Mark Purdon is a relieved man after his star pairing of Self Assured and Spankem got through their trial at Rangiora today. The pair finished 1-2 in a field that also included Thefixer and Stylish Memphis. But more importantly for Purdon was that Self Assured got a clean getaway after messing up the start in his recent races. His standing start issues have become a big talking point especially with the New Zealand Cup only six weeks away. Both Spankem and Self Assured were also scratched from last Sunday’s Hannon…
Day: 23 September 2020
The Box Seat is back
It was off our screens for a while but now The Box Seat is back. The Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin-hosted show will be recorded weekly and will be played on Trackside at various times, including 10am every Thursday morning. The popular show will review the week’s best action and also look ahead to what’s coming up with meetings this week at Winton (Thursday), Auckland and Addington (Friday) and Banks Peninsula (Sunday).
Williamson driving quality at Winton
By Jonny Turner New Zealand Cup contender Franco Santino heads a strong book of drives at Winton on Thursday for Nathan Williamson. The 6yr-old drops back in class after chasing home Classie Brigade in last weekend’s Hannon Memorial. Franco Santino blew the start of the group 3 feature and was left at the back of the field as the winner reeled off a scintillating 54sec last 800m. Williamson hopes the pacer can reproduce the kind of run that saw him set the Winton mile (1609m) track record at 1.52.0 when…
Covid 19 Racing Update
Owners will be allowed back at Alexandra Park for Friday night’s Spring Cup meeting. With Auckland reverting to Covid Alert Level 2 owners with horses racing will be allowed back at the track for the first time in over a month but are being asked to register, via a link sent to them in an email. While gatherings can be no more than 100 people the Auckland Trotting Club can have more than that on track as they will be accommodating owners in the Lyell Creek bar and restaurant area…
Grandson of a gun wins Irish Derby
Newinn Taylor, a grandson of Australian greyhound Crash, took out the 2020 Irish Derby last weekend. Crash (Brett Lee x Elusive Rebel) won 12 of his 20 race starts and long held a track record at Horsham over the old 480m distance when clocking the incredible time of 26.68sec. He was part of a powerful litter which included champion sire Where’s Pedro and 2004 Melbourne Cup winner Hallucinate. Other Aussie greyhounds featuring prominently in Newinn Taylor’s bloodlines include Ace Hi Rumble (Warrnambool Classic) and Go Wild Teddy (Melbourne Cup). READ…
Promising start for Wexford three-year-old
Three-year-old colt Rocket Spade made the perfect start to his racing career when taking out the One Agency Matamata 1400 on debut at Matamata on Wednesday. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained gelding jumped well from barrier 10 and settled midfield for jockey Craig Grylls. They improved four-wide turning for home and he was able to run away to a three-quarter of a length victory over Lord Painton, with a further three-quarters of a length back to Sweet Hunter in third. “We were pleased with him, he quickened well, but…
Matamata hit-out for Te Akau duo
Te Akau pair Prise De Fer and Need I Say More had an exhibition gallop between races at Matamata on Wednesday ahead of their upcoming assignments at Hastings next week. Group One performer Prise De Fer produced an eye-catching third in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) earlier this month and is readying for a tilt at the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings next Saturday. “Prise De Fer is stepping from 1200m to a mile, a month between runs, and he needed it (exhibition gallop),” trainer Jamie Richards said.…
Wiles’ warriors set for battle
Spring prospects for a group of promising Dean Wiles-trained youngsters will become clearer with racing at Ellerslie on Saturday. Wiles, these days training out of Cambridge, has five runners slated for the two and three-year-old races alone at Ellerslie on Saturday and has big targets for the youngsters should they shine this weekend. Three-year-olds Flash Warrior and Tivaan Warrior will tackle the Barfoot & Thompson 1400, while the trio of Cherokee Warrior, Heroic Warrior and Indy Rose Warrior are set to do battle in the Dunstan Feeds 880, the first…
Mr Malek out of Guineas
Quality galloper Mr Malek (NZ) (Swiss Ace) won’t run in the Singapore Guineas (1600m) this Saturday. Trainer Lee Freedman made the decision on Wednesday morning after not being 100% satisfied with the gelding’s condition. “Mr Malek won’t be running in the Guineas. I’m just not happy with him going into that race,” said the Australian. A winner of six from eight starts, the son of Swiss Ace was widely regarded as likely favourite Inferno’s (Holy Roman Emperor) main danger in the third and last Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge.
Strong Southland hand for Team Tyler
Team Tyler will take a strong contingent to Ascot Park on Friday where they hope to bag a few wins. The father-daughter training partnership of Kelvin and Aimee Tyler will line-up 11 runners at the Southland meeting, led by 13-win mare Flying Sardine. The daughter of Flying Spur has returned in fine form from her year-long campaign in Australia, recording two wins from as many starts this preparation. Her trainers have been delighted with the way she has commenced and they are hoping for more of the same when she…