Michael Travers Racing

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Michael Travers Racing will send eight runners around at Wagga Wagga on Sunday, with the team set to start a handful of good chances on the seven-race Southern Districts program.
All eyes will be on debutant Seasmoke (Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll, 53kg), with the 3YO making her debut in race three, the 1200m Maiden Plate.
Known fondly as Dany, Seasmoke was the focus of our Game of Thrones giveaway back in September of last year, with Jason Winner and Scott Cox both winning 2.5% shares.
As a result of her stunning looks, great name, and wonderful demeanour, Seasmoke&rsquo;s progress to this point has been followed closely on social media.
Drawn in gate 8, Seasmoke has opened as the favourite ($3.50) while stablemate Extra Hands (John Kissick, 57kg) is a 4YO Xtravagant mare that is also making her debut from gate 4.
Kahawaty (Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll, 53kg) will jump from gate 5 when contesting the Wagga Whiz (1000m) Benchmark 82 Handicap.
The 7YO has been ultra-consistent without winning in recent starts, but she gets every chance on her home deck and when down in the weights.
Anabaa&rsquo;s Spirit (Rebecca Bronett Prag, 53.5kg) is arguably the stable&rsquo;s best chance on a big day at Wagga.
The 4YO Shalaa gelding is racing well, and the $6 chance gets the opportunity over more ground after drawing gate 2 in the 1400m Maiden Handicap.
Star Empire (John Kissick, 57kg) and Dita Von (Josh Richards, 56.5kg) are both chances in the 1300m Class One Handicap, currently $11 and $13 respectively.
Star Empire has been working well, but has drawn awkwardly with gate 12, and last-start Corowa winner Dita Von draws softly with gate 3 and will appreciate the extra distance on her home track.
Another last-start winner is Gioia River (Brendan Ward, 57kg), which has drawn nicely with gate one in the 1600m Class 1/Maiden Plate.
The 4YO The Autumn Sun mare was very gutsy when winning her maiden over 1400m at Corowa last time out, and the step up to 1600m will suit.
Rounding out the stable&rsquo;s chances is the stunning Miss Pepeha (Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll, 53kg), with the last-start Narrandera winner taking on the 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
The wide draw suits the speedy 5YO, which is currently $6.50, and the team is confident of another bold showing.
Mick and the team will be out and about at Wagga all day, and whether you are an owner or follower, don&rsquo;t be afraid to pop over and say hello. Words/Image: Jeff Hanson

MTR sets big team on home deck

Michael Travers

Michael Travers enjoyed a breakout season in 2024/25, with the jockey-turned-trainer registering best-ever results while securing three Country Cup wins.
Having hung up the race-riding boots in 2023, following a stellar career that yielded 985 victories, Travers is now focused solely on training, and this season, he recorded a best-ever 26 winners, up from 19 in the previous season, while earning over $800,000 in prizemoney.
There were many highlights, with the stable winning Country Cups with Kahawaty (Holbrook) and Mathrin (Cowra and Corowa), while over the Wagga carnival, Cinephile triumphed for connections.
The stable prepared winning doubles at Albury, Wagga, and Corowa, and tasted success all over Southern NSW.
The team even expanded, taking on Trevor Sutherland's former stables on Travers Street.
A small but hard-working team supports Michael, who has been able to share the success with jockeys, including Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll (7), John Kissick (4), Nick Souquet (2), Shaun Guymer (2), Pierre Boudvillain (2), Mathew Cahill (2), Josh Richards (2), Emily Waters (2), Rebecca Bronett Prag, Leandro Ribeiro, and Brendan Ward.
With one eye on the future and some exciting announcements around the corner, Michael and the team will look to hit the ground running in 2025/26, starting at Wagga on Monday and Canberra on Wednesday. Image/words: Jeff Hanson

