Month: May 2020

Melbourne winter targets for Victoria Star

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Victoria Star winning at Cranbourne earlier this month. Photo: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos Victoria Star (NZ) (Tavistock) has re-ignited his racing career in Australia this season and trainer Greg Eurell believes the well-travelled gelding can continue to step up in Melbourne this winter. The six-year-old gelding runs in Saturday’s Vale Kevin O’Brien Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield with the winner to be exempt from ballot for the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington in early July. Before finding his way to his new home at Cranbourne, Victoria Star began his…

South Island Yearling Sale Live on Gavelhouse Plus

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Lot 36 (Highly Recommended x Vannista Belle), a close relation to Melody Belle. Photo: Supplied New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual South Island Sale of yearlings is now live and available to view on NZB’s new online subsidiary platform, Gavelhouse Plus. Bidding on the first-ever sale of its kind launched today and will run for an 11 day period, with the first lot closing on Sunday 7 June at 5pm (NZT). It is no secret that Southern-born and raised thoroughbreds continuously bring their immense staying power to the table and the quality 65-lot catalogue packs…

Purton moves three clear in HK title race

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Zac Purton and Beauty Generation. Photo: Daryl Sherer Zac Purton has taken advantage of Joao Moreira’s absence to kick three wins clear in the race for the Hong Kong jockeys’ premiership with a winning treble at Sha Tin. After four wins apiece on last Sunday’s program, Purton and Moreira remained level-pegging in this season’s title race on 123 wins. Moreira had to sit out Wednesday night’s nine-race meeting conducted on the all-weather track because of a suspension and Purton has been able to capitalise, taking his season tally of wins…

Shalwa after value-boosting win at Doomben

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Shalwa will try to add further black-type to her record on Saturday. Photo: AAP A raceday gear change has helped stud-bound mare Shalwa (NZ) (O’Reilly) earn another chance at a black type race win. Shalwa will be having her fourth run in a stakes race in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday. Though she showed she was up to stakes company when second in the Listed Just Now Quality (1350m) during the Brisbane summer, trainer Tony Gollan wasn’t entirely happy with her form. “We took the…

Legislative change sought pre-election

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New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Bernard Saundry has advised the industry is a matter of weeks away from hearing back from the Select Committee following submissions on the Racing Industry Bill. This Bill finalises the post-transition governance structure of the racing industry, creates a legislative framework to enable property to better benefit the racing industry, and enables new ways of seeking approval for betting products. “With the racing industry bill, we are very supportive of the process the Racing Minister has implemented to have two sets of reform delivered…

Strong winner for Charm Spirit 3YO

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Trainer John O’Shea. Photo: Daryl Sherer The in-form John O’Shea stable sent out a double at Canterbury on Wednesday including impressive three-year-old Kirwan’s Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit), who comfortably accounted for his rivals over 1900m. The son of Charm Spirit notched his second career victory and looks a nice middle distance galloper in the making.  “He has been desperately unlucky,” O’Shea said. “He got beat one day when he ran out and got held up at his last start so just to get a bit of free air on Wednesday…

Proposed Caulfield re-structure could affect Kiwi spring hopes

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Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au A major overhaul of Melbourne’s spring racing carnival could be on the agenda this year, with the Melbourne Racing Club exploring the option of moving its Caulfield carnival, including the Caulfield Cup, from mid-October to the end of November. News Corp reported that the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) would move to November 28 with the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) run a week earlier on November 21. The AFL grand final is usually held on the last Saturday of September but has been pushed back…

Rogerson counts down to racing’s return

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Trainer Graeme Rogerson could have more than 30 runners at the first Te Rapa meeting when racing resumes Photo: Trish Dunell Hall of Fame trainer Graeme Rogerson is throwing all of his support behind New Zealand racing’s return from its coronavirus-enforced hiatus. Training in partnership with his wife Debbie and granddaughter Bailey, Rogerson plans to have more than two dozen runners at the first northern race meeting, which is currently scheduled for Te Rapa on July 4. “Obviously the lockdown is something you’d rather not have to do, but we’ve…

NZB Airfreight on Track to Resume Flights

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Following the temporary suspension of equine exports last week due to a positive case of equine piroplasmosis, NZB Airfreight is confident that travel will resume shortly with increased testing and pre-export protocols. The single case of the tick-borne protozoal disease was detected by the Ministry of Primary Industries and grounded flights just two weeks following the resumption of exports post COVID-19. NZB Airfreight has since worked closely with MPI, the Department of Agriculture Australia and Asure Quality to ensure minimum delay and impact on future exports. While new regulations and…

Duncan produces another genuine prospect

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Trainer Paul Duncan. Photo: Trish Dunell Caloundra trainer Paul Duncan produced another staying prospect when first time starter Genuine Al (NZ) (Atlante) landed some big bets with his win at the Sunshine Coast. The official betting fluctuations on Genuine Al were $4 into $2.40 but most corporate bookmakers quoted as much as $13 when markets first opened. Ridden a bold front-running race by Stephanie Lacy, Genuine Al was far too strong in a maiden over 1300m on Wednesday. Duncan has now had two New Zealand-bred debut winners inside a week…