Former Argentinian apprentice Diego Montes de Oca has had to cope with some major life changes since coming to New Zealand, but it proved all worthwhile when winning on Lalone (NZ) (Makfi) at Awapuni on Saturday. The win aboard the Daniel Miller-trained three-year-old filly was the first New Zealand victory from five raceday rides for the 28-year-old since teaming up with leading trainer Jamie Richards at Matamata 18 months ago. Montes de Oca rode 89 winners during his apprenticeship in Argentina and, with his last winner in his home country…
Month: July 2020
Border restrictions delay Cambridge track
New Zealand’s border restrictions have put a spanner in the works in the construction of the Cambridge Jockey Club’s synthetic track. Civil works for the track are nearing completion, however, the club is waiting upon the expertise of Australian-based company Martin Collins to be able to mix and lay the track surface. “We have been pretty lucky with the weather and prior to lockdown we were ahead of time and budget,” Cambridge Jockey Club chief executive Mark Fraser-Campin said. “They have done a great job and have caught back up.…
Junior Champs faces threat
By Michael Guerin Harness racing’s milestone series that Covid-19 couldn’t stop now faces a very different threat. But determined Waikato horsewoman Alicia Harrison and her mates are adamant they will get harness racing’s Junior Driver’s series off the ground at Addington this weekend. The junior series brings together the best 12 young reinspeople every season and is the one event every young driver wants to be part of, let alone win. It’s honour roll contains the superstars of the industry, from four-time winner Maurice McKendry to Tony Herlihy, Anthony Butt…
Dexter Dunn in big upset
Dexter Dunn and a 50-to-one outsider have upstaged reigning US horse of the year Shartin N in New Jersey. The Kiwi star got Major Occasion A into the trail in the Dorothy Haughton Memorial at the Meadowlands and then scooted up the passing lane to win by a neck. Shartin N, the record-breaking mare bred by Christchurch’s Grant Crabbe, was second. Major Occasion A, an Australian-bred daughter of Art Major, is trained by ex-pat Kiwi Richard “Nifty” Norman and has now won four races this season, and 19 overall. Major…
Laura McKay – “It’s kinda stressful”
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It was a cold drizzly and dreary day in North Canterbury, but for Laura McKay there was no place she’d rather be. The 26 year old was “on debut” as a trainer at the midweek Rangiora work-outs. “The first time in my colours and the first horse under my training so it’s a pretty exciting day for me.” Her first project is five-year-old mare Faith No More (8-0). “I bought her a month ago off Michael Cations….. she’s a maiden and not won…
Stars set to collide for first time
By Adam Hamilton Australia’s two most exciting pacers Ride High and Lochinvar Art are on target to clash for the first time at Bendigo on August 1. Ride High made it three wins from as many starts this campaign when he cruised to his 13th win from just 14 lifetime runs at Ballarat over the weekend. “He just does it in second gear. There’s no need for him to open up, it’s scary that we haven’t done that yet,” driver Kima Frenning told Trots Vision. “He knows exactly what he’s…
Aussie News – 20 July
By Adam Hamilton Chicago Bull just may be on the way back to his very best. If you haven’t seen his epic Gloucester Park win last Friday night, take a look at the reply. It was pretty special. It’s questionable whether the emerging Chicago Bull, the one before his awful and untimely back injury in Auckland a couple of years back, could have done what the comeback version of “The Bull” did last Friday. It was certainly helped by one of the most tactically brilliant drives you’d ever see from…
Pomare grabs the gold at Te Rapa
Consistent mare Call Me Evie (NZ) (Battle Paint) rewarded some inspired late support from punters when she overcame a wide run in transit to take out a rating 65 1100m contest at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Bill Pomare-trained four-year-old came in for some sustained backing in the final minutes before the race, halving her $8 quote with bookmakers to start a $4 favourite off the back of an impressive 1000m trial win on her home track at Rotorua last month. Punters had their hearts in their mouths early on…
Williams steers Bumper Blast to success
Trainer Robert Hickmott holds spring ambitions for Bumper Blast (NZ) (Ocean Park) after the lightly raced galloper returned with an impressive win at Flemington. Leading jockey Craig Williams produced a stunning ride on Bumper Blast, taking the gelding from barrier one, gradually crossing heels to the extreme outside to win The Belzoni over the straight 1000m course on Saturday. Hickmott had Bumper Blast entered for the weight-for-age Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield last Saturday, however owner David Price and Williams reasoned success in that race may rule out…
Southern visitor takes feature chase at Te Rapa
The John and Karen Parsons-trained Delacroix (NZ) (Zabeel) made the long trip north from Balcairns a profitable one when he proved too strong for his rivals over the concluding stages of the Ken and Roger Browne Memorial Steeplechase (3900m) at Te Rapa. Rider Buddy Lamas bided his time on the South Island fencer before moving into contention with 1000m to run. Delacroix joined pacemaker Zamora rounding the home bend before being claimed by Waverley visitor Justa Charlie who looked to be travelling better than the pair. Justa Charlie cleared the…