Premier trainer Chris Waller has trodden a patient path with Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) and he believes it has readied her for the rigours of a Cups campaign. The stable managed her carefully as a spring four-year-old last year and did not extend her beyond the 2040 metres of the Cox Plate. But a solid, five-start autumn campaign, highlighted by a Group One Tancred Stakes victory, has given Waller confidence the mare is seasoned enough for a Caulfield and Melbourne Cups preparation. “We held her back last year to try…
Month: August 2020
NZTR regional roadshow
NZ Thoroughbred Racing will be conducting regional roadshows around the country as the industry adapts to the changes brought about by the Racing Industry Act 2020. The first of the roadshows will be held in the South Island this week, commencing at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill at 10am on Thursday, 13 August. Later that evening, between 4 and 6pm it will be the turn of Otago industry participants and stakeholders to engage with NZTR Board chairman Dr Alan Jackson, CEO Bernard Saundry and GM Racing & Infrastructure Tim…
Group One placing for Hello Youmzain
Dual Group One winner Hello Youmzain (Kodiac) just came up short of adding a third elite-level victory to his burgeoning CV when finishing runner-up to Space Blues in Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest (1300m) at Deauville over the weekend. Owned by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay in partnership with Haras d’Etreham, the son of Kodiac is destined join the Waikato farm’s stallion roster. Trainer Kevin Ryan has been impressed by the horse from day dot and he said he is hoping to secure more Group One spoils before…
No catching this Thief
The catch-me-if-you-can tactics of Catch The Thief were on show in tonight’s Group 3 Warragul St Leger Final. The $25,000 to-the-winner feature was built as a race in two between emerging superstars Catch The Thief and Zambora Smokey. Both greyhounds had already tasted group success and enjoyed winning streaks of 7 and 8 respectively during their relatively brief careers. However, when Zambora Smokey bombed the start it was Matt Clark’s superstar from the small Gippsland town of Briagolong that emerged victorious over the highly promising Weblec Jet (Jeff Britton) and…
Thief’s a ‘show stealer’
Catch The Thief has been ‘stealing the show’ wherever he goes! And Briagolong trainer Matt Clark is now hoping his star speedster can ‘lift’ the Group 3 Warragul St Leger (460m) trophy on Saturday night. Last week, Catch The Thief was the second-fastest qualifier (25.62sec) – just over one length slower than Zambora Smokey (25.54sec) who set the heats time standard. Subsequently Zambora Smokey is $2.15F on tab.com.au for the $25,000-to-the-winner event, ahead of Catch The Thief ($2.40) on the second line of betting. However, Clark doesn’t see the St…
Dexter Dunn’s double not quite enough
Despite a double on Hambletonian Day, Dexter Dunn has just been pipped as 2019-20’s most successful driver at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. The 10-time Kiwi champion won with 19-to-one shot Starvin Marvin to finish the season with 85 wins at the Big M. He was left just one behind Yannick Gingras, who trailed Dunn going into the weekend, only to rein home seven winners in the final two meetings of the season. Dunn also won with the Chris Ryder-trained Bettor’s Wish, who won the Sam McKee Memorial in a career…
Contenders: 2019/20 Awards
Click here for the 2019/20 season Award Contenders. The NZB Standardbred Harness Racing Awards are to be held on Monday 14th September at Spectators in Addington. Anyone wanting to attend will need to register with Courtney Clarke (courtney@hrnz.co.nz). There will be a free drink on entry, complimentary finger food and a cash bar. Dress code – Smart casual The doors will open at 6.00pm with the awards getting underway at 6.30pm.
Warragul St Leger night
Allan Hawkswell’s race x race preview of Saturday night’s bumper provincial meeting thanks to Sky Racing
Williams starts work on second 500
By Jonny Turner Immediately after notching his 500th winner, Tim Williams quickly got to work on next half tonne when driving Zambia to victory at Addington on Sunday. The Canterbury reinsman took no chances with the Paul Kerr trained 4yr-old, spearing him to the front where he held out a late challenge from runner-up Magic Mike. The victory took Williams to 501 wins in New Zealand after he notched his 500-win milestone behind Down To The Bone at the same track on Friday night. It was appropriate that the special…
Aussie News – 10th August
By Adam Hamilton IT looks like we have another player for the big league. The hype on former Kiwi gelding Balraj this time last was monstrous and a switch to the Craig Cross/Luke McCarthy team could see him live it up to it. The first signs were breathtaking. Balraj blasted off the gate to lead, handed over to stablemate and Miracle Mile placegetter Alta Orlando and ran him down. That’s despite Alta Orlando running home in 53.7 and a scorching 25.7sec splits. Balraj made-up a length and won by 1.2m,…