Month: April 2020

Kinloch winning at Newcastle on Thursday. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au A tilt at the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June could be on the agenda for New Zealand Bloodstock graduate Kinloch. The Kris Lees-trained juvenile impressed when winning on debut over 900m at Newcastle on Thursday, weaving a path from the back of the field to win by a length over Kittyhawk Flyer. The two-year-old colt is raced by a number of high-profile New Zealanders including Lib Petagna, Waikato Stud’s Mark and Garry Chittick, Jomara Bloodstock, and bloodstock…

Singapore-based Kiwi jockey Alysha Collett is set to travel to Sydney on Sunday. Photo: Trish Dunell Kiwi jockey Alysha Collett is the latest Singapore-based rider to take a hiatus from the jurisdiction, with racing currently on hold due to a Covid-19 outbreak. Collett will fly to Sydney on Sunday as she looks to derive some sort of income, but hasn’t given up on a return to Singapore once racing is back up and running. Initially one of the nations that contained the virus better than most, Singapore has seen cases…

Nicci’s Gold will try to recapture winning form at the transferred Hawkesbury meeting at Rosehill. Mares of a certain age can lose interest in being racehorses and Gary Portelli feared that was the case with Nicci’s Gold this campaign. The five-year-old’s trackwork had been lacklustre and she was not showing her usual enthusiasm around the stable. But since getting another taste of competition when she resumed in the Sapphire Stakes, Nicci’s Gold has regained her spark. “I was thinking this might be the prep where I wouldn’t get her to…

Dawn Passage will be one of two Hawkesbury Guineas runners for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Adrian Bott is hoping a return to a good track and a slight step up in distance will give Dawn Passage the chance to shine in the Hawkesbury Guineas. Dawn Passage is one of two runners for the Gai Waterhouse and Bott training partnership in Saturday’s Group Three Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) for three-year-olds, run this year at Rosehill. Their other runner is the promising Rule The World who is first-up from a spell. Dawn…

Qld apprentice Zoe White has had a ban for breaching COVID-19 protocols halved on appeal. Queensland apprentice Zoe White has had her six month disqualification for breaking coronavirus regulations halved on appeal. White became the first racing participant in Australia disqualified for breaching the regulations at an inquiry earlier this month. Stewards found she ignored a direction on April 1 to stand down from riding and to self-quarantine for 14 days as per the Covid-19 zoning rules. Queensland has been divided into racing zones with jockeys allowed to ride in…

Royal Crown can cement a South Australian Derby start via the VRC St Leger at Flemington. Robbie Griffiths has completed the first part of the the job he was given when fellow Cranbourne trainer Mick Kent transferred promising three-year-old stayer Royal Crown to his stable. The task was to win the Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Caulfield on April 11 with Royal Crown stepping up to the plate in convincing fashion. Griffiths says anything beyond that is a bonus as he prepares Royal Crown for Saturday’s Listed VRC St Leger…

Graff could still head to Qld and the Stradbroke Handicap if he performs well at Rosehill. The annual stand-alone meeting at Hawkesbury, being held at Rosehill this year because of coronavirus restrictions, has attracted quality fields, a trend trainer Kris Lees expects to continue into the winter. Lees has several leading chances on the eight-race card, headed by dual Group One winner In her Time in the Hawkesbury Crown, and says the reduced carnival in Brisbane, combined with tough travel logistics, will keep many more horses in Sydney. “I don’t…