Tim Yeatman

Star South Australian sprinter Queman has died after succumbing to a battle with illness on Tuesday morning. The 2024 Oakleigh Plate winner had been battling colic at Morphettville’s Equine Clinic since symptoms showed more than a week ago. Shane Oxlade, who trained the son of Mint Lane in partnership with daughter Cassie, said the loss was a tough pill to swallow. “It’s just devastating,” Oxlade said. “It’s just all happened fairly quickly and it came from absolutely nowhere.

Mark Zahra expects to play little part in the Melbourne autumn after fracturing his leg at the Sandown jumpouts last week. Hoping to find out more today after consultations with his medical team, the star jockey says the Lightning Stakes and other Group 1 features in Victoria may come too soon as he continues his recovery. “It’s a fracture, most fractures are around six weeks,” Zahra said on Giddy Up With Gareth Hall.

Race 1 – Magic Millions Maiden Plate 3YO+ MDN (1100m) Winning horse: Melanite Winning Trainer: John Thompson “He’s a flashy bugger. He’s a good type. We paid a little bit more than we expected but a lot of good judges were on him and we were lucky enough to get him. “He’s had a bit of bad luck in his runs, but he’s shown talent. He trialled up well and this race was there, so we waited for it. “He was travelling a long way from home, and you were confident around the corner.