By Jonny Turner Flying trainer Michael House hopes his southern team can sprout wings at Ascot Park on Saturday. Arguably New Zealand’s most enterprising trainer, House will start a big team of 15 horses over 10 races. Similarly to star jockeys James McDonald or Hugh Bowman before a big race, House jetted into Invercargill for trackwork on Thursday to put the finishing touches on his team before Saturday’s meeting. Many of House’s team have arrived in Invercargill after the cancellation of this season’s Central Districts circuit. That has House flying…
Month: June 2020
O’Reilly out to continue form
By Jonny Turner Junior driver Sarah O’Reilly will be out to keep up her excellent form in the sulky at Addington on Sunday. The reinswoman has driven winners at the past three meetings at the Christchurch track and she has four chances to make it four in a row. Trainer Geoff Dunn’s has been running just as hot as O’Reilly post the COVID 19 lockdown. The pair are set to form a potent combination when Tiebreaker steps out in race 5. The 4yr-old comes in to Sunday’s 2600m standing start…
Selections | Addington, 14 June
Josh Smith, Greg O’Connor & Matt Cross provide us with their selections ahead of the meeting at Addington today. Selections can be found here Head to www.tab.co.nz to make a bet!
‘Orson’ free service is awesome
Coursing classics, the Victorian Derby and Victorian Oaks first rounds commence at Longwood with great prizemoney for all events on Sunday. And the club has been fortunate to secure sponsorship for its Longwood Cup courtesy of Meticulous Lodge, which has generously donated a free service (valued at $3300) to retired champion and reigning Victorian Greyhound of the Year, Orson Allen. Trained by Correy Grenfell during his illustrious racing career, Orson Allen (May ’16 KC And All x Desalle Bale) won 31 races from 61 starts and $620,300 in stakes. Orson…
Can’t catch the ‘Thief’
The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily robbed Gippsland greyhound trainer Matthew Clark, 46, of being hands-on with his champion greyhound Catch The Thief. But coronavirus hasn’t stopped Clark being with him in heart, or the sensational sprinter from stealing the show – particularly in Perth during the past month. Clark, pictured above with Catch The Thief and his brother Playlist, pencilled in last month’s Group 2 WA Derby series (520m) at Cannington on Catch The Thief’s race agenda but said, “I thought it was cancelled when COVID-19 hit. I only realised…
Yozo fires up Winter Cup Heats
Yozo Bale brought his A-Game to Cranbourne tonight, stamping his authority on the Trios Winter Cup series. The 26-month-old son of Fernando Bale and Purcell Bale clocked an exceptional 29.78sec, just three lengths off the track record and clearly the fastest of the five heat winners. Trained by Correy Grenfell, Yozo Bale made it three wins from his past four starts and nine from 22 overall when defeating Aston Gwen by three lengths. Another stunning performance on the night came from Vesper Bale, who got up at the huge odds…
Distance domination a family affair
Champion brothers Here’s Tears and Tornado Tears will meet on the track for the first time in Thursday night’s Gr8 Eight (715m) and will look to continue the family’s domination of the staying races at Sandown Park.
Sprint sensations in ‘Shepparton showdown’
Strap yourself in for a superstar showdown at Shepparton today. Sprint sensations Shima Shine (Box 6), Zambora Smokey (Box 7) and Who Told Stevie (Box 8) will strive for supremacy in Race 7 at 4.46pm. It’s an intriguing race, purely given the sheer class of this ultra-talented trio. Dual Group 1 finalist Shima Shine has been quick to recapture his best form following a three-month spell. In fact, he defeated the desperately unlucky Who Told Stevie by 6.6L in a scintillating 23.44sec at Bendigo last Friday. A finalist in last…
Patience the key for Isla
Adam Richardson has played the patience game with his star, Mepunga Isla who lines up in the FFA at Sandown Park tonight. Although her 18 starts for 11-win record looks impressive on paper, it’s what she has had to overcome that sets her apart from the rest. In December last year, Mepunga Isla contested a heat of the Group 2 Bogie Leigh Queensland Futurity where she unfortunately tore her achillies when finishing fifth. When she returned to Victoria, Richardson took her to Dr. Des Fegan who was able to operate…
Blazing finish snares long-distance Gr8 Eight
Blazing Cartier has upstaged her more fancied male rivals to win tonight’s Gr8 Eight event at Sandown Park over the 715m staying trip. Celebrating her 50th start and lining up against a host of Group 1 winners True Detective, Tornado Tears, Rajasthan and Here’s Tears, Robert Britton’s underrated star took control of the race in the home straight to get up at odds of $9.80. Rajasthan, the 2019 RSN Sandown Cup winner, led for much of the journey before hanging on for third place, while new-kid-on-the-block He Shall Power came…