Month: September 2019

Prophet’s Thumb races to Caulfield victory

AAP

Speedy Sydney mare Prophet’s Thumb has won over 1100 metres at Caulfield for trainer David Pfieffer. A drop in class has paved the way for Sydney sprinter Prophet’s Thumb to race to a convincing win at Caulfield. The David Pfieffer-trained mare made her season return in the weight-for-age Group Two McEwen Stakes over 1000 metres at The Valley on September 7. Despite finishing ninth of the 10 runners she closed strongly to be beaten less than 1-1/2-lengths. The four-year-old stepped up to 1100 metres in a benchmark-90 race for mares…

Earthlight maintains unbeaten record

AAP

French colt Earthlight has extended his unbeaten record to five with his victory in the Group One Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. Trained by Andrew Fabre and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, Earthlight held off the persistent challenge of Golden Horde. There was drama before the race with the also-unbeaten Siskin withdrawn after going down in the stalls. Earthlight beat 100-1 chance Golden Horde by a neck. “It is just a matter of having the right horse. It is a difficult race to win. You need speed and experience, and this…

No Effort gives Cooper a rare city win

AAP

No Effort (centre) has given trainer Allan Cooper a rare city winner at Caulfield. Allan Cooper’s first appearance at a city racecourse in a quarter of a century has resulted in him training a winner at Caulfield. No Effort extended her winning sequence to four when successful in Sunday’s Drinkwise Plate (1800m). Ridden by Dwayne Dunn, No Effort ($21) held off Annarbor ($5.50) by a half-head with Special Alert ($11) three-quarters of a length away third. Jake Noonan, rider of the runner-up, viewed a replay of the concluding stages before…

Alligator tastes Blood in Guineas Prelude

AAP

Queenslander Alligator Blood has won the Caulfield Guineas Prelude to extend his unbeaten record. Lessons learned from an aborted trip to Sydney have helped Alligator Blood prevail in the Group Three Caulfield Guineas Prelude. Alligator Blood was scheduled to run at Rosehill last month, only to be scratched after becoming agitated in the race day stalls. Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke brought the three-year-old to Melbourne early ahead of Sunday’s race and gave the gelding a gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning. Although soundly beaten in that gallop, that did…

Danzdanzdance to transfer to Waller stable

Editor BOAY

Recently crowned 2018/19 New Zealand Champion Middle Distance horse Danzdanzdance will do her future racing from the Sydney stable of ex-pat kiwi Chris Waller. The multiple New Zealand Group One winner has been prepared for the majority of her career from the Ruakaka stable of Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley but will transfer into Waller’s care from Monday. The Mastercraftsman five-year-old is raced by a large syndicate of owners, headed by former international model Kylie Bax, who purchased the mare from the Blandford Lodge draft for $5,000 at the 2016…

Pitman team gearing up for Cup Week assault

Editor BOAY

Multiple Group One winner Enzo’s Lad (white cap) will make his return to New Zealand racing during New Zealand Cup Week at Riccarton in November Photo: Race Images – Peter Rubery With just a little over six weeks until the start of New Zealand Cup & Show Week, the southern training ranks are in count down mode as they ready themselves to repel the invasion from the visiting northern stables. The Riccarton-based father and son team of Michael and Matthew Pitman will be amongst the front line in the interisland…

Flying start for Te Akau apprentice

Editor BOAY

Emerging apprentice talent, Chelsea Burdan Photo: Trish Dunell A cursory glance at the state of play on the national jockeys’ premiership for this season will bring a smile to the face of those pundits looking to what the future might hold for the New Zealand riding ranks. Apprentice riders currently hold seven of the top twenty places including the top spot with Cambridge-based apprentice Ashvin Goindasamy. Sitting in 15th place is Te Akau Racing apprentice Chelsea Burdan who had a red-letter day at Te Rapa last Wednesday when winning three…

James pleased with Rondinella’s Melbourne debut

Editor BOAY

Rondinella (red cap, inner) charges home to finish second to Princess Jenni at The Valley Photo: Darryl Sherer A slashing run for second in Friday’s Gr.2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at The Valley was just what the doctor ordered for trainer Roger James and his quality mare Rondinella. James, who prepares the five-year-old Ocean Park mare at Cambridge with training partner Robert Wellwood, was keen to see just how his charge would handle the unique Moonee Valley track as well as her first attempt at racing under lights. After being held…

Destiny Jones ready to defend Banks Peninsula Cup title

NZHarnessNews

by Jonny Turner Destiny Jones will attempt to continue the resurgence of her form by defending her crown in Sunday’s Group 3 Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup at Motukarara. The 8yr-old nosed out Monty Python, who also returns for this year’s running, in an exciting finish to the 2018 edition of the 2810m grass track feature. The Dean Hunter trained squaregaiter ran the best race of her campaign when running second to Sundees Son in the Group 3 Ordeal Trotting Cup at Addington, earlier this month. The run signalled Destiny Jones…

The Shark – best at Motukarara on Sunday

NZHarnessNews

The Shark goes in search of grass track harness racing success when the season officially kicks off at the punters graveyard of Motukarara on Sunday. For more punting information head to The Punters Lounge  Race 1 5 Just Michael: Returned to racing in fine fashion with an excellent second fresh up at Ashburton. Handles the grass and a big hope here from a handy draw. 13 Prodigal Guinness: Was a little unlucky at a crucial time last time out. Career has been promising so far and this isn’t a deep field.…