Tara Talks Racing on Breednet

The Sydney Autumn carnival is done, the last Group One taken by Beiwacht in the All Aged Stakes. We delve into him, and the other four Darley Group One winning three-year-old colts with two now retired and one gelded. And what of the two-year-olds going forward? How good are they? Which ones might be the right ones to stick with? History would suggest it’s often not the winners. Have we even seen...

The Championships Day 2 threw up two performances that were in rare air. Tara reflects on how Autumn Glow had already over-achieved on her pedigree, and Clocker is in awe of the C Williams ride on Sir Delius. So, is there a place for him on Australian stud rosters? And then there’s Tempted. It’s a golden period – enjoy!

We’re joined by Henry Field from Newgate Farm – with Campione D’Italia winning his first Group One race in the Inglis Sires and Extreme Choice dominating the Easter Yearling Sale it was the perfect time. A great chat covering the yearling sales with an eye to a future stallion, managing a sub-fertile champion stallion, the tried horse market, playing the long game with elite broodmares and quite a...

This week we’re talking Inglis Easter, Championships Day 1 and have found a horse named from a great movie that can win on debut this Saturday. Can Blue Door write the next chapter in the decades long Singo and Gai on again off again story? We think she might. Also Sheza Alibi will need to be good to win… Sunline good!

What did we make of the Slipper Day – always one of the year’s great days and it certainly didn’t disappoint this year. Which was the best run in the Slipper? Were there hard luck stories or did the sectionals suggest otherwise? Autumn Boy, Aeliana and Autumn Glow’s were brilliant wins with the focus now on where they’re heading. We’ve got an opinion or two there. Tara found one at 100 to one whic...

Golden Slipper week! It’s been one of the great days of racing in Australia for generations and nothing has changed. Every week during the Slipper build up has seemed to bring a new hope to the fore and kick one to kerb. Time for us to have our go at finding the winner, and sorting the ones that can from the ones that can’t after a barrier draw that threw plenty of curve balls. We also reminisce o...

The Golden Slipper picture is taking shape after two of the major lead up races on the weekend but is the late comer about to throw himself into the final reckoning? Can Frankel sire a Golden Slipper winner? We delve into where we think the juveniles are at now we are right at the pointy end. The richest race on the weekend was in New Zealand, and nearly a boilover - there was blood in a nostril....

Another week where we remain fascinated but confused by the Golden Slipper picture. A new contender has emerged though so long as everything goes right. We have a think on the future after the weekend’s racing. Can Aeliana build a post-Autumn Glow picket fence or can Sir Delius spoil her party? And this weekend’s races: A fascinating Randwick Guineas. The two major Slipper lead ups. Has the handic...

Two-year-olds - after Streisand’s win in the Blue Diamond, are we any clearer on the Golden Slipper picture? Is a late bloomer set to seize the moment off the trials? Who’s the value chance under the radar. We unpack the week of racing. There was a boy that‘s become a man, blue hens, high quality races, some maybe not so. And into the future – one of the races of the carnival coming up and is ther...

Could the Autumn be setting up any better? It’s going to be vintage. There’s Autumn Glow, Tentyris, Joliestar - just stunning starts on Saturday, but there was so much more going on behind so we have our crack at making sense of it. Tara’s forgiving a couple, Clocker not so much. We also talk value sires that keep delivering, bad knees, Blue Diamond, and other important 2YO matters etc.

Big on the babies again with four very interesting 2YO races including the $2mil Inglis Millennium, was it up to par? and the Blue Diamond Previews – were they likewise? We discuss. We also discuss the argument that Godolphin have yet to hit the jackpot with a homebred stallion but have they ever had a better bunch of colts? Plus other random matters that interest us from Observer to Nature Strip....

Feb 2: The 2YO’s, where are we at? The weekend changed the picture markedly and the next week promises to do the same so what are we thinking for now? Who are the players? Who are the dark horses? Who can we kick to the kerb? And we’re excited – it’s the year of the horse and this autumn is looking mighty interesting. We skim that surface on trials and this week's noms.

