Year: 2019

Ultimate Sniper on the verge of greatness

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner All Stars pacer Ultimate Sniper sits on the verge of harness racing history after delivering one of the most incredible open class victories witnessed in New Zealand in recent history to remain unbeaten in three heats of this year’s Interdominion Pacing Championship. The 4yr-old is set to start a red hot favourite for next Saturday’s final after producing a tough staying effort that left harness racing fans both speechless and searching for superlatives, when lifting himself off the canvas to win at Alexandra Park on Friday night.…

The Shark – Best at Addington on Saturday

NZHarnessNews

The Shark heads to Harness HQ, Addington Raceway for some Saturday night harness action where the best young drivers in Australasia step out to do battle. For more punting information head to The Punters Lounge    Race 1 4 Navagio: Two big efforts thus far in the career and a repeat of either makes him very hard to beat here tonight. 3 Laver: Maiden win was no fluke, very nice type who was excellent winning last time out. Can on with it and grab another one too. 1 Cloud Nine: In good…

Circus Boy back from the brink

NZHarnessNews

By Garrick Knight Jeremy Young was a pretty emotional man when Circus Boy won at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The horse he spent three years waiting on and slowly nursing back to health, rewarded him as both the owner and trainer with victory in a $20,000 race. “This would be one of the most satisfying wins of my career,” he told HRNZ post-race. “To have a horse with a broken bone like he did  make it back to the races and win on a night like this, it’s awesome.…

National record confirms remarkable turnaround of Winterfell

NZHarnessNews

By Garrick Knight Winterfell earned himself favouritism for next Saturday’s $150,000 Inter Dominion Trotting Grand Final with a dominant New Zealand record win on the third and final night of heats at Alexandra Park. In the hands of co-trainer Mark Purdon, the rangy square-gaiter had too much power for a key rivals Majestic Man and Massive Metro after leading over the 2700-metre journey. It’s been a remarkable turnaround in fortunes from the horse that had earned the distrust of punters through the spring. “He’s picked it all up now and…

Burgundy sadly put down

Editor BOAY

Cambridge Stud stallion Burgundy was put down at the Waikato farm on Friday, having contracted acute laminitis in his front feet. His condition had deteriorated over the past 72 hours and the decision was made between the major partners that he should not suffer further.  Burgundy was a $1.3 million yearling when sold by his breeders Philip and Sir Peter Vela, the owners of Pencarrow Stud. Out of Group One winner Grand Echezeaux, he was a three-quarter brother in blood to Darci Brahma, champion sprinter in New Zealand in 2006.…

Patrick Erin returns home

Editor BOAY

Group One-winning stayer Patrick Erin (NZ) (Gallant Guru) has returned to the Wingatui stable of Brian and Shane Anderton. The son of Gallant Guru had spent the majority of the last two seasons in the care of leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller, who guided him to victory in the Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick. The eight-year-old gelding also recorded fourth-placings in the Gr.2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes (1800m). Patrick Erin was set to contest last season’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), however, an elevated temperature resulted…

Surgeonor eyes first Group win

Editor BOAY

Showoroses will contest the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell Jo Surgeonor has leapt at an opportunity to snare her first Group win with Showoroses (NZ) (Showcasing) at Ellerslie on Saturday The Auckland trainer hadn’t planned on backing up the Showcasing filly after her all-the-way win at Ellerslie last weekend but when entries for Saturday’s Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) were left open, she was quick to snap up a spot in the three-year-old feature. TAB bookmakers have shortened Showoroses from her…

Hollie Doyle sets record for female riders

AAP

Hollie Doyle has set a British record for a female jockey with her 107th win for the year. Doyle equalled Josephine Gordon’s tally of 106, achieved in 2017, at Wolverhampton on Saturday – and did not have to wait too long to overtake her friend and colleague, although she rode three seconds on Wednesday. Sent off the 4-1 favourite at Southwell on Thursday, Class Clown prevailed by a head. “He’s a big baby, but the further we went the better he was,” Doyle told Sky Sports Racing. “Two out I…

No Villiers Stakes for House Of Cartier

Editor BOAY

John Sargent has scrapped Villiers Stakes plans for House Of Cartier (Alamosa) but remains hopeful stablemate Tinkermosa (NZ) (Alamosa) can keep her stakes goal on track with a solid performance at Rosehill. Sargent had earmarked the Group Two Villiers at Randwick on Saturday week for House Of Cartier but confirmed that was off the table after her poor performance when unplaced in the ATC Cup last weekend. “We did all the tests. We scoped her, we took bloods, we trotted her up and couldn’t find anything. We’re bamboozled,” Sargent said. “We won’t go to the Villiers now.…

Jockeys’ World Cup returns to Ellerslie

Editor BOAY

Ellerslie Racecourse will play home to the third annual Barfoot & Thompson Jockeys’ World Cup (JWC), with the competition taking place at their December 12 meeting. Four teams of three riders will be competing to accumulate points throughout the meeting, with the winning team and individual presented with an award and a cash prize. Points will be awarded to the first five horses to finish in each of the six races, while horses will be randomly allocated a jockey. This year, jockeys will be distinguished by their breeches, which have…