MTR finishes season with a bang

The transition from jockey to trainer is never an easy one and Michael Travers understands the enormity of it as he closes out his third and most successful season.
Travers, who turns 52 next week, has prepared 25.5 winners this season and will have four starters at Narrandera on Thursday - the final meeting of the season in the Southern Districts.
His best hopes are Mathrin ($11 into $9 on TAB) who will be well suited to the heavy track conditions in the Remax Elite Wagga Benchmark 82 (1400m) and last start winner Miss Pepeha ($9 into $5.50 favourite) who will contest the Riverina Motor Group Country Boosted Battlers Cup Benchmark 50 (1300m).
The Wagga-based trainer has 26 horses in training with more waiting to return to his Wagga stables.
Travers' size and weight could still see him race riding these days, but there came a time when he had to make a call to head in a different direction but still within the industry.
He has had an interesting life being a former school teacher, but the lure of horse racing has kept him involved for many years.
"It's a lot of hard work and I'm working it out as I go with a lot of good people around me," he said.
"We had 16 winners last season and 25.5 so far this season so it's been a gradual build-up of horse numbers and better quality stock and new owners.
"I have great staff and still ride trackwork myself which gives you a good feel for how the horses are going."
And so far they have been going pretty well with a further 35 seconds, 31 thirds, 32 fourths and 32 fifths from 303 starters and total earnings of just under $800,000.
"It's a lot of trial and error training, but I enjoy it and it is constant work," he said. "You strive to get results for the owners and I plan to just keep improving each season with some better stock."
Mathrin has been a mainstay of the stable with five of her eight victories coming on rain-affected tracks. She is a family-owned rising eight-year-old who has earned $276,000 and had her first start for Travers which resulted in a win at Wagga on August 8, 2021.
Mathrin also won her next start at Albury with most of her success occurring at Wagga, while she has also won a Cowra and Corowa Cup.
"She has been great for me and has the right track conditions and the right distance to run well again," he said.
"I use Amy O'Driscoll on her and her claim brings her in with 54.5 kilos; Amy rides her a fair bit and won the Corowa Cup on her."
Travers will start Kahawaty ($13 into $5.50) against Mathrin in the highest graded race on the program. He is hopeful that Miss Pepeha can pick up from where she left off after breaking through at her 16th start at Narrandera.
"She has ability, but also a few quirks. Mathew Cahill rode her perfect last start just allowing her to do her own things," he said. "She can be a handful at times and Amy knows her well having ridden her a few times."
Meanwhile, Due Calzini ($2.70 out to $3.30) chases three straight wins in the Romanos Hotel Riverina Cup Benchmark 74 (2000m). Due Calzini was successful at Wagga before accounting for First Day at his next start at Narrandera.
Noted wet track performer Sorry Sunshine ($9.50) won on a Heavy 10 at Wagga two starts ago before finishing fourth over 1500m at Albury. Sorry Sunshine has won six times with four of those on wet tracks.
He hasn't been placed in two starts over 2000m but trainer Doug Gorrel believes the gelding can step it up: "He has been a great horse for the owners costing very little to breed and he has earned over $100,000 and the heavy track suits him."
Azeola ($19) has won her past two starts on soft and heavy tracks in Victoria over 1600m and 2000m. Words: Graeme White Image: Daily Advertiser&nbsp;

Travers To Finish Season On A High Note At Narrandera

The beautiful grey, Miss Pepeha, was finally in the winner&rsquo;s circle at Narrandera on Sunday, July 13, triumphing in the $35,000 Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1400m).
One to turn heads with her looks, at Narrandera, Miss Pepeha turned heads with a dominant front-running performance.
Following prior placings at Corowa, Albury, and Wagga, Mathew Cahill was in the saddle as Miss Pepeha started the $4 equal favourite at Narrandera.
From gate 9, Cahill worked his way to the front after a fast first furlong, and from there, controlled proceedings as Miss Pepeha won by a length.
The win was a popular one for locals, including the Narrandera-based Shaun Lyons and Will McHale, who have shares in the mare.
An astute $3,750 purchase out of the Inglis Digital March catalogue, the 4YO Zed mare has now won $34,000 for connections.
For readers interested in getting involved with MTR, the stable currently has four horses for sale, offering very affordable entry prices and fixed ongoing costs. Click the link below for more details.
<a href="https://www.michaeltraversracing.com.au/horse-available">https://www.michaeltraversracing.com.au/horse-available</a>
 Words &amp; Image: Jeff Hanson

