Month: June 2020

Costa taking giant strides to Rough Habit

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Supergiant winning the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1800m). Photo: Grant Peters Trainer Michael Costa is sure Supergiant (NZ) (Red Giant) can underline his staying potential with another important Queensland winter carnival win. Supergiant has been in great form with a second in the Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes (1650m) and a win in the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1800m) at his past two starts. And Costa is supremely confident sure Supergiant will be at his best distance range when he tackles the Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. “Before…

Oliveira rapt with solid season

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Undefeated mare Only In Jakarta. Photo: Trish Dunell As racing is set to ramp back up after the COVID-19 enforced break, trainer Alex Oliveira is reflecting on a standout season from his Cambridge team. The Brazilian native has recorded five wins from just 11 starts this term and has had a lucrative time trading horses to Hong Kong. Oliveira’s charge was led by four-year-old mare Only In Jakarta who remains undefeated after winning all three of her starts over 1200m. “We have had a good season,” Oliveira said. “Only In…

Thoroughbred Racing resumption brought forward

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Thoroughbred racing will resume earlier than anticipated with the Counties Racing Club hosting a meeting on Saturday 20 June. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) announced the move on Thursday based on feedback from trainers who have indicated they had horses ready to return to the track sooner than the planned resumption in early July. “We are delighted we can resume earlier than originally expected,” NZTR chief executive Bernard Saundry said. “Our first race meetings since lockdown will be held with owners being able to attend and, with the expectation that…

Pinhooking Gold Available in National Weanling Sale

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Astute pinhookers have enjoyed rich rewards with weanlings purchased through New Zealand Bloodstock in recent years, and from June 11 to 21, the National Weanling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus promises to deliver more of the same. Over the last few editions of the Karaka May Sale and its predecessor the National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale, there is a long list of pinhook purchases who fetched significantly higher prices at the National Yearling Sales Series or Ready to Run Sale. Multiple Group One winners Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj) and Yourdeel…

Top longshot

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Ben So is surprised and delighted after Top Military’s success. Photo: HKJC Top Military (NZ) (Swiss Ace) delivered a bazooka of a shock in section two of the Class 4 Staunton Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday to help jockey Ben So to his first double since November 2016. The six-year-old became the longest-priced winner at Happy Valley since Hong Kong racing turned professional in 1971, rattling home at odds of 283/1 under So to pip the 1.6 favourite Sky Show (NZ) (Showcasing). “Unbelievable!” So said after weighing in.…

Teetan bags a birthday brace

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Karis Teetan drives Reliable Team to victory. Photo: HKJC Reliable Team’s (NZ) (Reliable Man) battling win in the Class 2 Cochrane Handicap (1800m) ensured Karis Teetan enjoyed a memorable 30th birthday at Happy Valley on Wednesday. The Frankie Lor-trained grey capped a celebratory double for the ‘Mauritian Magician’ following Murray’s Partners’ (NZ) (Towkay) success in race three. “It’s nice to get a winner on a special day and I hope the luck can keep going,” Teetan said after marching to 76 wins for the term, eight short of last season’s…

Doomben double hands Gollan training mark

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Promising gallopers The Actuary (Sebring) and Knight Mariner (NZ) (Tavistock) showed they are on course for belated big race stardom by helping trainer Tony Gollan set a record for Brisbane metropolitan wins at Doomben. Gollan held the record at 90 which he set in 2017-18 but the double on Wednesday lifted his total for this season to 91-1/2. He now has his sights on becoming the first trainer to record 100 Brisbane metropolitan winners in a season. Gollan rated The Actuary and Knight Mariner as genuine big race horses this…

Owners allowed at Randwick meeting

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Racehorse owners have been given the green light to start returning to Sydney racetracks to watch their horses run. In the first phase of patrons being allowed back on course on race days in Sydney, owners with runners at Saturday’s Randwick meeting who pre-register with the Australian Turf Club will be allowed on course to watch their horses race but with strict procedures in place. Only essential personnel have been allowed at NSW race meetings since just before Golden Slipper day in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. “The safety…

Lost And Running makes it two from two

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Lot 19 – Burgundy x Precious colt. Photo: Supplied Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto) has stamped himself as a promising young sprinter, easily handling the step up to midweek city grade at Randwick’s Kensington track to remain unbeaten from two starts. The John O’Shea-trained three-year-old gelding made an immediate impression with a 4-1/2-length win in quick time over 1000m on debut at Scone last month and he backed it up with another convincing victory as the odds-on favourite in Wednesday’s Sky Racing Active Handicap (1100m). Lost And Running took…

Walker excited about digital move

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Lot 19 – Burgundy x Precious colt. Photo: Supplied Canterbury breeder Susan Walker has been selling yearlings at New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale for several decades and she is enjoying the sale’s unique take this year. The sale has moved online to the gavelhouse.com plus platform as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and Walker hailed New Zealand Bloodstock for the move. “I just thought thank God New Zealand Bloodstock has come up with an idea where we can part with our horses,” Walker said. “I have been selling…