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Month: August 2020
AUCKLAND RACING CLUB STAKES ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 2020/21 SEASON
The Auckland Racing Club (ARC) has today announced that it will be increasing stakes above minimum levels for this season by contributing close to $1,000,000 of its own monies. In commenting on the announcement, ARC chief executive officer, Paul Wilcox, says “it gives the Club great satisfaction to be able to offer stakes top-ups for this season. “First and foremost, we are a racing club and everything we do is with an eye on maximising our returns to stakeholders. “While we have topped-up stakes to around this level for the…
Pleasant surprise for Greene at Te Aroha
Trainer David Greene received a pleasant surprise at Te Aroha on Sunday when debutant Judy’s Song (NZ) (Niagara) raced away in the closing stages of a maiden 1200m contest to score an unexpected victory. Greene had earmarked the Niagara four-year-old as a potential stayer that would need more ground before showing her best after she finished unplaced in a 900m trial at Te Rapa towards the end of June. Greene had been considering running the mare in a 1200m trial before making her debut over more ground but decided to try…
New season off to a flying start for Baker
Ex-pat Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker enjoyed a breakout season at the metropolitan level in Sydney over the past twelve months and continued that momentum on Saturday with a winning double at Randwick. Promising Savabeel five-year-old Kiss The Bride (NZ) (Savabeel) showed plenty of grit to out-stay his rivals over 1800m on the Heavy9 Randwick surface before Off Shaw (NZ) (Tobique) replicated the fight his stablemate showed in a tight finish to outlast Charretera (Epaulette) over 1400m in the last race on the day. Baker, who won 128 races during the 2019-20 season including…
NZ jumpers dominate Sandown meeting
Kiwi jumpers were again to the fore at Sandown on Grand National Hurdle day, taking out the two jumping features. Former South Island galloper Ablaze (NZ) (Raise The Flag) took out the A$250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) after leading throughout under Shane Jackson, while Slowpoke Rodriguez (NZ) (Istidaad) won the A$125,000 Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) by a comfortable five lengths. For good measure, Wolfe Tone (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu), a New Zealand bred son of Mettre En Jeu made it back-to-back hurdle wins for trainer Francis Finnegan in a Benchmark 120 Hurdle. But undoubtedly…
Tigre Royale makes it four in a row
Progressive galloper Tigre Royale continued on his winning way when he dominated his rivals over 2400m at Sandown on Sunday. The Archie Alexander-trained five-year-old was gunning for his fourth win in a row and never looked in danger of defeat once rider Damian Lane asked for a serious effort in the home straight. The Redwood gelding scooted clear with Lane having plenty in reserve as the pair hit the line nearly two lengths clear of their nearest rival. Alexander was pleased with the comfortable victory but is not one to…
Alexy’s 11yr-old birthday present.
By Jonny Turner Most 11-year-old boys get an Xbox game, a new bike or something similar for their birthdays. Not Alexy – but, he is no ordinary 11-year-old.Instead, he got oats, chaff, a big drink of water and a cheque for $4,125. And the veteran, trained by Denis O’Connell, deserved all of them. Just a day after his official birthday the Waikouaiti iron horse showed there was still plenty of zip in his legs and will in his heart when scoring his 10th win in his 282nd start. “He is…
Ride High raises the bar
By Adam Hamilton EX-PAT Aussie Shane Tritton said Ride High reminds him of the great Christian Cullen and he’s sure he would hold his own anything in the world. Tritton, who is making a real splash in the US after making it home earlier this year, said Ride High’s track record-smashing 1min49sec flat for 1650m at Bendigo last night would equate to at least 1min47sec in the US. “That’s as close to Christian Cullen’s Miracle Mile run I’ve ever seen,” Tritton said. “I have no doubt in my mind the…
Aussie News – 3rd August
By Adam Hamilton ON any normal night, the Miracle Mile returning from a spell with a sparkling win would be the headline. But King Of Swing, for all his brilliance, was “Ride High-ed” last night and left to play a distant second fiddle. Ride High’s mind-blowing 1min49sec win over 1650m when parked at Bendigo was still trending on Aussie twitter while King Of Swing made it five wins (and second) from his six starts since being sent across from WA to Craig Cross and Luke McCarthy in NSW. McCarthy declared…
Greyhound Racing Update
Greyhound Racing Victoria would like to thank everyone involved in our sport for their current efforts in making sure that racing continues. It is so important that we all work together at this time and we continue to work within the strict COVID protocols GRV have put in place. Travelling directly from home to and from the track, wearing masks, and maintaining the strict distancing regulations at the track are critical. All protocols also apply at trials and at coursing. Further announcements about workplaces within Victoria will be made by the…