Miss Pepeha lands popular win at Narrandera

MTR is back on the road Wednesday and Thursday, with runners at the Canterbury and Corowa meetings.
In town, Jean Van Overmeire is in the saddle on Sonic Scene, who will be well in the market when taking on the $100,000 Maiden Handicap (1200m), and Kahawaty, who gets her chance in the $60,000 Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m).
On debut at Canterbury on July 9, Sonic Scene finished strongly, catching the eye late when beaten less than three lengths in the $100,000 Super Maiden Handicap (1100m), and connections draw nicely with gate three on Wednesday.
Kahawaty, after drawing gate 6, is a longer-priced chance, but she has been racing consistently, and last time out, ran third in the Narrandera Yarraman Sprint.
The following day, Travers and the team will have up to five runners at Corowa, including Dita Von (Josh Richards) in the 900m Maiden Plate, Gioia River (Brendan Ward) &amp; Stormy Malice (Cory Parish) in the 1400m Maiden Plate, Taluk&nbsp;(Josh Richards) in the 1200m Class Three Handicap, and Swinging High (Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll) in the 1000m Class 1 Handicap.
Gioia River will be one of MTR&rsquo;s leading chances, with the 3YO racing well without winning this preparation.
Connections draw nicely with gate one in the Country Boosted 1400m Maiden Plate, and Brendan Ward is back in the saddle. Words &amp; Image: Jeff Hanson

Sonic Scene and Kahawaty head to town

Michael Travers Racing (MTR) has grown from strength to strength in recent seasons, and the team&rsquo;s win with Santolini at Wagga&rsquo;s Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Thursday has shed more light on the stable&rsquo;s continued success.
Ridden brilliantly by John Kissick, the 3YO Manhattan Rain filly powered to a decisive win in the 1300m Maiden Plate.
The result coincidentally brought up the MTR team&rsquo;s 22nd victory of the 2024/25 season, which continues their best year.
Granted initially a trainer/ jockey&rsquo;s licence in 2020, Travers became NSW&rsquo;s first-ever dual licence winning trainer, landing his first victory in April of 2021, guiding Estaverdi to victory at Gundagai.
Travers balanced a training and riding career for the best part of two and a half years, riding until April 2023, finishing with a stellar record of 985 victories.
Since then, two years have flown by, and with 61 wins to his name, Travers&rsquo; focus has been on training and delivering results for his owners.
In October, MTR expanded, taking on Trevor Sutherland's former stables on Travers Street.
With a proven winning environment and closer proximity to the MTC Racecourse, MTR has access to a six-horse walker, big yards, and 18 more stables, allowing Travers to train up to 40 horses at the MTC.
The MTR team enjoyed a breakout season in 2023/24, preparing 19 winners during Mick&rsquo;s first full season as a dedicated horse trainer.
Success has continued in 2024/25, with MTR already boasting 22 victories, while the stables&rsquo; earnings have crept towards $700,000 this season.
Having won Country Cups with Kahawaty (Holbrook) and Mathrin (Cowra and Corowa), along with a Wagga carnival victory with Cinephile, it&rsquo;s been a stellar period for the MTR stable, who hope to continue their success into the final two months of the season and well into 2025/26. Words/Image: Jeff Hanson

