Month: March 2020

Verry Elleegant continues to fly the flag for sire

Editor BOAY

Verry Elleegant (NZ) has been the flagbearer for her sire Zed in recent times and she further enhanced his profile on Saturday when winning the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill. A son of legenday sire Zabeel, Zed has sired two individual Group One winners, with 2013 Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) winner Survived and now the triple Group One winning mare. Verry Elleegant had been in good form heading into Saturday, finishing fourth in the Gr.2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) before runner-up performances in the Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m)…

Bully’s out – again

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma – Harness News Desk   The expected return to the racetrack for Australian star Chicago Bull has not happened. The Western Australian pacer was scheduled to race at Gloucester Park in the early hours of Saturday morning (NZ time) but was scratched by trainer Gary Hall Senior because of swelling to an off foreleg. Hall is confident it’s not the end for the horse known as “Bully” and he’ll be back once recovered. Bred by Winton trainers John and Katrina Price and John’s parents Roger and…

IMPORTANT NOTICE for Trainers and Training Centres

NZHarnessNews

In light of the government’s announcement that the country will move to COVID-19 alert level 4 at midnight tonight (25 March) only “essential services” are permitted to operate. Our advice from the Ministry for Primary Industries confirms that training centres, training stables, agistment properties and stud farms where horses are in containment are considered essential services under animal welfare considerations. Businesses with more than five people (including the owner) working at each business site, and those businesses with less than 5 people who cannot achieve social distancing between staff, are required to register.  The criteria and…

HRNZ’s Office has closed

NZHarnessNews

– all Staff Working From Home Please find key contacts that you may need during this time. The preferred method of contact is by email please. Peter JensenEmail peter.jensen@hrnz.co.nzMobile +64 21 998 982 Liz BishopEmail lbishop@hrnz.co.nzMob +64 21 996 194 Racing & Marketing Darrin WilliamsEmail darrin@hrnz.co.nzMob +64 21 226 0234 Finance and Payment Jenny FlemingEmail jenny@hrnz.co.nzMob +64 21 249 9089 Handicapping Andrew MorrisEmail andrewm@hrnz.co.nzMob +64 21 277 1784 Horse Transactions & Licencing Mark BennetEmail mark@hrnz.co.nzMob +64 21 586 082 Cadets and Education Natalie GamesonEmail natalie@hrnz.co.nzMob +64 21 936 155

OPINION: The state of play with COVID-19

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Some horse racing trainers are moving quickly to accommodate the horse welfare lifeline the industry has been granted. And that could have the bonus of having racing ready to resume in New Zealand not long after the country returns to Covid-19 alert level 3. Horse and dog racing has been stopped since Monday and can obviously not continue at Level 4 so like most other industries is in limbo. But the three race codes have worked with the Ministry of Primary Industries to ensure stables, farms and…

All Age Sale Cancelled

NZHarnessNews

With the government’s announcement that the country is to go into lock-down due to the COVID-19 virus, NZB Standardbred has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 All Age Sale, scheduled to be held at Karaka on Monday 4 May. “With the recent developments that affect the entire country it is clear that we cannot operate public auctions at this time” commented Director and Operations Manager, James Jennings. “It is important to provide clarity for vendors and buyers during this period of uncertainty, with the intention of having a…

Loss of continuity will change racing forever

AAP

by Brian de Lore Published 28th March 2020 Racing shouldn’t be falsely lulled into believing it’s having a month off and will be back by May or June. The epidemiologists are saying the coronavirus pandemic could be a couple of months off peaking which means the racing season is as good as over, and it may be the middle of spring or even beyond before post-coronavirus life returns to a state of reasoning that will justify the return of horse racing. No sensible owner in New Zealand will keep racehorses…

Karaka May Sale cancelled

Editor BOAY

New Zealand Bloodstock has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Karaka May Sale. Given the government’s announcement on Monday that the country is to go into lock-down due to the COVID-19 virus, New Zealand Bloodstock has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Karaka May Sale, due to be held on Friday 15 May. After consulting with a number of vendors and buyers, the overwhelming feedback from them was to cancel the sale and investigate alternative options. “Even though the lock-down period may finish in four weeks,…

Erring on the side of caution

NZHarnessNews

TONIGHT’S TIPS Best bet: Winterfell (Addington, R4, No.12): Thrown in even off 30m and as long as he tries he should win. Each way: Triple Eight (Addington R9, No.9): Has been racing well at the highest level all season. If they go hard and he gets on three wide train might finish over the top. Down in grade: On The Cards (Alex Park, R7, No.8): Drops back from free-for-all company and gets a decent catch driver in Tony Herlihy. Has options even from wide draw. By Michael Guerin Champion horseman…

Heroes Square faces biggest test

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner Exciting 3yr-old Heroes Square will face his toughest test after drawing wide in tonight’s group 2 Flying Stakes at Addington. The Robert Dunn trained pacer has announced himself a serious New Zealand Derby contender with three highly impressive wins in his first three starts. Heroes Square will almost certainly have to call on all of his class if he is to keep his unbeaten record intact in tonight’S 1980m feature. Drawing the outside of the front line in barrier 9 means the 3yr-old and driver Tim Williams…