COVID-19 has created a fresh set of challenges for our sport, but the dedication and effort shown by or participants means we’re still racing. Our Greyhound Adoption Program also continues to operate, albeit with altered conditions. What hasn’t changed is the demand for greyhound as pets. GAP has been able to adopt a unique ‘home delivery’ service for adoptions and fosters, and the popularity of the breed is evident by the number of people keen to add a grey to their home. To meet this demand, GRV is keen to…
Month: September 2020
Speed Star scratching
Captain Jake has been scratched from tomorrow night’s Group 3 600m Speed Star at The Meadows. As per the conditions of the series, Keeper Of Keys (9) or Sixties Rocker (10) will be randomly allocated against Enter The Son pending no further scratchings. Fields will be finalised for the Speed Star meeting at 8.30am on Wednesday morning.
Chipperfield hoping The Shorts proves Catalyst for Everest Slot
Trainer Clayton Chipperfield is getting used to training his stable star Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma) remotely. The Te Awamutu galloper is in Sydney preparing to run first-up in the Gr.2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday, while his trainer is stranded in New Zealand due to COVID-19 restrictions. It will be the first time the Kiwi four-year-old has been seen on raceday since his sixth placing in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) in February, with that campaign ending abruptly after detecting heat in his joints. “It will be great…
Kiwi Ida thriving ahead of Tarzino
Six-year-old mare Kiwi Ida (Squamosa) is in fine fettle heading into Saturday’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) with the John and Karen Parsons-trained mare staying in the Waikato after her fresh-up sixth placing in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m). The multiple Group Two winner and Group One-placed sprinter has been installed a $14 chance for Saturday’s contest and gets to her preferred 1400m distance. Eight of her 14 career victories have come over 1400m and Kiwi Ida has taken good improvement from her first-up performance but has six lengths to bridge…
Good friends thrilled with Travi’s win
It might have been nearly dusk, but after Travimyfriend (NZ) (Tavistock) won the Listed The Sofitel (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday, Silver (John) Goodin was down to Pineau’s paddock with an extra scoop of feed and a carrot. Goodin, who owns Pineau (NZ) (Carnegie) with his wife Helena and good mate Gavin O’Dea, loves his horses and was so chuffed with Travimyfriend’s win that he had to reward his dam who is currently on the Goodin’s 11 acre property just north of New Plymouth. “Even when she goes to stud,…
Exciting Savabeel three-year-olds emerging
The huge impression created by young unbeaten Sydney galloper Mo’unga (NZ) with his Rosehill stakes win last Saturday highlighted a significant week for champion New Zealand sire Savabeel, one which also uncovered another two of his possible three-year-old stars. While Group Two winner The Chosen One (NZ) (a five-year-old son of Savabeel) boosted hopes of a start in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) next month with a win in the Winning Edge Presentations Handicap (1700m) in Melbourne, winning performances by Mo’unga and fellow three-year-olds Cornflower Blue (NZ) and Savannah Cloud…
Hurrell hot to trot
By Jonny Turner Junior driver Mark Hurrell’s chances in the squaregaiting events at Ascot Park on Wednesday look hot to trot. The Waikouaiti reinsman will drive last start runners-up Count Eyre and Sage Trouble, who bring excellent formlines to their assignments. There is hardly any better form in New Zealand’s lower trotting grades at the moment than running second to rising star Bitamuscle. If Count Eyre can repeat his last start effort of getting within two and a half lengths of the promising Paul Nairn trained colt he should be…
Tavi Mac primed for Tarzino tilt
New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock had a golden run in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) a few years ago, winning three on-end, and he is hoping he can add a fourth to his mantlepiece after Saturday. Sharrock’s first victory in the race came in 2014 with I Do (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) and he followed that with victories in the 2015 and 2016 editions with Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel). He will contest this year’s race with pocket rocket Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock), who while small in stature has proved to have…
Emerging talent Sky Field impresses
New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale purchase Sky Field (Deep Field) scored a dazzling victory in the Class 3 Hung Hom Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday night, demonstrating an electrifying turn-of-foot in the straight to make a big statement for jockey Joao Moreira and trainer Caspar Fownes. The four-year-old didn’t enjoy the easiest of passages but once clear in the straight he was able to stretch out and win with plenty in hand to cement his status as a leading contender for this season’s three-race Four-Year-Old Classic…
Magic on display at the Meadows
It is the evening we have all been waiting for in September – Speed Star night at The Meadows. The Speed Star is greyhound racing in its purest form. Four, two greyhound match races with the overall winner determined by the fastest time run. And for the first time ever, the Group 3 Speed Star’s (525m, 600m and 725m) are being run at The Meadows. Catch The Thief was the fastest qualifier for the 525m Speed Star series, clocking a scintillating 29.61sec last week in a qualifying trial. He comes…