MTR continues career-best season

If he&rsquo;s not careful, Michael Travers could soon own the &lsquo;Country Cup King of the Southern Districts&rsquo; moniker.
While only 56 wins into his fledgling training career, the former champion country jockey has developed a winning affinity with Country Cups.&nbsp;
Diamond Carat&nbsp;(Quayde Krogh) was his first feature-race winner for the stable. She took out the 2024 Adelong Cup before&nbsp;Dancing In The Sky&nbsp;(Sebastian Galea) triumphed in the 2024 Ardlethan Picnic Cup.&nbsp;
Since January, the Wagga stable has added three more pieces of silverware to the cabinet.
Stable stalwart&nbsp;Mathrin&nbsp;won back-to-back features. Mathew Cahill rode the 7YO to victory in the Cowra Cup on January 19 before Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll jumped aboard the Deep Field mare and won the Corowa Cup on March 8.&nbsp;
Kahawaty&nbsp;(Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll) continued MTR&rsquo;s hot run on February 15, winning the time-honoured Holbrook Cup.&nbsp;
Dynamic One&nbsp;(Jean Van Overmeire) finished an eye-catching third in the Murrumbidgee Cup at Wagga on Sunday, and Travers won&rsquo;t stop there, with his eyes set on Saturday&rsquo;s Joe Cahill Transport Tocumwal Gold Cup.
Kahawaty, ridden by John Kissick, will take on the $20,000 feature over the 1300m journey.&nbsp;
&ldquo;She should run a good race,&rdquo; Travers said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Mojo (Music) and a few others will go forward, and they always run along in these types of races, so hopefully, we&rsquo;re running fourth or fifth, giving her every opportunity.&nbsp;
&ldquo;John will look to position her a couple of lengths off them, get her to relax, and hopefully be in a good enough position to allow her to win if she is good enough.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Despite finishing ninth, beaten 3.8 lengths in the $40,000 Wagga Town Plate Prelude (1200m) on Sunday, the 6YO&rsquo;s run was good.&nbsp;
Kahawaty&nbsp;was caught behind a wall of gallopers for O&rsquo;Driscoll and looked full of running without much luck.&nbsp;
Stepping back in grade, the Pride Of Dubai mare appears well-placed at Tocumwal.
&ldquo;She&rsquo;s been a good pick-up for the stable, and Amy has been an integral part of it,&rdquo; Travers said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Amy rides the horse really well, and when we&rsquo;ve been able to drop back in grade, she&rsquo;s run well, and hopefully, that&rsquo;s the case at Tocumwal.&rdquo;
Travers has fond memories of Tocumwal.
&nbsp;&ldquo;I rode my first-ever winner there and had my first fall there, so it&rsquo;s been good and bad,&rdquo; Travers laughed.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It was at my sixth race ride, and I won on&nbsp;Markillies&nbsp;for my boss Rob Wellington after I had gone out there and was a certainty beaten before that, so I kind of made up for it at Tocumwal.
&ldquo;Still, I&rsquo;ve had a lot of luck at Tocumwal over the years and had my Dad come out and watch me win there; it&rsquo;s a good track.&rdquo;
While Travers hopes to win the Easter Saturday feature at Tocumwal, his attention is set on Thursday&rsquo;s $200,000 Albury Gold Cup, where&nbsp;Mathrin&nbsp;and&nbsp;Dynamic One&nbsp;(Cory Parish) are entered.&nbsp;
A 2000m feature and Big Dance qualifier, Travers will need a scratching or two to see his runners go around. He suggested Dynamic One was his stable&rsquo;s leading chance after his good third placing in Sunday&rsquo;s Murrumbidgee Cup over the 1800m journey.
&ldquo;They&rsquo;re long shots for a reason and well and truly out of their depth,&rdquo; Travers said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Mathrin probably won&rsquo;t go around in the (Albury) Cup and will start in the other race (1400m Benchmark 74 Handicap), but Dynamic One deserves the chance.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He just about wins on Sunday if he didn&rsquo;t miss the (transferred) Albury Cup or Gundagai Cup, but missing those races meant he was six weeks between runs, so I thought it was a good effort at Wagga; he just peaked on his run.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a tough race at Albury, but on that run at Wagga, he deserves a chance, and after Albury, we may drop him back to a rating race or take him to town for a midweek, but we believe in his ability, and when he bobs up, it will be worth it.&rdquo;
Travers will have up to three runners at Albury, with Gold Tracker (John Kissick) also going around in the 1175m Benchmark 58 Handicap. Words: Jeff Hanson Image: Holbrook Race Club

