Month: January 2020

Local assignment next stop for Yearn

AAP

Yearn winning the Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). Photo: Trish Dunell A new addition to the Matamata Breeders Stakes meeting will be the next step on a path to a further Group 1 assignment for consistent Matamata mare Yearn. A second-up winner of the Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe in November, Yearn continued her solid form with a hard-fought third behind The Mitigator and Wyndspelle in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham last start and trainer Karen Fursdon couldn’t be happier with…

Heathcote puts health scare behind him

AAP

Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote has overcome a health scare in quick time and is back working. Eagle Farm trainer Robert Heathcote has put a health scare behind him and is ready to continue his recent momentum on the track. Heathcote was back at track work on Tuesday morning after undergoing heart surgery on Saturday. “Medicine these days is amazing. I had a stent put in four days ago but here I am and I feel terrific,” Heathcote said. “I was short of breath at Doomben last Thursday and went to…

Mr Malek resumes with a bang

Editor BOAY

Mr Malek scoots clear for an easy win first-up. Photo: Singapore Turf Club Two races after a fairly cruisy win on Inherit, jockey Vlad Duric again didn’t have to dig too deep into his bag of tricks to steer odds-on favourite Mr Malek (NZ) (Swiss Ace) home in the $75,000 Windfall Stakes, a Novice race over 1200m. Once in the box-seat, the $9 shot, who was first-up since his last-start win at his second start in August, needed no second invitation when the leader Red Roar (So Secret) rolled off…

Australian campaign looms for Harlech

Editor BOAY

Consistent three-year-old Harlech has been sent for a small break after his fourth-placing in the Karaka Million 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. It was the first time the consistent colt finished outside the top three this season, having won the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) and placed in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m), and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). Michael Moroney, who trains the colt in partnership with Pam Gerard, said Harlech’s lengthy campaign began to show in Saturday’s contest. “I thought he…

Lane confirmed for Catalyst in Australia

Editor BOAY

Top Melbourne jockey Damian Lane has been confirmed as the rider for Catalyst in his upcoming Australian campaign. The Oaks Stud general manager Rick Williams advised that Lane would replace regular rider Troy Harris when Catalyst takes his place in the Gr.3 CS Hayes (1400m) at Flemington on February 15. “Damian Lane’s manager emailed and said Damian wouldn’t take another ride until he knew what the riding engagements were going to be,” Williams said. “We had a discussion last night and decided to go with the local jockey. “It’s tough…

Arrangements for the Happy Valley race meeting on 29 January 2020

AAP

Happy Valley (29 Jan) will be conducted under similar arrangements to today’s Chinese New Year Raceday The Hong Kong Jockey Club has reviewed the special arrangements of the Chinese New Year Raceday today as well as feedback of various stakeholders to the operations. It has decided that the upcoming night race meeting to be held at the Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday, 29 January 2020 will continue to be conducted under similar arrangements. On that night, apart from essential parties such as horse owners, trainers, jockeys, Club officials and Stewards…

Golden Sixty leads Lui one-two in Hong Kong Classic Mile

AAP

Golden Sixty wins the Hong Kong Classic Mile under Vincent Ho. Golden Sixty burst into clear ground at the head of Hong Kong’s four-year-old pack with an impressive win in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) this afternoon (Monday, 27 January), a result that bolstered trainer Francis Lui’s hand for the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). Lui saddled two of Hong Kong’s brightest young stars in the Sha Tin feature and both came good: while Golden Sixty dazzled, More Than This showed Derby sparkle in second to ease the handler’s…

Exultant takes Centenary Vase again as Cruz eyes Dubai

AAP

Exultant defies top-weight in the Centenary Vase. Exultant imposed his authority on his local rivals and moved a step closer to a night in Dubai with a solid success in the Group 3 Centenary Vase Handicap at Sha Tin this afternoon (Monday, 27 January). Hong Kong’s champion stayer carried top-weight of 133lb to secure his second win in the 1800m contest and now takes aim at a follow-up in the Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) in three weeks’ time. After that, trainer Tony Cruz has designs on…

Dickie snares pick-up drive

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton JOSH Dickie’s Melbourne holiday just got a more exciting. Dickie came to Melbourne with partner, Sammy Kilgour, to watch her star pacer Bling It On chase the Hunter Cup. But now Dickie has picked-up a Group 1 drive himself, aboard the Andy and Kate Gath-trained McLovin in Saturday night’s $250,000 Great Southern Star at Tabcorp Park Melton. Kate Gath was expected to wait until tomorrow night’s (Tuesday) barrier draw to choose her drive, but has already committed to former Inter Dominion champion Tornado Valley. “Kate’s definitely driving…

Generosity flows at Karaka

Editor BOAY

The sale of lot 313 raised $200,000 for the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust. Photo: Trish Dunell The generosity of a number of thoroughbred industry kingpins has led to more than $300,000 being raised for the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust at Karaka on Monday. The journey began a few years ago with Valachi Downs principals Kevin and Jo Hickman purchasing a Brazen Beau service, which was donated by Darley, at a CatWalk Trust charity for $100,000. The Hickmans subsequently decided to sell the resulting filly at this…