Tara Talks Racing on Breednet

The Cox Plate – we dissect a deserving winner, mad tactics and big runs.

The Melbourne Cup – we’ve seen just about all the lead ups now and we’ve done the overseas videos. We work through who’s rising to the top of our pile.

The Derby – there’s some dodgy staying pedigrees among some of the favourites. We look through the lead ups and try to flesh out the hopes of running the 2500m trip in the spring.

And plenty more both past and future, including the Coolmore and Golden Eagle this weekend, not t...

So much to deal with this week! It's become one of the great days on the calendar.
In no particular order:
Tempted’s Everest – we have our say. She’s an Aussie bred…but is she? She’s the pin up girl for shuttle stallions is what she is. And descended from an Oaks winner!
The Caulfield Cup – did we see a Melbourne Cup hope there?
A quick drill down into the raiders (Clocker’s bagging the favourite).
What’s the shape of the Golden Eagle after the Silver Eagle?
Is it possible we could be acci...

We’re a bit more forward looking with a Caulfield Cup focus this week since it’s the race where there is not an odds-on favourite and there’s plenty in plenty of horse with winning chances.

Then there’s the Everest after the barrier draw, the Thousand Guineas and we look back at last weekend. Three fillies beat the colts in the three Sydney features – is that telling us something?

In no particular order this week – a Rant, Epsom, Equimillion, Everest, Arc, 2YO’s, Prizemoney, Cox Plate, Caulfield Guineas. It’s a wide-ranging ramble on the week that was and the week that’s coming.

A spring dissecting – why we think the Derby favourite can’t win and will the $3mil carrot drag some of the Golden Rose brigade into its net.

Pride of Jenni’s three-peat in the Feehan as a nine year-old was impressive but it has been done before – even more impressively as it turns out.

One of our favourite horses has nabbed an Everest spot but is it too soon?

Who we think can win the Epsom this weekend, along with some of the other majors. It’s D-Day for some.

And we’ve dive...

Another Golden Rule and the Golden Rose. It’s a week full of hopes and dreams with a look at the Golden Rose, one of, if not THE jewel in the crown for making a colt instantly commercial at stud. And the other dreamers were at the official Sydney two-year-old trial this week. There are always good horses there and we go through the appealing prospects, some obvious, and some others who finished out of the placings. And a quick look at the major results this week, big race noms coming up and the Cup weights.

The Golden Rule, it was there for everybody to see on the weekend. Also the Golden Rose. The Everest. The Epsom. Racing in China - where winners don't count. And of course a bit on Sheza Alibi, giving hope to everyone with the racing dream. What we took from last weekend's racing. A brief look at what's coming this week, and importantly, are there more golden rule horses in the wings?

With spring hotting up Group One racing has started but it's still really only the build up. We go through who we think is building up the best as the proper targets get closer. Is there any hope for any joy for anybody who's not part of Camp Ka Ying in the Everest? And a Tara family favourite is sailing off into the sunset. Short and sharp this week but plenty to keep us interested.

We welcome Joe O'Neill from Prime Thoroughbreds. Joe's been syndicating horses successfully for nearly 30 years with current mares Cavalry Girl and Shadhaver flying the flag brilliantly. It's a wide ranging and chat about his selection processes, pedigrees, his thoughts on two-year-old and three-year-old racing and the changes his seen and the challenges ahead for racing.

And of course we get in to the feature racing. The brilliant ones and the plain ones from the weekend. Tara much more forgiving than Clocker on some of them. He's got the pen out already! And the Hunter Valley stud parades...

Tara’s back from a fun filled Victorian stud tour which started with a speeding ticket but got much better - we attempt to condense 4 days into 10 minutes. Not only the eye-catching stallions but who makes the gun Espresso Martini, where to get the best feed in Yass and the biggest red flag for a bad driver that exists! Also the spring 3YO’s kicked off last week - we have our opinions of where that landed. And this weekend is all about Group One Winx Stakes – a rating that is up for question but it’s going to be good...

We’re back for spring!

A look at the early season barrier trials; the big bangers, the good, the queries, the not so obvious potential topliners.
Winter horses to follow – is there another Half Yours? And from the same camp?
We talke Everest hopefuls outside the obvious. The Cox Plate and how to find a winner off the noms. Sire tables. Stud tours. Missile Stakes hopes. And the colour yellow – where is the limit?
Also the rambling other stuff – it's great to be back and in to another spring! We hope you enjoy.

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 next season’s 3YO star?

We come up with our favourite races and performances of the carnival, and look at the South Aust...

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 bit more

There’s also Henry’s first impression of Extreme Choice after buying into him sight unseen as a promising two-year-old – fair to say he looks at him...

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 which ran out of its skin and into the placings. Some regular podcast listeners might have had a little joy there to...

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 on some of our favourites from years past and have a look at a Rose...

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. We take a look at those NZ majors with Australian trips in the plan for some of the winners.

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 handicapper thrown a bone to the Tentyris opposition in the Newmarket? – Tara’s got a roughie. And why you need to do the form in the All Star Mile.

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 there only two chances in the Derby this far out?

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. And we touch on a mighty interesting weekend coming up.

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 To Run this week and the Magic Millions catalogue is out for January.

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 horses and moments from the past and who we reckon can and can ‘t win this year along with our final tips. Whether you choose to back them or ma...

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 have shown their hands. In Sydney it’s the Golden Eagle. Probably Autumn Glow’s toughest test. Can the international raiders bring her down...

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 the other majors from a fabulous weekend, two-year-old racing starts, how’s the Cox Plate looking and a bit of Everest. We hope you enjoy.

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 racing? And our favourite OTT showjumper is back in play.

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 also reveal Tara’s new favourite song and Clocker clinging to his Metrop hope.

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.

Winter is finishing, spring is here and so is season 3 of our podcast! The excitement of spring racing and the breeding season is imminent – trials, jumpouts, spring hopefuls, new stallions, stud tours, naughty show jumpers. We’ve eased into it nicely. We hope you enjoy.

We’re joined this week by Shaemus Mills, successful bloodstock agent and renowned for buying fillies at the top end of the market – one of those is last weekend’s G1 Sangster winner Charm Stone. He takes us through his thoughts and strategies at yearling level and mating level.

Also home bred Group One winners, a bit of Kentucky Derby and the Champion 2YO debate. Enjoy.

Gilgai Farm’s Kelly Skillecorn is back with us. Since we first spoke in January they’ve bred G1 winner Nepotism and shot the lights out at the yearling sales. It’s another great chat - An unremarkable horse, failed vets, pinhooks, golf courses, Ole Kirk and mating plans. Plus we ponder the Champion 2YO, last week’s racing, weanling sales and service fees. Enjoy.

We’re joined by Jim Clarke – bloodstock agent and key player in the success that is Bjorn Baker. We talk Arapaho, Stefi Magnetica, O’ Ole, yearling sales, mentorship, Ridgmont, loads more – it really is a great chat. And of course we do our take on the big races from Day 2 of The Championships, plus a bit of what’s ahead. Enjoy.