Travers eyes more Country Cup success with Kahawaty

Michael Travers Racing (MTR) will look to continue its winning run by taking up to five chances to Corowa on Saturday.
Fresh off Saturday&rsquo;s Wagga Wagga double, where Star Empire (Shaun Guymer) won the $50,000 Super Maiden (1400m) and Pussyfoot (Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll) prevailed in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m), MTR is confident of a strong showing at Corowa.
Leading off their chances is the ever-consistent maiden Roullottie (John Kissick, 59kg), which will jump from gate 10 in the 1300m Maiden Handicap.
The 4YO has been racing in good form, and with a career record of ten starts for six minor placings, the Casino Prince mare is due to greet the judge first.
The second event on the program is the 1000m Maiden Plate, and recent addition, Track And Field (Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll, 57kg), makes his stable debut for MTR.
The 4YO Shamus Award gelding had been racing in Victoria for John Moloney, and we&rsquo;ll know more about him after he races at Corowa.
Four-time winner Gold Tracker (Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll, 56.5kg) returns from a spell in the Benchmark 66 Sprint (1000m) and will jump from gate two.
The 5YO has a solid first-up record (3: 0-1-1), but the Xtravagant gelding will be better suited over a little more ground this preparation.
Taking on the $39,000 Corowa Cup (1600m) is stable stalwart, Mathrin (Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll, 53kg).
The 7YO is a seven-time winner and has been racing well, but she draws gate seven in what appears to be a challenging feature race.
Rounding out the stable&rsquo;s chances at Corowa is Saint Loft (55kg) in the 1600m Class 2 Handicap.
The 6YO Written Tycoon gelding is super-consistent, having finished in the money in four of his past six starts, including a tidy third placing in the 1600m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Albury late last month.
Saint Loft (Shaun Guymer, 55.5kg) is also entered at Goulburn on Tuesday, where he is currently down to run in the 2145m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Also entered at Goulburn is Cinephile (Shaun Guymer, 58.5kg) in the 1400m Maiden Plate, Showrata (Shaun Guymer, 57.5kg) in the 1000m Benchmark 58 Handicap and Dynamic One (John Kissick, 61.5kg) in the 1300m Benchmark 66 Handicap. Words: Jeff Hanson Image: Supplied

