Talented jumper Justa Charlie (NZ) (Shinko King) has been retired due to soundness concerns following his second placing in the Ken & Roger Browne Memorial Steeplechase (3900m) at Te Rapa last Saturday. That race was the Harvey Wilson-trained gelding’s first jumps start since winning the 2018 Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m). He was then sidelined with a tendon problem and returned to competition almost two years later with a close second on the flat at Wanganui late last month. “He came through his first-up run with no issues, but the day…
Month: July 2020
International investors celebrating Bourbon triumph
Good looking gelding All Black Bourbon (NZ) (Highly Recommended) made a winning debut at Avondale on Wednesday for trainer Stephen Marsh. The two-year-old son of Highly Recommended had been placed in all three of his trials and rallied under a strong Danielle Johnson ride to defeat well-bred three-year-old Kurt (NZ) (Kingman) in an 1100m maiden. Purchased for $110,000 as a yearling at the 2019 Karaka Select Sale by Bourbon Lane Stable LLC, the youngster was identified by bloodstock agents Mike McMahon and Jamie Hill on behalf of American investor Dennis…
Progressive Travest chasing Rosehill win
Talented three-year-old Travest (NZ) (Tavistock) will step up to 1400m on Saturday when he contests the TAB Handicap at Rosehill. Trainer Greg Hickman is pleased with the son of Tavistock, who made up good ground when finishing third at Randwick last start after getting too far back over 1300m on a testing track. “It won’t be an easy race on Saturday, there is plenty in there that have won a race and done a bit so we will still want to be on our merit,” Hickman said. “He did get…
Gelagotis looks towards the spring with gelding
Moe trainer Peter Gelagotis is now eyeing some spring targets for Blandford Lad (NZ) (Savabeel) after he made it back-to-back wins at Sandown on Wednesday. “He’s starting to live up to the big ticket I put on him early doors,” Gelagotis said. “In his last prep he had two wins in a row and he ran second to Double You Tee. I then put him away because I thought he’s a serious horse and has got the pedigree to boot, being a full-brother to Lucia Valentina. “He had shown me…
Selections | Invercargill, 23 July
Jason Teaz, Jason Broad and Justin Evans provide us with their selections ahead of Invercargill’s meeting today. Selections can be found here Head to www.tab.co.nz to make a bet!
Selections | Cambridge, 23 July
Jason Teaz, Aaron White & Michael Guerin provide us with their selections ahead of the meeting at Cambridge today. Selections can be found here Head to www.tab.co.nz to make a bet!
Qualifying heats up at Ascot Park
By Jonny Turner Late season bids to qualify for the Southland Oaks and Southern Supremacy Stakes have helped set up a blockbuster feature pace at Ascot Park on Thursday. Canterbury 3yr-olds William Wallace and Lulu Le Mans will have to be on their game to rack up qualifying dollars for the group 2 features when they take on some Southland’s most progressive pacers. The pair will clash with established 4yr-old Robyns Playboy, the improving Forsure and rising Southern star Love On The Rocks. The latter has shot towards the top…
Chatting with the Chief 22 July
Welcome to this week’s edition of “Chatting with the Chief” with interim chief executive Phil Holden. Today he answers your questions. He talks about the top job and if HRNZ has started its quest to find a permanent Chief Executive, the expectation around stakes for the new season, and provides new details on the annual conference and the AGM and the annual end of season awards, which have now been broadened out to include the best horses as well as the best drivers, trainers etc.
Switched on Ali Baba shapes as exciting jumper
Talented galloper Ali Baba (NZ) (Savabeel) is a more motivated horse this preparation and turned in an impressive performance to win the Fiber Fresh Stables BBQ Hurdle (2800m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained seven-year-old won a 2000m flat race earlier in the month and broke his hurdling duck with a comfortable six-length win. A winner of five races on the flat, Ali Baba footed it with the best of his generation at three, finishing fourth in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m)…
Coleman officially calls it a day
Michael Coleman has officially made the call to retire from race riding following the serious injuries he suffered at the Rotorua trials on June 30. Coleman, one of New Zealand’s leading jockeys for many years, suffered a broken femur and serious pelvic injuries when the horse he was riding to the start for the 18th heat reared up and went over backwards when leaving the birdcage. Coleman was rushed to Rotorua Hospital then airlifted to Waikato Hospital, where he underwent major surgery on his leg the following day. A pelvic…