Month: July 2020

It’s not too often you hear two miles is short of a horse’s best distance, but that will be the case for quality New Zealand-bred stayer Ablaze (NZ) (Raise The Flag) when he contests the Stayer’s Cup (3200m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The eight-year-old gelding has been in hot form in Australia for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, winning his last five races, including The Jericho Cup (4600m) and Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m). The Stayer’s Cup will be his first run since his winning effort in the marathon Warrnambool…

Southland trainer Robert Dennis is bullish on the prospects of his growing team of horses despite the relocation of his best performer to Australia. The 28-year-old confirmed Out Of The Park (NZ) (Ocean Park), the winner of the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) for good friends Mike Rennie and Jack Stewart in March, had transferred to Victorian trainer Henry Dwyer. The daughter of Ocean Park only joined Dennis late last year and won four races from her seven starts for the Woodlands horseman. “I didn’t have her for…

Expat New Zealand jockey Daniel Stackhouse is having a season to remember in Victoria. The 29-year-old Cantabrian is 24 wins clear in the Victoria Country Jockey Premiership and is just one shy in the State’s overall premiership behind Jye McNeill. However, McNeil picked up a 10 meeting suspension for careless riding at Bendigo on Sunday, giving Stackhouse the perfect opportunity to capture the lead in what is becoming a nail-biting finish. Stackhouse has far exceeded his initial season target of 100 wins and Victoria’s most active rider isn’t going to…

Racing will return to the Singapore Turf Club on Saturday, July 11 with the government granting approval for the sport to recommence after ceasing in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meetings will be conducted under strict biosecurity measures with crowds not permitted. “With Singapore moving into Phase Two of the post-circuit breaker period on June 19 the Club has received approval from the Government to resume racing behind closed doors on July 11 with strict health and safe management measures in place,” the Singapore Turf Club said. “We thank…

Trainer Phillip Stokes expects a slight step up in distance to suit stakes-placed sprinter Sansom (NZ) (Charm Spirit) when he runs second-up at Caulfield with added fitness on his side. Stokes has runners nominated in five of the nine Caulfield races on Saturday with Sansom aiming to go one better in the 1100m benchmark-84 handicap after finishing second to Iconic Star (Brazen Beau) over 1000m at The Valley first-up on June 13. “I was very happy with his return under a big weight (60kg),” Stokes said. “He just found it…

Tallyho Twinkletoe (NZ) (St Reims) summitted the peak of Australasian jumps racing last year when taking out the Grand National Hurdle (4200m) and Steeplechase (4500m) double. The New Zealand jumper became the first horse to win the races in the same year since Mosstrooper in 1930 and his connections are keen for the nine-year-old to defend his crown. Co-owner Jo Rathbone said it was a massive thrill to go over to Australia and experience the high of winning the two feature races. “It is a huge thrill and definitely sharing…