Woodsman (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) recorded his second win across the Tasman on Saturday when comfortably winning his 3480m hurdle at Casterton by seven lengths and he is now being earmarked for a future steeplechase career. The eight-year-old gelding has been in the care of Warrnambool trainer Patrick Ryan Jr since March and part-owner and former trainer Tony Gillies is pleased he elected to send his pride and joy over when he did. “We had always planned to send him over to Australia after his good runs last year,” Gillies said. “We…
Month: July 2020
Eighth stakes winner for Charm Spirit
Windsor Park Stud shuttle stallion Charm Spirit sired his eighth stakes winner when Time Scale proved a cut above her rivals to run out a ready winner of the Listed Betway Empress Fillies’ Stakes (1200m) at Newmarket in the UK on Sunday. The Ralph Beckett-trained two-year-old continued her climb through the ranks when backing up her comfortable success at Chepstow last time. A step up to Group race company is next on the agenda for Time Scale, who was installed as a 25-1 for next year’s Gr.1 1000 Guineas (1600m), with Beckett…
Oaks performer heads across the Tasman
Southland trainer Kelvin Tyler may have lost one of his star three-year-olds to Australia, but he is excited about the prospects of another. Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) placegetter Feel The Rush (NZ) (Proisir) has joined Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s Sydney barn, however, Tyler’s brother Allan and sister-law Marie have retained a half share in the promising filly. “My brother actually owned her, so he has kept half a share, so it works out quite well,” said Tyler, who trains in partnership with his daughter Aimee. “My brother already…
Unreserved Dispersal Sale Featuring Rollout The Carpet Live Now
Australian-based Group One winning mare Rollout The Carpet (Holy Roman Emperor), in foal to The Autumn Sun, is part of a high-profile unreserved dispersal sale live now on Gavelhouse Plus. The winner of the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Rollout The Carpet is offered alongside her weanling colt by Pierro and her two winning half-sisters Vendella (Exceed and Excel, currently empty) and Out Of Friendship (Tale Of The Cat, in foal to No Nay Never). The highest-rated juvenile filly of her generation, Rollout The Carpet won the Gr.2 Matamata…
Rodd positive on Mystery Shot
Jockey Michael Rodd got his first city win on the board since returning to Australia from Singapore a couple of months ago, partnering Kiwi import Mystery Shot (Shooting to Win) to victory at Caulfield on Saturday. “It was great to get that first city winner back, especially for Lindsey Smith and Brad Spicer,” Rodd said. “Brad gave me my first winner back out at Hamilton a bit over a month ago, but it was nice to get that first winner on a Saturday as well.” Rodd said the Inglewood Stud…
McDonald to appeal three-week riding ban
Kiwi jockey James McDonald has confirmed he will appeal a three-week suspension over a running and handling charge. McDonald was found guilty of failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to win or obtain the best possible placing on Threeood in a race at Randwick on June 20. Threeood started favourite and finished second last and McDonald fronted a Racing NSW stewards’ hearing on Friday. Twenty-four hours later, the former New Zealand rider landed a Rosehill treble to give him a century of winners in consecutive seasons on Sydney…
Winter Championship trio in return battle
Grahame Begg is looking to reverse the result of a stakes race from 12 months ago when Romancer (NZ) (Redwood) runs at Flemington. Romancer is nominated to contest the Listed VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) having finished second in the race last year. The Begg-trained galloper split Rekjavik and Holbien last year and all three horses are entered for this year’s renewal on Saturday. Romancer will be having the fourth run of his campaign and Begg said the gelding would be at peak fitness for Saturday’s contest. Begg said…
Bosson inching closer to raceday return
It’s been a unique year for most but leading Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson could be excused for not knowing whether he is coming or going. The star rider, who has made an impact on both sides of the Tasman this season, is putting in the hard yards as he gets back to racing trim. With the prospects of a trans-Tasman bubble prior to spring looking less likely as Victoria’s COVID-19 cases rise, Bosson was uncertain as to whether he would be able to ride at feature Australian carnivals in spring.…
Bergerson looking forward to Awapuni return
Palmerston North trainer Roydon Bergerson is looking forward to racing returning to Awapuni Racecourse on Saturday after a near four month hiatus as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. The Awapuni conditioner was represented by two runners at the Central Districts’ first meeting back at Wanganui last week, but he said a home track return is even better. “I am really looking forward to racing on the home track and it will be good to see a crowd back at the races,” he said. Bergerson will be represented by Tiro and…
Coleman injured at Rotorua trials
Jockey Michael Coleman suffered a leg injury at the Rotorua trials on Tuesday. The veteran hoop was aboard four-year-old mare Cerys in heat 18 of the day. “The incident occured leaving the birdcage and the horse reared up and ended up rearing over, landing on Michael’s leg,” Stipendary Steward Brady Jones said. “He was attended to immediately by paramedics and the injury is defined as a leg injury until x-rays are taken. “It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. It was just unfortunate how it all happened. The horse just…