Matt Stewart

Noel Callow was in a post-race bust-up with a fellow jockey, which has cost him his first Australian Group 1 ride in nearly five years. The rollercoaster is nothing new for the man they still call ‘King’, writes Matt Stewart.

The connection between French and Australian racing has arguably never been as strong, and while both confront a decline in wagering, the causes, as well as the racing culture are different, writes Matt Stewart.

Dan Meagher likens the decline of his legendary father John through dementia to “a massive dark cloud” but as the champion Singaporean trainer embarks on his new journey back in Australia, his dad’s lessons ring true every day in the stable.

Sue Jaensch's quietly extraordinary racing life is missing only a Group 1 on the mantelpiece, something which could be remedied with her Goodwood wildcard Sir Sway on Saturday. He is just the latest of a string of cheaply bought dream horses over the journey.

Much has changed in the training landscape since James Cummings last ran a stable in his own right, but as he tells Matt Stewart, he is galloping into his next chapter with the same energy as the day he zipped up the Godolphin jacket for the first time.

As jumps racing embarks on another comeback from the brink, Steve Pateman, a key figure in its previous revival 15 years ago, plots his own return to Warrnambool, the heartland of the sport he has made his own.

The Straight’s Matt Stewart wanted to ask champion trainer Chris Waller about dealing with pressure. What came back was a 25-minute unfiltered voice message reply which sets out the challenge Waller faces every day to meet his own very high standards.