Matt Stewart

Leon Corstens is one of the remaining active links to a legendary Flemington era, which has his old boss, Bart Cummings, at its centre. At 80, he is still a key background figure, now in the resurgence of fortunes of the stable he shares with his son Troy, and Will Larkin.

Colour theory, papal visits and that Arc near-miss are all part of the legend of Brian Smith, who retires from training at age 84 this month. Matt Stewart caught up with the legendary horseman, who said he’s done with “thinking too much”.

In a couple of years in Hong Kong, Brenton Avdulla’s fortune and fame have exploded. But while he is enjoying the rock star profile, he tells Matt Stewart that there are other charms of working in one of world racing’s most competitive jurisdictions.

The Hall of Fame Legend elevation of Black Caviar and Winx may have created some debate, but in Hungary, there remains no doubts as to who was the greatest of them all, and as Matt Stewart reports from Budapest, the legend of Kincsem remains strong, 138 years after her death.

When crisis after crisis hit Lindsay Park in 2021, David Hayes was stranded on the other side of the equator. But four years on, he and his sons know that moment has proven the making of their current run of success.

Amid the many tributes following Robbie Laing’s sudden death at age 66, one theme ran strong. As Matt Stewart writes, the five-time Group 1-winning trainer, former jockey, farrier, breaker and racing historian was a natural horseman who forged his own unique path.

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.