Year: 2019

Hancock cheering for Natalie Rasmussen

NZHarnessNews

by Adam Hamilton THE Inter Dominion Queen is about to join the Inter Dominion King. Victory for Natalie Rasmussen on raging hot favourite Ultimate Sniper will bring her level with Brian Hancock as the most successful driver in the history of the Inter Dominion pacing final. Hancock won five finals and Rasmussen already boasts four, all on the great Blacks A Fake. Ultimate Sniper is an odds-on favourite to give her a fifth win next Saturday. And Hancock will be cheering loudly for Rasmussen. “You bet I’m in her corner,”…

Aussie News with Adam Hamilton

NZHarnessNews

THERE were so many layers to the Cranbourne Cup story, but none better than Jodi Quinlan. It’s only a few weeks since Quinlan, a former Miracle Mile-winning driver, returned from horrific injuries sustained when an out of control horse wiped her out. And she teamed with the state’s top trainer, Emma Stewart, and the super-speedy Phoenix Prince to win last night’s $60,000 Group 2 Cranbourne Cup. Stewart had five of the 10 runners and was expected to dominate, but more so with buzz four-year-old Hurricane Harley and the emerging star…

Jodie won't be jumping on My Kiwi Mate

NZHarnessNews

by Adam Hamilton FRESH from capping a truly remarkable comeback, Jodi Quinlan will happily watch the Auckland Inter Dominion pacing final from the sidelines. Quinlan said her hardest decision was whether to fly from Melbourne to Auckland to watch My Kiwi Mate in the race, not whether to take the reins herself. “There was a bit of talk between Craig (Demmler) and I at times about who’d drive him in the final, but there’s no way I am,” Quinlan laughed. “I might have won about 10 races on him, but…

Memories as Lonhro officially turns 21

AAP

Champion racehorse and stallion Lonhro is about to celebrate his 21st birthday. The son of a champion who became a champion on the track and in the breeding barn is about to have a milestone birthday. Lonhro, described by his former trainer as his best ever and by his jockey as a dream, officially turns 21 on Tuesday. A son of Octagonal from Shadea, Lonhro was born on December 10, 1998. He raced 35 times registering 26 wins, 11 at Group One level, including a Caulfield Guineas, an Australian Cup,…

The Drinks Cart could run in Phelan Ready

AAP

Co-trainer Trent Edmonds says The Drinks Cart will gallop before confirmation of his next start. A track gallop will determine whether leading Magic Millions Classic hope, The Drinks Cart, runs in the Phelan Ready Stakes.. The Drinks Cart, a brilliant winner at his only start, can shore up his place in the $2 million 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast if he wins Friday’s Listed Phelan Ready Stakes. The Phelan Ready is being run at Doomben as part of a double header Friday/Saturday promotion for the State of Origin Jockeys…

Twilight racing comes to Flemington

AAP

The VRC is to experiment with twilight meetings at Flemington hoping it has a new appeal. The Victoria Racing Club is stepping into the twilight zone with the first of their experimental meetings at Flemington. The nine race card on Saturday begins at 3pm with the last race run five hours later. The early part of Saturday’s program will have races spaced 40 minutes apart to fit into the metropolitan schedule before going to 35-minute gaps later in the day. VRC executive general manager of racing, Leigh Jordon, said Saturday’s…

Mascarpone hints at bright future with stylish Trentham victory

AAP

Mascarpone (centre) strides to the lead at Trentham Photo credit: Race Images – Grant Matthew Co-trainer Graeme Rogerson admits he still hasn’t worked out whether enigmatic three-year-old Mascarpone has a sprinting or staying future ahead of him, but what he does know is that he has an exciting prospect on his hands whichever way the cards fall. The Shooting To Win gelding displayed a powerful turn of foot when he came from near last to win the 1400m opening event at Trentham on Saturday although he did give rider Ryan…

Campin on cloud nine

AAP

Wyndspelle takes out the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham Photo credit: Race Images – Grant Matthew As she waited to board a plane home from Wellington airport on Sunday afternoon, well-known bloodstock agent and racing identity Jen Campin was trying to work out just how she was going to answer the hundreds of congratulatory messages she had received after her favourite ‘cruisy dude’, Wyndspelle, finally broke his Group 1 maiden status. Campin had been on-course at Trentham on Saturday to witness Wyndspelle and rider Jason Waddell dominate…

Two trainers fined for dexamethasone

AAP

Rockhampton trainers Ricky Vale and Jared Whelow have been fined after traces of an anti inflammatory, dexamethasone, were found in urine swabs taken from horses in their care. A Racing Queensland stewards inquiry heard dexamethasone was detected in samples taken from the Whelow-trained Mishnah at Rockhampton meetings on January 31 and February 14. Whelow pleaded not guilty to two charges of bringing a horse to race with a prohibited substance in its system. Stewards took evidence from Whelow and the Racing Science Centre and the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory. After…

Seven British jockeys banned in void race

AAP

Seven jockeys have been suspended in a dramatic conclusion to the London National with the race declared void. A field of 14 runners went to post for the three-mile-five-furlong handicap chase – and the drama began after Houblon Des Obeaux slipped on the bend after jumping the Pond fence for the first time. The rest of the runners raced on up the home straight and headed out for the second circuit. Approaching the Pond fence for a second time, a member of the ground staff displayed a yellow flag, which…