Month: August 2020

January dates retained for New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale

Editor BOAY

New Zealand Bloodstock has today announced that the 95th National Yearling Sales Series will be held in the original timeslot in January next year as a physical sale at Karaka. While a secondary April date was initially set aside to allow for travel restrictions to ease; with the ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks, non-confidence from government and airlines and the lack of certainty that any change should amount between now and April, the decision was made not to delay the Sale. “If you asked me one month ago, there was a distinct…

Thompson’s Healesville Cup ‘Smokey’

Editor BOAY

Superstar Black Opium might be the headline act in Sunday’s Group 3 Healesville Cup heats (350m) but champion trainer Jason Thompson says the dual Group 1 winner isn’t the pick of his four Cup contenders. Thompson, who won the Healesville Cup in 2013 with El Brooklyn, has Zambora Smokey (heat 1, box 6), litter brother Zambora Lou (heat 3, box 2), Black Opium (heat 5, box 7) and Fire Legend (heat 8, box 3) engaged in the cut-throat Cup qualifiers. Black Opium is the $3.30 second elect with TAB in…

Time for SA domination

Editor BOAY

Catch The Thief has flown around Angle Park in a slick 29.43 second first look last night. Kurt Donsberg of Kurt Donsberg Greyhound Photography spoke to caretaker trainer Petar Jovanovic after Catch The Thief’s run last night. Catch The Thief will head back to Melbourne on Monday and will likely return for the match races and then the Group 1 Adelaide Cup in a couple of weeks. WATCH: SA trainer Petar Jovanovic on Catch The Thief’s trial. WATCH: Catch The Thief’s trial.

Healesville Cup heats by the numbers

Editor BOAY

Black Opium, Hard Style Rico, Tiggerlong Tonk & Zambora Smokey are the headline acts in Sunday’s TAB Healesville Cup heats (350m). Interestingly, the 64 runners across the eight heats have amassed a combined 779 wins and $3.2mil in prize money. And how about this for a stat – 28 of the 64 runners (43.75%) will be having their first start over the track/distance. Here’s some more interesting facts out of Sunday’s heats: Most prize money won: Black Opium ($582K), Tiggerlong Tonk ($272K), Hard Style Rico ($156K)Oldest runner: Big Bazza (four…

Done and ‘Dusty’

Editor BOAY

It’s difficult to ‘fend off’ any TAB cross-sports offer involving Richmond star Dustin Martin… So, here’sa ‘big don’t argue’. TAB is offering $3.00 about ‘Dusty’ kicking 1+ goals against the West Coast Eagles tonight and Slick Pawswinning at Warragul greyhounds. Martin has bagged 12 goals in 12 games (an average of 1 goal per game) and is averaging 21.1 disposals a match. The Eagles are fourth (36pts) on the AFL ladder with nine wins from 12 games and the Tigers are fifth (34pts) with eight wins and one draw from…

Oceanex commences Cup path at Caulfield

Editor BOAY

The road to the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) commences on Saturday for New Zealand bred mare Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park) when she contests the MRC Members’ Tipstar Hcp (1400m) at Caulfield. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained daughter of Ocean Park booked her passage to the two-mile feature when winning the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) in May, an exemption race for the Melbourne Cup. “She can have a little go around with Liam Riordan (apprentice) on Saturday and then into the Makybe Diva (Gr.1, 1600m) and the Turnbull Stakes…

Medalza best for Collett

Editor BOAY

Jockey Sam Collett has five rides at Tauranga on Saturday including returning Group One winner Roger That, who resumes over a mile. But the 30-year-old rider, who is closing in on 800 career wins, has plumped for the Stephen Marsh-trained Medalza as her best ride for the day. The five-year-old mare will contest the Clark Mazey Bayleys Handicap (1300m) and enters off a solid sixth behind Gorgeous Geisha and a second to quality galloper Demonetization prior to that. “She has had a couple of runs in this time to get…