Month: January 2020

Group One performer Harlech. Photo: Trish Dunell Talented three-year-old Harlech will likely have his last start in New Zealand this season when he lines-up in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained colt is set to head for a freshen-up after this weekend’s rich feature, having won two of his six starts this term and finishing runner-up in his four other contests. The son of Darci Brahma took out the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) in October before finishing runner-up in…

Patrick Moloney has picked up the ride on Singapore Gold Cup winner Mr Clint. Photo: STC Patrick Moloney has just commenced his new long-term licence at Kranji and has yet to win a race, but he has already notched a major win for his own resume for 2020 – the plum ride on last year’s Singapore Gold Cup winner Mr Clint (NZ) (Power). After the Australian rider partnered the Lee Freedman-trained stayer at the barrier trials on Tuesday, he hopped off looking pleased with the hit-out, but even more so…

What’s New will line up in the Fortune’s Bowl on Sunday The Cliff Brown-trained What’s New (NZ) (Casino Prince) will resume in this Sunday’s Fortune Bowl (1400m) with her trainer hoping of a good run. As planned by the Australian handler, the traditional Lunar New Year feature race will be the starting point to her 2020 campaign and serve as a guide to her current form following the Christmas break. Brown defended What’s New’s defeats in the Singapore Triple Crown series. To him, the game winner of the first two…

Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) contender Conqueror. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Victorian trainer David Hayes will be in New Zealand later this week as he puts the finishing touches on three-year-old colt Conqueror (Fastnet Rock) ahead of Saturday’s $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). The good looking son of Fastnet Rock and Kiwi Group One winner Diademe will be out to replicate his year older former barn-mate Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock), who plundered the prize when successful in the race last year. Hayes, who trains in partnership with son Ben…

Not An Option winning the Gr.3 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m). Photo: Race Images Trainer Tony Pike is confident smart two-year-old Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt) will be hard to beat in Saturday’s $1 million Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie. The attractive colt by Not A Single Doubt has won two of his three starts to date, including the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m). Despite having his colours lowered by Play That Song (NZ) (Showcasing) in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie earlier this month, Pike believes…

Here Comes Faffy will contest the Westbrook Wines 1400 at Avondale on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Former top jockey Grant Cooksley is hoping to help maintain the recent strike rate of his apprentice, Masa Hashizume, at Avondale on Wednesday and also kick a $500,000 yearling purchase off on a winning note. Hashizume has notched three wins from his last seven rides and will be aboard stable representative and last-start winner Here Comes Faffy in the Westbrook Wines 1400, while Cooksley and his training partner, Bruce Wallace, will also…