Year: 2019

Marzemino fights hard for first-up win

AAP

Marzemino winning at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Classy mare Marzemino survived a late scare in Saturday’s Roger Gill Agriculture (1200m) at Pukekohe to make a winning start to what could be a career-defining campaign. The daughter of Per Incanto has made a big impression in lower grades in previous preparations, winning five races including four from six starts last season. Trainers Peter and Dawn Williams now believe the five-year-old is ready to step up to the big time, with her itinerary featuring the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m)…

Facts and statistics on the Melbourne Cup

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STATISTICS ABOUT THE MELBOURNE CUP: * First run in 1861 under the banner of the Victorian Turf Club and won by the Etienne de Mestre-trained Archer who beat the favourite Mormon by six lengths. The prize was 1420 pounds and the trophy a gold watch. * Archer came back the following year to beat Mormon, this time by eight lengths, a record margin that still stands (it was equalled in 1968 by Rain Lover). * De Mestre would go on to train three other winners of the Melbourne Cup –…

Triple Eight on his own mission

NZHarnessNews

by Jonny Turner Northern pacer Triple Eight will be on a mission of his own in the Kaikoura Cup while his rivals are being primed for next week’s New Zealand Cup. Addington’s greatest race will be the furthest thing from trainer Steve Telfer’s mind when he lines the 5yr-old and his stablemate Check In up in the final lead up race before the New Zealand Cup. The $50,000 feature will instead serve as an opportunity for Telfer to show off a bigger and stronger Triple Eight and prep him for…

The Shark – best at Kaikoura on Monday

NZHarnessNews

The Shark heads to one of the most iconic race days in New Zealand, Kaikoura Cup Day at the beautiful South Bay Racecourse for a massive day of harness racing action. For more punting information head to The Punters Lounge  Race 1 17 Copperfield: No luck fresh up at Addington, but that was always a strong possibility from the draw. Classy at best and although a long way off them here, hard to beat. 3 Roll The Dice: Copped a bit of a check at the top of the straight at…

Clements and Beuzelin in Line for more success

Editor BOAY

On Line outsprints his rivals to take out Race 5 in Singapore on Friday night. (STC) On Line (NZ) (O’Reilly) made a winning racing comeback in the S$50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m on Friday night. The O’Reilly four-year-old has not been sighted since his maiden win at his fourth start in a mile race for Restricted Maidens back in July. Trainer Michael Clements has given the Thai-owned gelding more time to mature further, with Friday’s result coming as a lovely reward for his patience. Sporting blinkers at…

Iridessa in famous win for Joseph O’Brien

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Joseph O’Brien has become the youngest trainer to saddle a Breeders’ Cup winner with Iridessa storming home in the Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita. In 2011, O’Brien became the youngest jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race aboard St. Nicholas Abbey and has joined Freddie Head as the only other person to ride and train a winner at the meeting. The 26-year-old is is also the youngest trainer to win a Melbourne Cup with Rekindling in 2017 and has four chance in the race on Tuesday – Latrobe,…

Mer De Glace new Melbourne Cup favourite

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Mer De Glace has overtaken Constantinople as Melbourne Cup favourite Japanese stayer Mer De Glace has displaced Constantinople as the Melbourne Cup favourite despite both horses faring well at the barrier draw. Mer De Glace firmed to $7 outright favourite after coming up with gate two in the 24-horse field, just ahead of Constantinople ($8) who drew seven. Finche also remains well in the market at $9 to give trainer Chris Waller a first Cup win after drawing ideally in four. While bookmakers reacted positively to Mer De Glace’s inside…

Josh Parr suspended out of Victoria Derby

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Sydney jockey Josh Parr has been suspended for 11 meetings for careless riding aboard beaten Victoria Derby favourite Shadow Hero. Shadow Hero finished fifth in Saturday’s 2500m Group One for three-year-olds at Flemington and stewards later charged Parr with careless riding approaching the 2000m mark in the $2 million race. Parr pleaded guilty to shifting in and taking Michael Walker’s mount Navarre in across the running of Lucky Edward, resulting in that gelding having to be checked. Parr’s suspension will begin after he rides at the Kensington track meeting at…

Pierata streaks to Redzel Stakes victory

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Pierata has boosted his reputation as a topline sprinter with his win in the Redzel Stakes. Piereta has outclassed the $1 million Redzel Stakes field to bank a mega bonus for his Rosehill win. Sent out the $2.40 favourite, the Greg Hickman-trained sprinter went the long way home to score by a length over Trekking ($5.50) who lunged late with Le Romain ($26) a short-head third. Saturday’s victory takes Pierata’s career earnings close to $5 million, with the $580,000 winner’s cheque bolstered by a $750,000 bonus as an Everest runner.…

Golden Eagle day a boost for Sydney’s west

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A crowd of more than 20,000 has embraced the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill. Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said the meeting had been a big success and a boost for Sydney’s west. Local trainer Chris Waller won the 1500m-race for four-year-olds with Kolding ridden by Glen Boss. “For its first ever running the Iron Jack Golden Eagle has been extraordinary,” V’landys said. “We couldn’t have asked for more and it’s only going to keep growing.” Ten per cent of the $7.5 million prize money from the…