MTR out to continue winning run at Corowa and Goulburn

Michael Travers Racing has never been busier, especially in the lead-up to Saturday&rsquo;s SDRA Country Championships meeting at Wagga Wagga&rsquo;s Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
MTR will have a mammoth team of ten runners on the day and a handful of live chances at the feature Southern Districts meeting.
Headlining our chances is Dynamic One in the $150,000 Country Championships qualifier (1400m), with John Kissick (57.5kg) taking the ride from gate 5.
The four-year-old, four-time winner has crept under the radar. Still, he has ability, which he showcased during his most recent preparation, winning a 1400m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Gundagai in September before prevailing in a 1500m Benchmark 66 Handicap at Albury on November 8.
Before going to the paddock for a freshen-up, he took on the Queanbeyan Cup, finishing only three lengths off the winner.
The Super One gelding has been a good horse for the stable, and he&rsquo;ll head into the event first-up and ready to fire.
The second feature race of the program is the Tom Patton Cup (1800m), where recent Cowra Cup winner Mathrin will be chasing an eighth career win.
A track specialist (27:5-4-4), Mathrin has enjoyed racing over more ground in recent starts, and the seven-year-old will step out over the nine furlongs for the first time in her career at Wagga.
We&rsquo;ve drawn perfectly with gate one, and Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll (56.5kg) will give the old girl every chance and a 2kg claim in the $40,000 staying test.
The $30,000 Benchmark 82 sprint is another good race on the program. We&rsquo;ll start recent Holbrook Cup winner Kahawaty, who has drawn gate eight.
A cheap pick-up for the stable, the six-year-old continues to make money for connections, taking her stable earnings to shy of $40,000 last start.
Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll (53.5kg) is on her back for the 2kg claim, and on her home track, we&rsquo;ll see if Kahawaty can go back-to-back for connections.
The MTR team will kick off the meeting with Roullottie, the recent Bega placegetter and current $2.70 favourite in the $40,000 Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1200m).
The four-year-old has placed at three of her past four starts, and with John Kissick (58.5kg) in the saddle, and from the good draw (gate 1), Roullottie will take some catching.
The following event is the $50,000 Super Maiden Plate (1400m), and we have current $3 favourite Jenni Divine (gate 3) and $10 chance Star Empire (gate 2).
Jenni Divine has been racing well, finishing in the money at her past four starts, including a last-start second at the Sapphire Coast, where she was beaten a half-length.
A win would be the icing on the cake for the connections of Jenni Divine this preparation, and Jack Martin (56.5kg) has been tasked with getting the job done.
Star Empire, which has made good ground in recent events over 1200m at Wagga Wagga, is not to be dismissed.
The extra furlong will suit the three-year-old, and Shaun Guymer takes the ride.
I Am Vengeance is the next of our chances after drawing awkwardly with gate 14 in the 1600m Class 1/Maiden.
Serg Lisnyy (55kg) is in the saddle, with this three-year-old looking for more ground.
Another winning chance arrives in race four, the $35,000 Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m).
MTR starts last-start Bega placegetter Taluk, who John Kissick (59kg) rides from gate eight.
The three-year-old filly has been racing well, finishing in the money in recent races at Albury and the Sapphire Coast.
Rounding out our chances at Wagga Wagga will be Showrata and Pussyfoot in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m).
Shaun Guymer (57.5kg) jumps aboard Showrata, an $18 chance from gate 4 despite catching the eye at the Sapphire Coast when storming to victory in the 1000m Maiden Plate.
Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll (55kg) hops aboard stablemate and current $5 favourite Pussyfoot, which has drawn gate 3.
The three-year-old also caught the eye when winning her maiden at Albury over 1400m on November 8 before being tested in Listed company at Caulfield in late November.
Following a freshen-up, Pussyfoot returns to racing at Wagga Wagga.
It&rsquo;s set to be a massive day for MTR, but Mick is the first to admit it&rsquo;s a team effort and that it's only possible with the help of his hard-working crew.
We hope to see many of our owners and supporters out and about on Saturday.
&nbsp;
Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: Bradley Photos

MTR eyes massive Country Championship meeting

Michael Travers is enjoying a purple patch and recently brought up a milestone victory before winning another Country Cup.
The former jockey, who rode just shy of 1000 winners during his storied career, trained his first winner in 2021, becoming the first NSW-based dual-licenced trainer/jockey to win a race when Estaverdi triumphed in the 1800m Maiden/Class One Handicap at Gundagai.
On Thursday, Travers landed the 50th victory of his short training career when Showrata showcased a good turn of foot and powered to an impressive win in the 1000m Maiden Plate at Bega&rsquo;s Sapphire Coast Turf Club.
Ridden by Pierre Boudvillain, the result capped a terrific day for Travers, who sent five runners to the races and finished with a win, three minor placings, and a gallant fourth in the Merimbula Cup with&nbsp;Mathrin.
A determined galloper, Mathrin, ridden by good friend Mathew Cahill, only recently brought up the seventh win of her career, taking out the time-honoured Cowra Cup on January 19.
It was a red-letter result for a hard-working trainer who once lived in Cowra when riding in the Central Districts.
Nowadays, Travers has over 40 boxes in Wagga, where he trains at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
With a big team in work, Travers&nbsp;added a Holbrook Cup to the cabinet on Saturday, capping off a terrific run of results and bringing up career win number 51.
Teaming up with apprentice Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll, who is quickly developing a winning affinity with the MTR team, Kahawaty demonstrated a devastating turn of foot and built a winning break before holding on gamely in the Southern District&rsquo;s feature.
A $6,500 purchase, Kahawaty, who ran second in the Tumut Cup earlier this month before winning at Holbrook, has since won shy of $40,000 in prize money for connections, including some first-time MTR owners.
With many young horses coming through and new ownership opportunities, it&rsquo;s hard not to be excited at MTR, with the future looking very bright.
&nbsp;
Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: MTR

News

MTR sets big team on home deck

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