Month: June 2020

Vics ‘cross’ Qld border

Editor BOAY

Due to COVID-19, Queensland has closed its border to Victoria. But that won’t stop an elite group of Victorian greyhounds border-hopping to contest heats of the Group 1 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup (520m) and Group 1 TAB Queensland Cup (710m) at Albion Park on Thursday night. David Burnett (Simon Told Helen and Who Told Stevie) and Jason Thompson (Hooked On Scotch and Black Opium) should play a major hand in the Brisbane Cup series, while Robert Britton (Blazing Cartier) is flying solo in the Queensland Cup series. Below is a…

Bendigo puts on its ‘Sunday best’

Editor BOAY

The Group 2 Triple M Bendigo Cup series kicks off with eight sensational heats over 425 metres on Sunday. The fixture is a promoter’s dream. No doubt, the Bendigo GRA would be ecstatic with the quality of entrants as they comprise a raft of group race performers plus several track record holders. Below is a summation of each heat: Heat 1 (Race 1 – 11.57am) Appears a tussle between strike rate stars Tinker Craig (Box 1) and Zipping Walter Box 4), who have both won 10 races from 15 starts,…

Lagogiane launches Bendigo Cup raid

Editor BOAY

Leading NSW trainer Peter Lagogiane has taken immediate advantage of the timely reopening of the Victorian borders to launch an imposing assault on Sunday afternoon’s Group 2 Triple M Bendigo Cup heats (425m). Greyhound Racing Victoria recommenced accepting interstate nominations this week with Lagogiane jumping on the opportunity to head south with in-form short-coursers Straight Shift (15 wins from 20 starts), Zipper It Mate (10 from 15) and One Fury (six from 17). “We looked at the race about two months ago, more so for Straight Shift,” said Lagogiane. “But…

Ranger Bomb set to go off at Addington

NZHarnessNews

By Josh Smith – Harness News Desk Ranger Bomb has returned to racing with a bang and trainer Brendon Hill is hoping he can continue his impressive run of form when he contests the IRT ‘Worldwide Horse Airfreight’ Mobile Pace (1980m) at Addington Raceway on Friday. The three-year-old gelding won first-up late last month before he was gallant in defeat when runner-up behind Team Kiwi at the Christchurch track last week. Hill was so pleased with the way the son of Sportswriter had pulled up after last week’s run that…

Aussie News – 22 June

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton EXCITING former Kiwi gelding Pitch Perfect won the battle of the rising stars at Menangle last night. Roy Roots Jr’s Bettors Delight four-year-old made the most of a gun run behind the leader from a pole draw to post his 11th win from just 22 starts and his seventh from 12 runs this season. And he broke 1min50sec for the mile for the firs time in the process with a blazing 1min49.8sec. Pitch Perfect showed glimpses last season with a third in a Breeders Crown 3YO final…

Double M Stables set for imminent raceday return

NZHarnessNews

By Josh Smith – Harness News Desk The first half of 2020 has been one to forget for Waikato horseman Matthew White. It started in the worst possible fashion when he was involved in a horrific race crash at Cambridge Raceway in January. White sustained bleeding on the brain, a concussion, and three fractured vertebrae, which resulted in his absence from the track until the end of March. Just two meetings back the COVID-19 pandemic caused racing and New Zealand to shut down for two months. While frustrated with the…

Vet key to Ultimate Stride’s recovery

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson praised Dunedin vet Peter Gillespie after Ultimate Stride made a brilliant return to racing at Ascot Park on Sunday. The blueblood 3yr-old was never asked for a serious effort by driver Matthew Williamson as he went strode to a emphatic win in race 9. The victory came in the trotter’s first start since winning the group 1 Australasian Breeder’s Crown Final for two-year-olds in Melbourne, last August. Ultimate Stride’s racing career went on hold after he broke a pedal bone while enjoying a…

How high can he ride?

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton IS Ride High the best pacer in Australia? A premature question, yes possibly. But, it’s worth pondering after the sheer brilliance of his comeback win at Melton last night. Racing for the first since December 14 and back from a throat operation, Ride High produced one of the most breathtaking wins Melton has witnessed – to the eye and on the clock. Yes he led and dictated, but to leave a handy, including this season’s Inter Dominion finalist My Kiwi Mate, standing as he roared away to…