Month: January 2020

Guard Of Honour to confront Tarzan

AAP

Guard Of Honour has his 2nd start for trainer Kelly Schweida when he takes on Tarzan at Caloundra. Rejuvenated sprinter Guard Of Honour will be looking for a change of luck at the Sunshine Coast when he takes on local star Tarzan. Guard Of Honour won his first race in 19 months when successful in an Open Handicap (900m) at the Gold Coast on January 4. That was his first start for Eagle Farm trainer Kelly Schweida who has been impressed with the gelding’s attitude since he was transferred from…

Vic Derby and Oaks draws

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton STAR Kiwi raider Stylish Memphis has lost favouritism after drawing the worst possible barrier for Saturday night’s Group 1 Victoria Oaks (2760m) at Melton. The most impressive heat winner will come from outside the back row gate 13 and is already out to $2.80 with the Aussie TAB. She was $2 pre-draw. The new favourite is another Kiwi, Cran Dalgety’s Dr Susan ($2.50), who boasts terrific early speed and looks the leader from gate five.   The top Aussie hope, Emma Stewart’s heat winner Maajida, also drew…

Team Teal Ladies only Races

NZHarnessNews

Harness Racing New Zealand along with the Westport Trotting Club, Reefton Trotting Club and Banks Peninsula Trotting Club are excited to announce that during the 2020 Team Teal Campaign we will see some ladies only races as we did on the West Coast Circuit in March in 2019. Both Westport and Reefton Trotting Clubs in 2019 held a ladies only race for the Teal Pants Campaign which fittingly finished on the 10th February at the Reefton meeting.  13 of our female drivers travelled to the Coast for the races which…

Lock in no rush to go home

NZHarnessNews

By Garrick Knight A spur-of-the-moment decision has paid dividends for Invercargill horseman Steve Lock, who prepared a quinella on the grass at Waterlea on Sunday. Lock brought six horses the length of the South Island for the four days of racing, firstly in Nelson last week and then in Blenheim this week. After three thirds, a fourth and four fifths across Nelson and day one at Waterlea, he was hoping to break his duck on the fourth and final day. He went close with Maximilian in a mobile sprint earlier…

Ritchie close but no cigar

AAP

Jennifer Eccles is on target for the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in March Photo: Trish Dunell Shaune Ritchie came close to a big double at Trentham on Saturday, but left the meeting knowing his smart filly Jennifer Eccles is still on the right path for a return trip to the course in March to contest the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Following on from her win in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day,…

Waikuku rises to Stewards’ Cup glory

AAP

Waikuku battles past Beauty Generation. Waikuku defeated Beauty Generation in an exhilarating showdown for the Group 1 Steward’s Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin Racecourse this afternoon (Sunday, 19 January), a result that all but confirmed a changing of the guard at the very top of Hong Kong’s pecking order. Joao Moreira’s victorious mount quickened from the rear through a closing 400 metres clocked at 22.38s to register a time of 1m 33.04s, the eighth-fastest at the course and distance in more than a decade. “His sections at the end were…

Hey Doc on target for Australia Stakes

AAP

Hey Doc has tuned up for the Group Two Australia Stakes with a solo gallop at The Valley. Multiple Group One winner Hey Doc remains on track for a tilt at the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai if he pleases trainer Tony McEvoy in his upcoming Melbourne assignments. Hey Doc was a dominant winner of the Group One Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth on November 30 at his second start back from 14 months off the scene after undergoing joint surgery. The gelding’s next start is Friday night’s Group Two…

McKay hungry for further Group 1 success

AAP

Shaun McKay celebrates his first Group One victory aboard Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner The Mitigator Photo credit: Race Images – Grant Matthew Twenty-four hours on from securing the first Group 1 win of his riding career, jockey Shaun McKay is still coming to terms with the achievement. The amiable 23-year-old was taking time on Sunday morning to let the achievement sink in after booting home one of his favourite horses, The Mitigator, in Saturday’s Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham. The fact that the win was aboard a horse…

Beat The Clock does it again in Centenary Sprint Cup

AAP

Beat The Clock wins his second Centenary Sprint Cup. Beat The Clock displayed the class that has made him a champion to complete back-to-back wins in the HK$10 million Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin this afternoon (Sunday, 19 January). The ever-reliable bay’s narrow victory over Thanks Forever sealed a Group 1 double on the day for trainer John Size and jockey Joao Moreira, following Waikuku’s defeat of Beauty Generation in the Stewards’ Cup (1600m). Beat The Clock’s success was his fourth at the highest level and maintained his…