perhaps just failed to see out the 2212m trip at her previous start, but relished the drop in distance to 1975m in Thursday’s Class 1 Plate. Given a very economical run by Brandon Lerena, DOWN UNDER STUNNAH travelled sweetly but just appeared short of room in the home straight. Lerena was prepared to bide his time, however, and his patience was rewarded as the daughter of Under The Louvre darted along the inside rail to seal a stylish win by just under two lengths. Victory continued the stable’s strong recent form, with our last three runners producing two winners. Many congratulations to the team at Dovedeen, who own and bred her.

Jan 2026

MAD ANA HAS A BALL AT BALLINA

MAD ANA continued her love affair with Ballina when she made it two wins from two starts at her favourite venue on Friday. The consistent mare dropped slightly in both distance and grade having placed at her previous start at Murwillumbah, and she proved too strong for her rivals in notching her third career win in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1920m). MAD ANA was given a peach of a steer by apprentice jockey Grady Spokes, who navigated a path from the fence and peeled the daughter of Dundeel to the outside of the track shortly after turning into the home straight. Once she had hit top gear, it was all over bar the shouting as MAD ANA carried her career earnings to $82,560 – almost three times her purchase price at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. “It was another really nice win,” said Michael. “Things panned out perfectly for her. She never runs a bad race, but she does need a certain set of circumstances for her to win. It was a good performance by both horse and rider, and with the BOBS bonus it’s as good as winning a midweek race. “She pulled up well and looked an absolute treat after the race. There’s a suitable Benchmark 64 race at Canterbury in three weeks’ time, which I had in the back of my mind if she won today. It’s worth $40,000 to the winner including BOBS bonuses, so it could be a nice option for her.” Congrats to all her owners: Mr C Mirgis, Mr B L Hannon, Mr M Sommer, Mr P W Traill, Beddalife 2, Mr P A Curran, Snr K M Kelly, Mrs H M Kendler, Mr G T Stephenson, Mr K G Caldow, Mr B J Leonard, Mr S Antczak, Mrs C White, Mr G S Curtiss and Mr J Lolesi.

Dec 2025

DEADLY VENOM RUSH BITES HIS RIVALS

Bargain buy VENOM RUSH broke his maiden in some style with a deadly finish at Murwillumbah on Friday. The $1,500 online purchase is still very much a work in progress but he produced a devastating turn of foot to hit the board at career start number two in the Maiden Plate (1200m). Given a patient ride by Brandon Lerena, the 3YO looked to have his work cut out after the race favourite had put a margin on his rivals in the home straight. But under the urgings of his pilot, VENOM RUSH mowed down the long-time leader to justify Michael’s opinion of him. “I really like this horse and I think he’s got a good future,” he said. “It’s taken quite a long time just to get the basics into him, but he’s always shown us something in the stables. He’s slowly getting there now and there’s still a lot to come, so to do what he did today was pretty impressive. He really went off in the mounting yard at Beaudsert so his parade was much better today, but there’s still plenty of progress ahead with his manners and education.” Many congratulations to his owners: S U Liyanasuriya, Mr U S Liyansuriya, A P Parkinson, Mr M Romeo, Mr A Latina, Mr G T Stephenson, Mr G S Curtiss, Pig Sty, Mr A W Mcleod, Mr A M C Pearson, Mr G A Bishop, Mr P Beddoe, Mr J Wijey and Mr B D Clarke.

Nov 2025

MAD ANA SENDS HER CONNECTIONS CRAZY

MAD ANA drew on all her strength and stamina to break through for her second career win at Ballina on Tuesday. The daughter of Dundeel had closed off sharply over 1800m at her previous start, and she duly ate up the extra ground in the Class 1 Handicap (1920m) to carry her earnings past $50,000. Young apprentice Bella Youngberry, who was in the saddle for the first time, oozed confidence on MAD ANA after moving the mare into a prominent position with 400m left to run. Despite being challenged late in the piece, MAD ANA clung on gamely to score a well-deserved victory which rewarded the patience of her large ownership group. “Full credit to Bella for the ride,” said Michael post-race. “She rode the perfect race and the mare was too strong for them late. She’s definitely furnished this prep, and to be honest I was probably expecting a bit more from her first few runs. But this was a fairly handy field for a Class 1 at Ballina, so to put them away might just give her the confidence she needs to take the next step. “I think she can get to midweek metro grade, and she runs out a strong 2200 metres so that’s where we see her future. Her owners have had to be patient with her but hopefully we can reward them with a few more wins now.” Many congratulations to Mr C Mirgis, Mr B L Hannon, Mr M Sommer, Mr P W Traill, Beddalife 2, Mr P A Curran, Snr K M Kelly, Mrs H M Kendler, Mr G T Stephenson, Mr K G Caldow, Mr B J Leonard, Mr S Antczak, Mrs C White, Mr G S Curtiss, and J Lolesi.

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