An end of year Christmas quickie to take a look at the two-year-olds now things are heating up and heading in to the Magic Millions. And we ponder the horses we're most looking forward to in 2026 without saying the words Autumn Glow!

The Flemington spring is done for another year and what a week. The Cup, The Oaks, Champions Day – who’d we think were the champs? Who do we want to be with into Autumn. We ponder where things sit between NSW and Vic with the two-year-olds at this early stage. The stakes racing conundrum… again! And looking forward – G1 racing again this weekend, a bit of Perth and the sales are upon us. NZ Ready...

Another brilliant Derby Day alongside the Golden Eagle. Tentyris shows who’s best, a filly and gelding second and third. The Derby goes to the best horse. The disappointing three-year-olds of the spring. Pride Of Jenni – when the good one turns up she’s stunning but that version isn’t always around. And of course the amazing Autumn Glow. Then on to the Melbourne Cup of course. Our favourite Cup ho...

Of course we delve into the Cox Plate – Via, Bucky, how bad was Aeliana? But there’s plenty more to discuss. Who do we think was the best performance on the day? and it’s not the Cox Plate. The Spring Champion in Sydney with a couple of rising stars, on a day where the late, great Lonhro starred. And there’s Derby Day coming up. The Coolmore 3YO’s have had their final hitouts. The Derby horses hav...

Coming off what has become just about the best day’s racing of the year we delve into the wash up. Ka Ying Rising of course. The two best performances from exciting horses outside of that. What did we make of the King Charles and Caulfield Cup. Is the Golden Eagle now a two horse race? Do Godolphin have the three best three-year-olds? And Tara’s going early on the Melbourne Cup.

This week we’re joined by Newhaven Park Stud’s John Kelly, breeder of Epsom winner and unbeaten superstar Autumn Glow. The story of her dam, the South African champion Via Africa, some reminiscing about the champions that have called Newhaven home throughout its remarkable history and the enjoyment of horses and searching for the next good one – “an addiction cured only by death”. And we deal with...

Our guest Darren Beadman. One of the truly great people in racing. A legendary rider who has worked with Godolphin and now a key part of the Chris Waller stable so has the perfect insight into 3YO stunner Beiwacht. But that’s just scratching the surface, big races last week, big races this week, the future of riders, thoughts on current stars. We just loved it. Hope you do too.

A ramble on the week that was and the week that will be, you’ve got to keep your wits about you this week. Group Ones, Non-Group Ones, two-year-old trials, is Sir Delius too good a horse to win a Cup? And Birdman. The mighty Birdman.

Our guest is Colleen Bamford, breeder and part-owner of Australia’s newest Melbourne Cup hope Revelare. This is a fantastic chat with a passionate lady. Colleen and her husband also shared in the ownership of Cup winner Americain who saw out his days at their property. We also delve into the racing. Mr B’s Makybe Diva win, Aeliana mighty, where do we think the 3YO’s sit after a pivotal day of 3YO...

Our guest this week is Nathan Bennett of Bennet Racing after Baraqiel’s G1 Moir Stakes win. The story behind a horse that started his career as a five-year-old and has won a Group 1 as a seven-year-old but there’s plenty more to the Bennett Racing story which involves a lot of success and a lot of very happy people. And as always we have our take on the important stuff in racing and breeding. We a...

We’re joined by Dr Richard McClenahan from Mullaglass Stud in the Hunter Valley. He bred Hellbent off an $11,000 fee to a second season sire called I Am Invincible and now he’s bred Raging Force by second season Cosmic Force at a fee of $16,500. A great chat on the thinking behind growing success. Plus a bit of racing, a bit of breeding, and Tara gets antsy on the prizemoney.

We ramble about our tours through stud land, new stallions, old marvels and hopes ahead. The big races we've just seen and the ones coming up. And we tip! Both stallions and racehorses. Exactly what everybody needs to hear!

The Victorian industry has a lot to be bullish about at the moment so Tara headed south and is fresh back from a tour of southern NSW farms and on to Victoria's best.