Lord Bouzeron (NZ) (Burgundy) has made a successful introduction to Australian racing with a dominant victory against his own age on rain-affected going at Caulfield. Having his first Australian start and first for Cranbourne-based trainer Francis Finnegan, after notching three wins for Chrissy Bambry from 13 appearances in New Zealand, three-year-old Lord Bouzeron led Saturday’s Neds Handicap (2000m) before making it a one-act affair in the home straight. Lord Bouzeron ($14) revelled in the wet conditions to score by 4-1/2 lengths over Queen Of Tarts with Tooradin another 1-1/4 lengths…
Month: July 2020
Te Akau spring plans fluid as Shark recuperates
Boom Kiwi galloper Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) remains in an equine hospital in Sydney after undergoing eye surgery. The striking chestnut had optic implant surgery for a rare condition last month and while recovering well from the operation picked up a lung infection that is causing concern. Trainer Jamie Richards said the multiple Group One winner was making steady progress and hopes the gelding will be out of the clinic by early next week. “The plan is to spell him in NSW for probably three or four…
McDonald taking patient approach with Flying Agent
Trainer Amy McDonald is keeping a lid on the hype surrounding impressive maiden steeplechase winner Flying Agent (NZ) (Raise The Flag). The Kiwi import romped home by 17 lengths at Warrnambool on Sunday but the Ballarat horsewoman is keen to take the Raise The Flag seven-year-old through the grades. “It’s so easy to get carried away but when you pull all of the sparkles back, it was just a maiden,” McDonald told RSN 927. “We will go through the grades and then see where we fit in towards the end…
Satono Aladdin unable to shuttle
Breeders will be denied access to Deep Impact’s Group One winning son Satono Aladdin, who will be unable to shuttle to Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand this season. Strenuous efforts to secure passage for shuttling Japanese stallions to travel together to Australasia have been foiled due to the worldwide disruption to flights since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Rich Hill Stud’s John Thompson was keen to see Satono Aladdin, the winner of the Gr.1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m), return to the Waikato for his third season at stud but…
Polly Grey pleases with black-type placing
The Kiwi connections of smart mare Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour) were delighted to see the daughter of Azamour show a glimpse of her ability when finishing second in the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday behind impressive winner Sircconi. The five-year-old mare joined Chris Waller recently after winning six races for Matamata trainer Kylie Fawcett, including the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m). Fawcett races Polly Grey with her partner Rob Joyce and brother Brook, whose battle with serious health issues inspired her to give him his first…
Southern Lad on target for Ramornie Handicap
Southern Lad (Ocean Park) has been knocking on the door of a win this campaign and trainer John O’Shea is hopeful the potential for a drier surface will enhance the sprinter’s winning chances in the Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton. O’Shea said Wednesday’s $200,000 Ramornie (1200m) had been a target for Southern Lad this preparation, and the five-year-old heads in off placings in his four starts this campaign. After a first-up second in the Wagga Wagga Town Plate on a heavy track in late April, Southern Lad has finished third…
Parkes eyes membership in 1000-club
Wanganui jockey Johnathan Parkes will begin the quest for the final 100 winners he needs to join the New Zealand 1000-win jockey club when he rides at his home track on Friday. Parkes claimed his 900th win when he partnered the Gary Vile-trained Fattore Otto to success at Awapuni on Saturday. It was the Vile-Parkes combination’s 24th win together, the pair having shared their first Group One wins together when Ransomed won the 2013 Spring Classic (2040m) at Hastings. Vile was rapt to provide Parkes with his 900th win. “It’s…
Sydney campaign for The Bostonian
Multiple Group One winner The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) is set to cross the Tasman once again this spring to try and add to his elite-level tally. The Tony Pike-trained gelding had another lucrative autumn in Australia this year, bagging his third Group One victory in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick in March, before finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 Geroge Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill. Sydney will once again be the target this spring, with the rising six-year-old set to kick-off his campaign in a race named after one…
Victorian horses barred from racing in NSW
Racing NSW has banned horses trained in Victoria from taking part in races in the northern state for an indefinite period. The ban comes as Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire faces a six-week lockdown due to the spike of COVID-19 cases in Victoria. Racing NSW chief steward Mark Van Gestel said the decision to ban horses from Victoria was immediate and also affected NSW horses returning home. “We’ve put the protocols in place on the basis of risk assessment,” Van Gestel told RSN927. “The transport drivers required to take those…
Countofmontecristo begins Kranji Mile campaign
Singapore Champion Three-Year-old of his year Countofmontecristo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) will be looking to add a Kranji Mile (1600m) victory to his illustrious career. The New Zealand-bred gelding has finished runner-up in the glamour mile previously and trainer Michael Clements has been targeting the race this year with the son of Echoes of Heaven. Originally scheduled to take place on May 23, the race was postponed to August `6 after a COVID-19 enforced shutdown in Singapore. He will kick-off his preparation in the Saturday’s $100,000 Class 1 race over…