The Ross Beckett-trained Blair Flight (NZ) (Zacinto) will meet a Heavy track for the first time when lines-up at Riccarton on Saturday, but that hasn’t deterred TAB bookmakers. The Petone pundits have installed the five-year-old gelding as a $5 favourite in the Janet Francis Handicap (1400m) ahead of Apellido and Newmarket at $5.50. The son of Zacinto recorded an effortless win on a Slow7 track at Gore prior to lockdown and Beckett is interested to see how his charge handles the wet track. “He hasn’t had a race in a…
Month: July 2020
Last chance saloon for Humidor
Three-time Group One winner Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo) has been put on notice by trainer Lindsey Smith heading into Saturday’s Gr.3 Strickland Stakes (2000m) at Belmont. The seven-year-old gelding hasn’t been living up to expectations for the dual-state conditioner, and if he fails to place this weekend a Victorian spring campaign is off the table. The New Zealand-bred son of Teofilo finished 10th first-up in the Gr.3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) before finishing eighth in the Gr.3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) last start and Smith hopes a lighter Humidor can reverse his form…
James McDonald banned over Threeood ride
Top Sydney jockey James McDonald has been suspended for three weeks over his ride on the Joe Pride-trained Threeood at Randwick. Racing NSW stewards, led by Marc Van Gestel, chaired an inquiry on Friday after earlier charging McDonald for failing to take all reasonable and permissable measures to win or obtain the best possible placing on Threeood. The mare started favourite at Randwick last Saturday and finished second last. Stewards expressed concern over McDonald’s lack of vigour between the 300m and 100m and his failure to shift out earlier to…
Purton hungry for more
Zac Purton boosted his championship claims on Wednesday night with a fantastic four-timer at Happy Valley and this Saturday at Sha Tin he is aiming to draw further clear of great rival Joao Moreira with a full book of 10 rides. Purton rode the last four winners at the Valley, all for trainer Francis Lui, in a sublime performance. But Hong Kong’s reigning champion jockey is not about to rest on his laurels even with a seven-win lead at the top (136-129). “There’s still a few races left and this…
Wairere Falls scores on big day for NZ breds
A minor surgery has worked the oracle with Wairere Falls (NZ) (Savabeel) who broke maiden ranks at Geelong on Friday. The three-year-old son of Savabeel was having just his third career start, and first since a gelding operation, finishing strongly to win the 1200m event. Wairere Falls, who races in the Go Racing silks, jumped nicely and settled at the rear of the field under a quiet ride from Damien Thornton. Thornton started to encourage him through his gears inside the 600m and when the gap presented itself in the…
Magical opening to Riccarton meeting
A typically patient ride from the evergreen Chris Johnson paved the way for local runner Yannick (NZ) (Burgundy) to take out the opening event at Riccarton on Saturday as racing returned to the South Island for the first time since the easing of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Johnson showed all his trademark coolness in a driving finish as he brought the Jamie Bullard-trained three-year-old to the middle of the track for his run after settling well back in the early stages of the 1400m contest. Trainer Jamie Bullard (left) speaks with…
Veteran shows younger rivals how it’s done
Rising ten-year-old Irish Excuse (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) peeled back the years as he gave his rivals weight and a beating to land his 16th career victory when taking out a rating 93 1200m contest at Riccarton Punters had expected the Ellis Winsloe-trained gelding to need his first-up run but he belied their lack of confidence with a dashing display that saw him haul in the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Whale Song (NZ) (Ocean Park) in the closing stages to nail a thrilling victory. Whale Song had taken a clear…
Impecunious a star on the rise for Pitman stable
The leading South Island training combination of Michael and Matthew Pitman made the best possible start to their day on Saturday when they produced a race-to-race double early on the card on their home turf at Riccarton. Showcasing two-year-old filly Showgem (NZ) showed plenty of speed on debut to lead throughout over 800m in the second race of the day before just thirty minutes later Sacred Falls two-year-old filly Impecunious (NZ) stormed away from her rivals over the concluding stages of a 1000m contest. Senior training partner Michael Pitman was…
Gritty Caulfield win for Heavenly Emperor
Former Kiwi galloper Heavenly Emperor (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) recorded a tough on-pace victory at Caulfield on Saturday when successful in the Le Pine Funerals Handicap (1600m). The four-year-old gelding has won five races and in excess of A$250,000 in prizemoney since joining trainer Stephen Brown, having commenced his career in New Zealand where he was placed in three of five starts for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike. Winning Jockey Mitch Aitken was forced to push forward after finding himself trapped three-wide early and fended off Thought Of That in the…
Rodd steers Mystery Shot to Caulfield win
Three-year-old gelding Mystery Shot (Shooting To Win) has continued an unbeaten start to his career to give Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd his first city success since his return to Victorian racing from Singapore. The Lindsey Smith-trained Mystery Shot made it three wins from as many starts in Saturday’s Take It To The Neds Level Handicap (1440m) at Caulfield, settling just behind the lead before striding to the front with 200m to run. Splendoronthegrass (So You Think), chasing her third-straight win, charged home from last but could not reel in…