Month: May 2020

SENTRACK BACKS SATURDAY MORNING CHASING AND PACING

Editor BOAY

SENTrack will throw its support behind Saturday morning greyhound and trots racing with a dedicated two-hour show to launch this weekend – Saturday Morning Chasing & Pacing. Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) and Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) announced recently that they would trial Saturday morning racing – a joint initiative by the codes to widen their audience. Hosted by Jason Bonnington, Saturday Morning Chasing & Pacing on SENTrack will take live calls of all trots races from Melton each Saturday of the three week trial, as well all the greyhound races…

Veterans’ affairs

Editor BOAY

In human terms, they would be eligible for a pension. But a field of eight greyhounds with ageless legs, who have won a cumulative 177 races and around $695,000 in stakes, will line up in a classic Veteran Special Event (400m) at Geelong tonight. The ‘eight wonders’ whose minds are still making appointments their legs can keep are in Race 11 at 10.28pm: 1. Charlie Cockatoo (10 wins – $43,925) 2. Dyna Hunter (27 – $141,958) 3. Peter Galo (43 – $187,535) 4. Zipping Clive (20 – $93,895) 5. Dyna…

Black Opium’s sights set on Sapphire Crown

Editor BOAY

by Mick Floyd Black Opium has one paw on that elusive group 1 title after a scintillating victory in her Sapphire Crown heat at Sandown Park tonight. The three-time group 1 runner up took full advantage of vacant box each side of her to lead all of the way to defeat Origami Angel by nine and a half lengths. “She did everything right,” said handler Seona Thompson. “She did everything right last week, but she’s even exceeded that and gone a bit better.” Her winning time of 29.204 was 1/1000th…

US Jockey Club to cap mare numbers of future stallions

Editor BOAY

The US Jockey Club board of stewards has announced that it has adopted a final rule limiting the annual breeding of individual stallions. The rule reflects The Jockey Club’s goal to preserve the health of the Thoroughbred breed for the long term and will apply prospectively to stallions born in 2020 or later. Effective immediately, The Jockey Club’s Principal Rules and Requirements of the American Studbook are amended by adding the following italicized language to the text of Rule 14C: C. Based on the information on a completed Report of…

Racing trials given go ahead in Tasmania

AAP

Trials in the three racing codes have been given the green light to resume in Tasmania as the state eyes a return to the track next month. The state banned thoroughbred, greyhound and harness racing in early April, the only jurisdiction in Australia to do so, as part of coronavirus measures. Trials have been permitted to resume from Monday under strict social distancing rules and with fewer officials and participants. “(The) announcement gives industry participants the chance to prepare their animals for a re-start of racing from 13 June,” Minister…

Krone ready to make bid for Stradbroke Handicap

AAP

Former Victorian mare Krone will make her debut for new trainer Tony Gollan at the Gold Coast. Much-travelled mare Krone has pleased new trainer Tony Gollan as she starts her push for a Stradbroke Handicap start when she makes her Queensland debut. Krone could give Gollan at least three runners in the Stradbroke on June 6 if she races well in the Silk Stocking (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday. The Silk Stocking is rated among the strongest fillies and mares races in Queensland despite carrying Listed status. It…

Acrophobic wins on debut at Warwick Farm

AAP

A tilt at the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes in Brisbane will be considered after two-year-old Acrophobic made a winning start to his career at Warwick Farm. Acrophobic stepped out in Wednesday’s Exceedance @ Vinery Handicap (1400m) for two-year-olds and trainer John O’Shea felt there was plenty to like about the way the colt was able to get the job done by a half length under jockey James McDonald. “It was a really good effort because they never dawdled and he was off the bridle a little bit out and…

Air To Air faces big step up at Rosehill

AAP

Trainer Jason Coyle admits he is throwing Air To Air in at the deep end in the Inglis 3YO Guineas. Jason Coyle knows Air To Air faces a mammoth task in the Inglis 3YO Guineas but the trainer thinks enough of the filly to warrant giving her a crack at the $200,000 race at Rosehill. Air To Air is Coyle’s only runner on Saturday’s program after dual stakes-placed three-year-old filly St Covet’s Spirit was balloted out of the Group Three Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) which has attracted a capacity field…

Chasing a Cup berth a Good Idea for stayer

AAP

Trainer Phillip Stokes will try to qualify Good Idea for the Melbourne Cup in The Andrew Ramsden. Well-bred stayer Good Idea will be given his chance to try to secure a spot in the Melbourne Cup when he runs in The Andrew Ramsden at Flemington. By dual Cox Plate winner So You Think out of 2009 VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume, Good Idea is set for Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) which carries with it a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption to the winner. Trained by Phillip Stokes, Good Idea races…