By Michael Guerin The hot favourite for next month’s rescheduled Sires’ Stakes Final will contest next week’s Addington heat even though he probably doesn’t have to. And co-trainer Nathan Purdon says he is happy to have a three-year-old race to target with Krug, even though it is oddly on the way to the two-year-old Sires’ Stakes Final. As we all know the unique situation of having the two-year-old final early in the horse’s three-year-old careers came about when the group one, usually held at Addington in May, was canned because…
Month: August 2020
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 09 August 2020
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Schofer still coming to terms with amazing feat
Talented young rider Hazel Schofer was enjoying a relaxing day on Sunday as she tried to put into perspective what had transpired at Hawera twenty-four hours earlier. The three-kilogram claiming apprentice enjoyed a truly magical day in the saddle as she took out six of the 12 races carded on the day, with four of those victories coming on horses trained by her employer, Allan Sharrock. The winning haul took her to the top of the jockeys’ premiership a week into the new season and pencilled her name into the…
New venture off to a bright start for Heptinstall
Ex-pat Kiwi breeder, owner and racing enthusiast Tommy Heptinstall is reaping the rewards of his decision to move a number of his current racing team across the Tasman with two winners in the space of four days getting the venture underway on a high note. Tavistock three-year-old Wertheimer (NZ) (Tavistock) started the ball rolling when he broke his maiden status over 1300m at Cranbourne on Wednesday for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young while Aqueduct (NZ) (Dundeel) picked up his second career victory when successful over 1400m at Murray Bridge on Saturday…
Racing industry demands changes to NZTR structure
John Costello’s article in Bloodhorse Magazine in December 1996 when he described the changes made by Racing Industry Board Chairman Garry Chittick as watershed in New Zealand racing Racing can’t sit on its hands and wait forever – we have the legislation; it won’t happen on its own! by Brian de LorePublished 9th August 2020 Moves are afoot; the winds of change are airborne. The Racing Bill of 2020 has been passed into law, and the changes in the new legislation have opened the door for positive change, and perhaps…
James pleased with class trio
The two open class trials to be held before the Taupo racemeeting on Wednesday will see a host of New Zealand’s top galloping talent step out for their first serious hit out, including a high-class trio from the Roger James and Robert Wellwood stable. The Cambridge conditioners will line up dual Group Three winner Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel) and lightly raced six-year-old Sherriff (NZ) (High Chaparral) in the first heat, while Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux), one of the top three-year-old fillies of last season, will contest the second of the 1100m heats.…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 10 August 2020
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Captaintwinkletoes impresses on debut
Wanganui trainer Jo Rathbone has been riding the crest of a wave with quality jumper Tallyho Twinkletoe (NZ) (St Reims) and she may have unearthed another top prospect in his half-brother, Captaintwinkletoes (NZ) (Sufficient). The four-year-old son of Sufficient pleased Rathbone when finishing runner-up on debut over 2100m at Hawera on Saturday where he was only just beaten by stablemate Wotablast (NZ) (Azamour). “I was rapt with them both,” Rathbone said. “Wotablast had a bit of a gear change just to try and get him to try and switch on…
Winning double for Bishara
South Auckland horseman Nicholas Bishara is tickled pink with the way his boutique stable has started the new season. He recorded a winning double at Te Rapa on Saturday with Rising Renown and Ihu, bringing is current season tally to three wins, just two shy of last season’s total. “It was a terrific weekend and I just can’t believe how well I am going to be honest,” Bishara said. “We are having a winner a week and to get a double on a Saturday feature meeting was great. “It’s good…
Tofane pleases in first hit-out
Trans-Tasman trainer Michael Moroney is looking forward to the spring with Group One-winning mare Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) after her pleasing jump-out on Monday. “She began nicely and Dwayne (Dunn, jockey) got her to relax before letting her run through the line,” Moroney said. “She’s come back stronger and is relaxing better in the mornings and Dwayne said that’s how she felt this morning which is exactly what we wanted to hear. “She’ll have a more serious one in two weeks’ time, but I am very pleased with the way…