Ben Dorries

Brisbane

Senior Journalist at Racenet

Writer at Freelance

Media. Sports. Storyteller. 🐎

Articles

Chris Waller gives hobby trainer reason to believe he can complete Stradbroke fairytale

3 days ago | codesports.com.au | Ben Dorries

As he counts down the days to a fairytale crack at the 2025 Stradbroke Handicap, larrikin Brisbane hobby trainer Craig Cousins has the words of Chris Waller ringing in his ears. It will be a David versus Goliath battle in the Stradbroke as 60-year-old Cousins, who only has three horses in work, takes on some of racing’s biggest names.
Ciaron Maher plotting another Group 1 Queensland Oaks upset

4 days ago | racenet.com.au | Ben Dorries

Socks Nation 2.0 is about to rock the Group 1 Queensland Oaks. The mystique of Ciaron Maher went to a new level last year when he conjured a training miracle and masterclass to score the Oaks with $101 bolter Socks Nation. Few saw it coming, not even Maher's great mate Tony Gollan who questioned what Socks Nation was even doing in Brisbane when he first saw the travelling filly in his stables.
Unexpected chance for Emily Lang to score biggest career win

4 days ago | racenet.com.au | Ben Dorries

Emily Lang is poised to snatch an incredible slice of riding history and become the first female jockey to claim the Brisbane riding title … and now she has an unexpected shot at her biggest career win. It seems inevitable that history will be created in Brisbane this season with apprentice Lang (57 wins) and Angela Jones (50 wins) leading the city title race ahead of James Orman (45) who is now riding in Hong Kong. Next in the race are Andrew Mallyon and Bailey Wheeler, both with 42 wins.
Ciaron Maher plotting another Group 1 Queensland Oaks upset

4 days ago | theaustralian.com.au | Ben Dorries

Socks Nation 2.0 is about to rock the Group 1 Queensland Oaks. The mystique of Ciaron Maher went to a new level last year when he conjured a training miracle and masterclass to score the Oaks with $101 bolter Socks Nation. Few saw it coming, not even Maher’s great mate Tony Gollan who questioned what Socks Nation was even doing in Brisbane when he first saw the travelling filly in his stables.
Unexpected chance for Emily Lang to score biggest career win

4 days ago | codesports.com.au | Ben Dorries

Horse RacingDon't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Emily Lang is poised to snatch an incredible slice of riding history and become the first female jockey to claim the Brisbane riding title … and now she has an unexpected shot at her biggest career win.
Benagil recovered and back on track

4 days ago | racenet.com.au | Ben Dorries

Glen Thompson says Group 1 winner Benagil has recovered well from some minor lacerations when she "ran up their arses" last start and he feels she is still the horse they all have to beat in Saturday's Group 1 Queensland Oaks. Benagil is the benchmark for Saturday's Oaks at Eagle Farm, having already won the Group 1 Australasian Oaks in Adelaide and boasting a Group 1 runner-up finish behind superstar filly Treasurethe Moment during the Sydney autumn carnival.
Cool Archie comes from nowhere to claim stunning victory in Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes

1 week ago | racenet.com.au | Ben Dorries

"I've got a stallion!" They were the first words that beaming owner Max Whitby said to trainer Chris Munce as the dynamic duo teamed up again with crack colt Cool Archie, this time taking out the $1m Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at a sodden Eagle Farm. They scored the rich victory in the nick of time, with jockeys post-race voting not to continue the double-pronged Group 1 meeting due to poor visibility.
Brisbane Cup on cards for Kiwi import Campaldino after third straight win at Eagle Farm

1 week ago | racenet.com.au | Ben Dorries

Former Kiwi Campaldino must have felt like he was back in his former homeland as he relished the heavy Eagle Farm conditions to take out the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m). There were wild betting fluctuations in the staying event, raced on a Heavy 8 surface, as one-time favourite Immediacy took a bath in betting and blew from $4.20 to $7.
One-time Queensland Derby fancy can rebound from second-up syndrome

1 week ago | codesports.com.au | Ben Dorries

Maddy Sears feels Queensland Derby contender Beau Dazzler may have fallen victim to “second-up syndrome” last start, but says he will be back to his best for the big Group 1 dance on Saturday. Beau Dazzler has long been one of the main fancies for the Queensland Derby but his odds have now ballooned to $26 after being beaten more than five lengths in the traditional lead-up of the Rough Habit Plate (2000m).
Bosustow honours footy legend

1 week ago | racenet.com.au | Ben Dorries

Shelley Bosustow was doing the ironing when she heard a loud, piercing scream. Her husband, legendary former Australian Rules footballer Peter Bosustow, was years into a devastating cancer battle so she quickly raced to his side. "One day I was ironing and all of a sudden he was absolutely screaming," Shelley Bosustow told Racenet. "I thought he was having a heart attack or a stroke.