By Adam Hamilton TIME has beaten Sydney trainer Jimmy Rattray’s quest for more Inter Dominion glory. Rattray, who won two pacing finals with the mighty stayer Beautide, will today (Tuesday) scratch his two contenders for Auckland – Ignatius and Harjeet. “It was always a bit of a longshot, but I’m pulling the pin now,” he said. “Harjeet’s had the one trial for me and will have his first start for me this Saturday, while Ignatius only had his first trial back, and it was a soft one, at Menangle yesterday…
Year: 2019
The Shark – Best at Manawatu on Thursday
The Shark heads back to the mighty Manawatu in search of success on the second day of their first meeting for the season. For more punting information head to The Punters Lounge Race 1 7 Sundons Flyer: Not bad on Tuesday but gains the advantage of Orange getting in the bike today which makes him even more of a chance of going a couple better. 4 Takenoprisoners: Too good for them here two days ago and a repeat of that performance today is sure to take him close once again.…
Butt’s big pick-up drive
By Adam Hamilton CHAMPION driver Anthony Butt has landed the plum drive on star Aussie trotter Tough Monarch through NZ Cup Week and the Auckland Inter Dominion. Trainer Rickie Alchin, who arrived in NZ with Tough Monarch yesterday (Wednesday), said he was thrilled to have Butt aboard. “I wanted a top Kiwi driver, one who has the score on the board in big races over here,” he said. “Anthony might be based in Sydney now, but his record in the big NZ races is outstanding. It’s great to have him…
Harness Briefs – 30th October
By Garrick Knight Inters sustaining payments made Club officials are optimistic that the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship will still be contested over rounds of three heats in Auckland next month. After the $450 sustaining payment was due on Tuesday, 33 horses remain in the reckoning, including 11 from Australia. Should the final number dip below 30, the Auckland Trotting Club would have to consider reverting to two heats of 12. “Three heats of ten will be ok; but that’s about the minimum,” says Racing Manager, Regan Cotter. “The fact they’ve…
Special Ashburton win for Hay family
By Jonny Turner Rebel Kibbybones scored an emotional win for the Hay family when grinding out a tough win in the Cyril Hay Memorial Trot at Ashburton on Monday. Tears flowed when family members greeted John Hay in the birdcage after he owned, trained and drove the winner of the race named after his late father. “Its real special, the whole family are here – the grandkids are here,” he said. “They are all roaring and there are tears and everything.” “It is a good one to win.” Rebel Kibbybones’…
Oscar not heading to Inter Dom’s
By Michael Guerin A desire to take on some on the best trotters in the world is one reason Oscar Bonavena won’t be at this season’s Inter Dominions in Auckland. Because trainer Mark Purdon believes the sensational four-year-old is good enough to race extensively in North America and that is his ambitious long-term aim with Monday’s stunning Ashburton winner. Purdon and training partner Natalie Rasmussen didn’t pay up yesterday for the Inter Dominions which begin at Alexandra Park on November 29, preferring to concentrate on the Dominion at Addington on…
Club News 30 October
TAB News Pick6 this week – $25K Pick Six Manawatu Thursday. $25K Pick Six at Alexandra Park Friday $25K Pick Six at Kaikoura Monday Bonus Quaddies Friday – Alexandra Park Night Harness: $10k BONUS LATE Quaddie Last 4 Races Sunday – Kaikoura Harness: $10k BONUS LATE Quaddie Last 4 Races Methven Trotting Club – Friday 1 November The Methven Trotting Club is breaking new ground with its first ever twilight meeting this Friday starting at approximately 3pm. Track preparations have been challenging with the constant rain but despite that Carl…
Seventeen to line up in Golden Eagle
A field of 17 including three from the northern hemisphere will line up in the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill. Saturday’s race is over 1500 metres and is restricted to four-year-olds. Irish horse Never No More, trained by Aidan O’Brien, will be ridden by Pierrre-Charles Boudot who rode Waldgeist to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe earlier this month. Fellow Irish horse I Am Superman, trained by Michael O’Callaghan, will be ridden by Leigh Roche while English entrant Beat Le Bon will have Pat Dobbs in the…
Bivouac likely runner in Coolmore Stud
Star three-year-old Bivouac is likely to be given his chance in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. Godolphin trainer James Cummings has watched the colt work over the straight course at Flemington on Tuesday and indicated he would take his place in the 1200m-sprint. The winner of last month’s Group One Golden Rose, Bivouac was the odds-on favourite to win the Manikato Stakes at The Valley last Friday night. He found himself boxed in on the fence with no opportunity to work into the race. The Godolphin team…
Trainer Mark Johnston sets British record
Trainer Mark Johnston has set a record for the number of winners trained in a calendar year in Britain with Bavardages’ victory at Kempton. Johnston, 60, who last year became the most successful trainer in terms of career winners in Britain, was saddling his 236th winner of 2019. The previous record of 235 been shared between Richard Hannon sr, whose best tally was in 2013, and Richard Fahey, who equalled the mark in 2015, until Johnston joined them when Bo Samraan won at Pontefract. “We knew it would come some…