Month: January 2020

Enzo’s Lad just inches short of Trentham three-peat

AAP

Enzo’s Lad (inner) and eventual winner Avantage battle out the finish of the Group 1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham Photo credit: Race Images Trainer Michael Pitman was bursting with pride after his class sprinter Enzo’s Lad went within a short neck of tearing off his third consecutive victory in the time-honoured Group 1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday. Bidding to become just the third horse to achieve the feat in the 121-year history of the race and the first since Blue…

Romakash confirms staying future with win

Editor BOAY

Promising stayer Romakash (NZ) (Roc De Cambes) has vindicated trainer Matt Kropp’s decision to make an annual trip to the New Zealand sales with his win at Eagle Farm. Toowoomba-based Kropp travels his horses around the southern corner of the state and has an excellent strike rate when he ventures to the city. Kropp has enjoyed plenty of success with New Zealand-bred stayers including Trusty Lad (NZ) (Reliable Man), who won the Three-Year-Old Stayers series in 2018. Romakash was well backed into $5 on Saturday before winning the Cascade Handicap…

Orr Stakes return likely for Mirage Dancer

AAP

The imported Mirage Dancer is likely to begin his 2nd Australian campaign in the Group One Orr. Caulfield Cup placegetter Mirage Dancer is likely to kick off his second Melbourne campaign in the Group One C F Orr Stakes on his way to the Australian Cup. The well-performed English import arrived in Australia in the spring and finished third in the $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) in his first appearance for his new trainers, Cranbourne-based Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. The former Sir Michael Stoute-trained entire then ran 14th in…

Master Jamie to chase big QTIS prize money

AAP

In a case of third time lucky for central Queensland sprinter Master Jamie, his first Brisbane win has earned him the chance at the $300,000 QTIS race at the Gold Coast. Master Jamie took his record to 10 wins from 13 starts with his victory in the Saturday’s QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm. Trainer Graeme Green has always held a high opinion of Master Jamie and believes the gelding’s first city win indicates he can measure up in stronger company. “The key to him is not to miss…

Racing stars take to different turf

AAP

Damien Oliver will captain the jockeys team in the annual charity match, this year aiding wildlife. Some of the stars of Australian racing will be on show in the eighth annual National Jockeys’ Trust cricket match, which is raising funds for wildlife and livestock injured in the bushfires. The NJT T20 will be held at Williamstown Oval on Monday from 1pm, with Damien Oliver to captain the Jockeys’ Team against a Racing All-Stars side. The match is usually one of the major fundraisers for the NJT which provides assistance for…

Star sprinters ready to step out in trial

AAP

Everest winner Yes Yes Yes and stablemate Nature Strip run in a 900m-trial at Warwick Farm. Star stablemates Yes Yes Yes and Nature Strip will oppose each other in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm before most likely going on separate paths. Trainer Chris Waller has overseas ambitions for both with Nature Strip slated to contest the Group One Lightning Stakes in Melbourne first-up with the option to race three-year-old Yes Yes Yes against his own age in Sydney. Ambitions for both include Royal Ascot in June with Nature Strip…

Heavyweight Hero destroys them at Blenheim

NZHarnessNews

By Garrick Knight It was the call any young trainer dreams of. When Auckland owner Aaron Lowe rang Bob Butt late last year offering him Heavyweight Hero to train, Butt couldn’t believe his luck. “It’s not every day a horse like him comes up the driveway,” said Butt. “I was very lucky to get that phone call.” The giant trotter made it two wins in three starts from Butt’s barn when demolishing a field by eight lengths on the grass at Waterlea in Blenheim on Friday. Given he started off…

Heisenberg win more than a record

NZHarnessNews

By Bruce Stewart The win by Heisenberg in the re-run of the Central Otago Cup has led to a very generous donation by the horse’s connections, owners Ross and Angela Gordon, trainer Robert Dunn and the horse’s regular driver John Dunn. The race was originally run at Omakau but had to be abandoned when champion driver Ricky May suffered a major medical incident and was flown to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition. The Group Three feature race was re-run yesterday at the Young Quinn Raceway at Wyndham and was…

Rowden buzzing after first training win

NZHarnessNews

By Garrick Knight Ellie Rowden was still on cloud nine by Sunday morning, the day after training her first winner, Still Eyre, at Cambridge. “A real buzz, it was just amazing,” she told HRNZ. “I watched the race with Jo Stevens and she said she looked back and I had disappeared. “I think I jumped off the ledge of the grandstand,” Rowden joked. “I just erupted when I knew he had won.” Rowden, who has a background and ongoing involvement in the show ring, is in her first official season…

Sugars Socks it to "Em

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton THE Kiwi dominance of the Ballarat Cup lives on. A brilliant front-running Greg Sugars drive won last night’s Group 1 Cup for Greg and Nina Hope’s rejuvenated AG’s White Socks. He’s the eighth Kiwi-trained winner of the Cup in the past eight years. It was a deserved, fitting and somewhat emotional win, but it must be said most were talking about Self Assured’s monstrous second in the moments straight after the race. AG’s White Socks dashed home in 54.7 and 27.5sec, while Self Assured came from a…