Matt Stewart

Total 48 Posts

Life in the Land of the Giants - the mega stables and their impact on racing

The number of trainers in Australia is shrinking, while the size of the mega stables continues to grow. Where does it end up? Matt Stewart thinks harness racing provides an answer.

Training in paradise – Eustace‘s Hong Kong adventure is ready to launch

Some days David Eustace can hardly believe he is embarking on a training career in Hong Kong. He told Matt Stewart that he is approaching the challenge with a balance of caution and ambition.

‘The one constant in their life’ – The unbreakable bond between horse and strapper

Donna Fisher cried for two days straight when she realised Black Caviar’s end was near. The strapper and the unbeaten mare shared an unbreakable bond during her racing days, a relationship mirrored with champion racehorses and their strappers the world over.

‘Labour in vain?’ - Victoria faces reality of being jumps racing’s last bastion

As the Victorian jumps season nears its end, and New Zealand puts the format under review, Matt Stewart reflects on Racing Victoria being the exception rather than the rule.

Crocs, bull sharks, oil and sand – The Darwin difference

Training at Darwin’s Fannie Bay has its fair share of unique challenges but legendary horseman Gary Clarke tells Matt Stewart ahead of Monday’s Darwin Cup that he wouldn’t be anywhere else.

The Payne of expectation – How Michelle’s Melbourne Cup changed everything

Michelle Payne, who retired from riding this week, was centre stage in one of the most remarkable moments in Australian racing history. The legacy of that Melbourne Cup win is still being felt, by Payne herself, those who are closest to her, and by a new generation of jockeys she has inspired.

It takes two – Training partnerships evolve to meet need to compete

Four of the top 10 stables in Australia this season have been in training partnerships. Be they family or strategic alliances, they have evolved to meet the need to compete in an era of super stables, writes Matt Stewart.
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