Andrew Bensley talks with David Ellis about the return of Group One racing at Hastings on Saturday.
Month: September 2020
Krug the one to beat
PUNTING AT THE PARK 1: The standing start manners of Bolt For Brilliance (R8, No.4) could determine tonight’s main trot. If he begins safely he should win but being drawn down low in the 20m mark is less than ideal. 2: General Montana (R3, No.4) may have a zero next his name but showed plenty in that last start failure. The three-year-old had huge gate speed before an early break in a Sires’ Stakes heat and that could see him lead and win back in maiden grade. 3: Punters could…
Star Galleria resumes
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Pukekohe trainers Steven Reid and Simon McMullen had a virus hit a couple of their runners recently, but they have since recuperated and will resume at Alexandra Park on Friday night. Open-class pacer Star Galleria was one of the team who contracted the bug after his pleasing second-up third-placing behind quality pacer Copy That last month. “I was so happy with his third-placing,” Reid said. “He didn’t go bad in his very first start, but he ran last. They got home in 54 off…
Selections | Auckland, 18 September
Michael Guerin, Jason Teaz and Josh Smith provide us with their selections ahead of Auckland’s meeting tonight. Selections can be found here Head to www.tab.co.nz to make a bet!
Big Fish, Little Fish – Auckland 18 September
Big Fish, Little Fish is the brand new Whale Watch brought to you by Michael Guerin and Craig Thompson. Today they look over the Auckland meeting
Aussie influence over Irish Derby
The prestigious BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby final (550yds) will be staged at Dublin’s iconic Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium on Sunday morning at 6.24am Melbourne time. (The meeting commences at 4.30am EST) An elite field of six will be chasing a €115,000 Euro first prize – equating to around $186,000 AUD – in a classic event first run at Shelbourne Park in 1932. The series commenced on August 14 with a total of 144 greyhounds competing to reach the final over six weekends of incredible action. Last week, the Graham Holland…
No argument about Cassar’s racing dream
Seven years after leaving Malta for Australia, Creswick hobby trainer Stefano Cassar says he’s “living the dream” and preparing his small team of greyhounds is a huge part of that. In 2016, Cassar, 37, enjoyed immediate success with the very first greyhound he owned or trained, Caco Potion, qualifying for the Group 1 Bold Trease on Melbourne Cup night. Together with wife, Pasqalia, who also holds a trainers license, Cassar currently has six race dogs in work and he’ll be taking aim at his second straight Horsham double on Saturday…
Taroni takes on Gold Trail
Smart filly Taroni (NZ) (Showcasing) will step out as one of the favoured runners in Saturday’s Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings. Taroni is currently rated second favourite ($4.60) with the TAB for the three-year-old fillies contest behind Babylon Berlin ($3.20). The Lance Noble-trained daughter of Showcasing will be back against her own age and sex after finishing a last start fourth in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) earlier this month. “She probably needed that run,” Noble said. “She has come on a lot since…
More to come from Overstayer
Flashy chestnut Overstayer (NZ) (Zed) broke maiden ranks at Te Rapa on Thursday when successful over 1600m. The Sue Thompson and Mick Brown-trained son of Zed might be six, but the patiently-handled gelding looks to have a bright future, particularly as he gets over a staying trip. The son of Zed had caught the eye over 1300m at Taupo two starts back and again ran with credit when fifth behind Sweet Anna at Te Rapa. “It was very good to get the monkey off the back and now we can…
Home away from home
Tiggerlong Tonk will head into Wagga’s Million Dollar Case Regional heats tonight with a home track advantage. The son of Dyna Double One and Tiggerlong Dot was educated on the Wagga track, making it an easy choice for Victorian trainer Corey Grenfell to head in that direction in his bid to become the next Million Dollar Chase winner. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Tiggerlong Tonk will be in the care of owner and breeder Michael Finn. “There is a lot of trust involved in having someone else in control of one…