Month: June 2020

Coursing key to Greysynd Spectre’s spark

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John Bosnich is extolling the virtues of coursing after a successful foray to the opening meeting of the season at Lang Lang sparked Greysynd Spectre’s return to the winner’s list after an eight-race losing streak. Greysynd Spectre (pictured above) won two of his first five starts, both up the Healesville straight, before losing his way somewhat. Devon Meadows-based trainer John Bosnich, a relative newcomer to the sport, was hoping to relight Greysynd Spectre’s spark when the coursing season began at Lang Lang on May 31 and his plan worked to…

Reliable Man Filly Tops Digital South Island Sale

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Lady Zafira filly (pictured) was the top-priced lot at New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual South Island Sale (Supplied) New Zealand Bloodstock’s annual South Island Sale saw its first-ever online session conclude on Gavelhouse Plus on Sunday evening.  Prominent agent Phill Cataldo was busy throughout the Sale, investing in four yearlings including the top-priced lot early on in the session. Purchased on behalf of an Australian buyer, the Reliable Man filly out of Lady Zafira (Lot 2) was secured for $58,000 from the draft of Canterbury-based Ripple Creek.   “She is a very…

Another country cup for Heptagon

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Heptagon cruises to a comfortable victory in the Swan Hill Cup (1600m) Photo: Pat Scala-Racing Photos New Zealand-bred six-year-old Heptagon (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) provided jockey Dean Yendall with an armchair ride that allowed the Victorian hoop to register a unique Cups double over the weekend. Little more than 24 hours after steering Patch Adams (Dane Shadow) to victory in the transferred Apsley Cup (2000m) at Casterton, Yendall partnered the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Heptagonto a popular win in Sunday’s Swan Hill Cup (1600m). Well-supported to start the $2…

Marc Devcich appointed General Manager at Cambridge Stud

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Marc Devcich Photo: Supplied Well-respected and widely-experienced horseman Marc Devcich has been appointed to the role of General Manager at Cambridge Stud. Devcich has been involved in the thoroughbred industry since his school days and has previously worked at Highview Stud, Windsor Park Stud and Mapperley Stud in various roles. In Australia, he has enjoyed stints at Segenhoe Stud and Widden Stud and in the United States at Dixiana Farm in Kentucky where a highlight was foaling down the future Epsom Derby winner Benny The Dip. Devcich, 47, will take…

Wallace enjoying a break back in New Zealand

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Promising galloper Unition pictured winning on debut at Pukekohe last year. Photo: Trish Dunell After going through New Zealand’s strict Covid-19 quarantine protocol following his return from the USA, Michael Wallace is enjoying the chance to relax in more familiar surroundings back in Cambridge. With the Coronavirus pandemic forcing the rescheduling of major American Yearling sales such as Keeneland and Fasig Tipton to later in the year, the China Horse Club’s Chief Operating Officer took the opportunity to return to his native New Zealand for a short break. Wallace is…

The show goes on with Belmont triumph

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Showmanship makes it three wins from four starts as he bolts home at Belmont Photo: Simon Merritt – Western Racepix Potential West Australian star Showmanship (NZ) (Showcasing) indicated he was heading right to the top with another comprehensive victory on the weekend. The Showcasing gelding sat outside the pace for rider William Pike before easing clear to win effortlessly by five lengths over 1400m at Belmont on Saturday as he registered his third win from his first four starts. A son of Don Eduardo mare Khales, Showmanship is the younger half-brother…

Benner keen to get back into action

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Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1600m) winner Gold Bracelet will do her future racing in Australia. Photo: Trish Dunell A pair of impressive trial winners at Foxton during the week has Otaki trainer Johno Benner looking forward to the return of racing in the Central Districts next month. Benner and partner Hollie Wynyard produced progressive winter galloper Happy Star (NZ) (Fabulous) to win an open class 1000m heat on Thursday while a well-bred Tavistock colt also saluted in a maiden catchweight event over the same distance. While the stable is generally quiet during…

Waller to have big say in Tattersalls Cup

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Stardome and jockey Luke Dittman return to the winner’s enclosure at Eagle Farm Photo: AAP Improving stayer Stardome (NZ) (Savabeel) could add to trainer Chris Waller’s already strong hand in the Gr.3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) after his win at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Waller had half the field in the Gr. 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Doomben on May 30 where he produced the first six across the line and most are expected to back up in the Tattersall’s Cup. The Tattersall’s Cup is the major staying race of the winter,…

Promising Opacity wins again at Randwick

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Opacity (closest to camera) on his way to winning at Randwick. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au The Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) figure among the spring options for Opacity (NZ), a three-year-old son of Ocean Park who has continued building on a promising start to his racing career with another Randwick win. The John O’Shea-trained gelding got to the right part of the track out wide in Saturday’s TAB Handicap (1600m) and burst through between runners under Hugh Bowman to register his fifth win from seven starts…

Zacinto’s Vassilator salutes at Flemington again

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Stardome winning at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Photo: Grant Peters The Colin Little-trained Vassilator (NZ) (Zacinto) was back in the winner’s circle when landing the VRC Heritage Handicap (1400m) under a well-timed Craig Williams ride. The chestnut son of Valachi Downs’ stallion Zacinto was successful for the third time in his career, but has been a great money spinner for his syndicate of owners, amassing A$617,275 from 22 starts to date. A Listed winner at two, the now four-year-old prevailed narrowly from Godolphin’s Haunted (Lonhro), with former Kiwi Romancer (NZ)…