Month: August 2020

New Zealand-bred mare Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma) proved a class above her opposition at Sale on Sunday when taking out her 1200m contest. It was the first hit-out of the season for the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained four-year-old who has now won four of her six career starts, with all four coming on the Sale track. Her trainers were pleased with her efforts, but admitted they were slightly concerned about her fitness levels heading into her first-up assignment. “We were a bit concerned about her fitness, but the…

The Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes-trained Hindaam (NZ) (Savabeel) made light work of her opposition to break through for her maiden win over 1200m at Pakenham on Monday. It was just the second start for the three-year-old daughter of Savabeel who finished runner-up over 1100m at Bendigo on debut. Sporting the colours of Shadwell Stud, the filly jumped well from her wide barrier and was sent forward early by jockey Daniel Stackhouse to settle in the one-one. Stackhouse asked his charge to improve three-wide turning for home and took the…

Former New Zealand jockey and trainer Ray Cleaver has died in Victoria just a few days after saddling up a runner at Mornington last Thursday. Cranbourne-based Cleaver (70) was rushed to hospital last Saturday after a suspected stroke and died the following day. “It comes as a bit of shock really,” Robbie Griffiths, a fellow trainer and the president of the Australian Trainer’s Association said.  “He was a bit of a larrikin – a loveable rogue around Cranbourne. He had a small team in recent years, but always did well…

Semi-retired horseman Mark Lupton is encouraged by reports on his top-class staying mare Etah James, as the eight-year-old daughter of Raise The Flag gets ready for a spring campaign. The winner of the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) in autumn, Etah James has remained in the care of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace at their Warwick Farm base in Sydney, having traversed the Tasman on multiple occassions in late summer. Lupton, who bred and races the mare, trained Etah James to finish third in the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) and fourth…

Strong N Fast (NZ) (Burgundy) lived up to his new name to take out the $20,000 Debt Collector 2016 Stakes Open Maiden race over 1200m on Polytrack on Sunday.  Originally known as BM Pins, the Burgundy four-year-old was renamed by his owners in that same indomitable spirit as their other charges like Strong N Powerful, String Surpass Natural and Exceed Natural.  Again, they were certainly hoping such a bold moniker would translate into reality on the tracks. It sure did, even if they had to cool their jets before they could see the results.  Fast…

Rising star Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor) gave another glimpse of his bombproof qualities after he scored a thumping win in the S$250,000 Singapore Classic (1400m) on Sunday, probably one of his most impressive to-date.  From the way the 2018 Karaka Book 1 sale graduate from the Westbury Stud draft effortlessly strolled to the line at the expense of some very smart just-turned four-year-olds, the Singapore Guineas (1600m) on September 26 looks his for the taking.  With all of Inferno’s previous six starts (for five wins) restricted to 1200m, some queried whether last year’s undisputed juvenile champion would…

It may have taken plenty of effort and sacrifice, but Cambridge trainer Tony Pike finally has his temporary Sydney satellite barn in operation. Stable foreman Chris McNab and trackwork rider Matthew Ward have undergone their mandatory two week quarantine period in Sydney after receiving travel exemptions to head across the Tasman earlier this month. While the pair missed stable runner The Bostonian’s opening assignment, the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) a week ago, they welcomed him to their temporary home at Rosehill on Monday morning. “They (McNab and Ward) got out…