Month: January 2020

Kendrick chases Millions consolation

AAP

Caloundra trainer Stuart Kendrick is hoping for Magic Millions consolation on his home track. Caloundra trainer Stuart Kendrick plans to have three runners in the Magic Millions Classic consolation on his home track. Kendrick had three of the five emergencies for the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on Saturday but none got a run. The trio – Way Beyond, Cosmic Gossip and Poupee – will all chase the $125,000 Sunshine Coast Classic on Saturday week. The race carries a $50,000 bonus to the winner if…

Club News – Kapiti Coast

NZHarnessNews

The Kapiti Coast Harness Racing Club holds its annual harness race meeting at the Otaki Maori Racecourse on Sunday 2nd February 2020. Gates open 10am, first race held just after ‘noon’. There will be a nine race programme. The only harness racing event to take place in the Wellington Region annually. A feature on Sunday February 2nd is the recently reintroduced Wellington Trotting Cup, standing start 3000 metres. [For the first time ever, to be competed for by ‘Trotting gated’ harness horses]. This time honoured event once raced for by…

The Shark – Best at Timaru on Wednesday

NZHarnessNews

The Shark heads to South Canterbury and to the famous Phar Lap Raceway for some Wednesday afternoon harness racing action from the Timaru Harness Racing Club. For more punting information head to The Punters Lounge Race 1 9 Bev K’s One: Held in high regard and not bad at Omakau in a race where form has been well franked since. Should be improved and can win good manners. 7 Steel Dust: Really hit the straps late to go close last time out. Getting better and more tractable, dangerous here with the…

Not Such A Smooth Draw

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton NOT only is classy Kiwi three-year-old Smooth Deal in by far the strongest Victoria Derby heat, but he’s also got a wide draw to overcome. Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen’s lone Derby contender has drawn gate six, second from the outside, in a heat which also boasts prepost Derby favourite Be Happy Mach (gate 10), other Kiwis Line Up (gate 3) and Bad To The Bone (nine), along with classy former Kiwi Virgil (five) and Emma Stewart’s pair Mach Dan (one) and Carlas Mach (two). Remembering the…

Miss Mucho looking to go back to back

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner West Melton mare Miss Mucho can help continue the mid season momentum of her trainer Tony Barron at Timaru today. Miss Mucho and Sheree Tomlinson will attempt to repeat the impressive win they combined for at Omakau in a competitive junior driver’s event. The 4yr-old fired up her trainer’s season when powering away from her maiden rivals to win by nearly five lengths at Omakau. The victory was Barron’s first for the season and came with just his 11th starter. The West Melton trainer has had a…

Tricky test for Self Assured

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamiton MARK Purdon has plenty of thinking to do. Emerging star Self Assured is the best horse in Saturday night’s Group 1 Ballarat Cup, but he’s drawn the trickiest barrier – inside the back row (gate eight). He’s already drifted from $2.50 opening price to $2.60 with the Aussie TAB. Self Assured is one of two runners Purdon and Rasmussen have in their quest for a fifth successive Ballarat Cup win. Smolda won in 2016 &17, Heaven Rocks in 2018 and Thefixer last year. Purdon will drive Self…

Kolding to trial ahead of autumn return

AAP

Epsom winner Kolding (left) is one of a host of Chris Waller-trained runners in trials at Rosehill. Spring star Kolding headlines a strong team of barrier trial runners at Rosehill for champion trainer Chris Waller. The winner of the Group One Epsom Handicap and $7.5 million Golden Eagle, Kolding runs in one of two 900m open heats on Tuesday. Waller hopes Kolding is among selections for the All-Star Mile at Caulfield in March but is just as happy to keep him in Sydney. The All-Star Mile field is determined by…

Waller has designs on All Star mile with Kolding

Editor BOAY

Champion trainer Chris Waller will roll out a number of his stable stars at barrier trials next week including Gr.1 Epsom Handicap winner Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park). Kolding emerged as a genuine star in the spring with his wins in the Epsom Handicap and the inaugural AUS$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m). Waller would like to run him in the AUS$5 million All Star Mile (1600m) but needs some guarantee of a start. The majority of the field is decided by public vote with the winners of the Gr.1 Futurity (1400m)…

Enzo’s Lad vying for Telegraph three-peat

Editor BOAY

Enzo’s Lad will attempt to become the third horse in history to win three Gr.1 Telegraph’s (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday. The son of Testa Rossa has won the last two editions of the JR & N Berkett-sponsored race and trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman are hopeful of adding to that tally this weekend. “It’s going to be a good field as per usual and hopefully he will be cherry ripe by Saturday,” Michael Ptiman said. “When he won it the first year I don’t think he got the credit…

Beauty Generation’s ‘enthusiasm’ excites Zac Purton ahead of champion’s Group One return

Editor BOAY

Many have been quick to label Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock) a has-been after his disappointing finish to 2019 but Zac Purton is confident the reigning Horse of the Year can still have a big say at the top level after a promising trial at Sha Tin on Friday morning. John Moore’s seven-year-old moved well ahead of next weekend’s Group One Stewards’ Cup (1600m), where he will tackle just six rivals. “I actually thought he was pretty good, he’s nice and fresh, bouncing around and he showed a little…