Familiar look to Riccarton results with Pitman double

There was a familiar look to the results after racing was concluded at Riccarton on Saturday with the local training duo of Matthew and Michael Pitman racking up another winning double on the day. The Pitman-trained Carson River (NZ) (Swiss Ace) made it back-to-back wins when he stormed home to take out the rating  91 1400m on the card before stablemate Turncoat (NZ) (Swiss Ace) provided stand -in rider Lee Callaway with his first victory since December last year when he proved too strong for his rivals in a rating…

Course specialist in charge at Ellerslie

Matamata mare Shoshone (NZ) (Sacred Falls) demonstrated her affinity for the Ellerslie turf when she headed home a quality field over 1200m at the venue on Saturday. The Sacred Falls four-year-old has now won three of her four starts at Ellerslie with her latest victory one of her best as she pulled out plenty in the concluding stages to down the fast finishing Justacanta (NZ) (Per Incanto) to claim her fourth career win from just seven starts. Rider Samantha Collett had Shoshone sitting nicely outside pacemaker Braavos (NZ) (Remind) but…

Trotter out to continue family legacy

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Regally-bred gelding Five Wise Men will make his much awaited debut in the Agstaff Trot (2400m) at Methven on Sunday. The three-year-old trotter is a son of Muscle Hill and Group One performer Harriet Hughes, and a half-brother to 15-win mare Harriet Of Mot and Group Three performer Muscles Galore. He pleased trainers Craig and Aimee Edmonds with his trial win over 2600m earlier this month and they are hoping for a bold showing on the grass from the gelding. “It was a nice…

Methven Club Selections – The Local

The Local is alternately studying fields and cursing Covid but he still can’t wait for Sunday. He will be parked up in the Brown Pub Methven close to the T.A.B lady working on the theory the more he puts on the more he will get back! Really tough fields but here is what he’s come up with. Race 1-In three the nicely bred Aldebaron Heather to beat consistant Queen Of Strathfield and first up Five Wise Men for multis add Shifty and Test The Boundaries. Race 2-A little local in…

Bees And Honey set for sting

Suburban trainer Cooper Hayes is hoping home-track advantage will see in-form sprinter Bees And Honey pull off a ‘sting’ at The Meadows on Saturday afternoon. Bees And Honey, one of only two race dogs in Hayes’ backyard Mill Park kennel, will face two sizeable hurdles in box six and Jason Thompson’s star speedster Zambora Smokey, a Group 1 Maturity finalist at The Meadows in July and TAB’s $1.40 favourite from box one. Bees And Honey is on the third line of betting at $5.50. “He won a heat and final…

Racing Announcement: Geelong to host Catching Pen and Finish On Lure meetings

As of the 22nd September the Geelong GRC will conduct both Finish On Lure (FOL) and Catching Pen races. Track works have taken place at Geelong to realign the Catching Pen as well as a successful period of trials into the Catching Pen. Geelong will conduct race meetings into the Catching Pen on the following dates in September; – Tuesday 22nd September – Tier 3 – Sunday 27th September – Provincial – Tuesday 29th September – Tier 3 All other meetings in September at Geelong GRC will use the Finish…

Purton to partner Regency Master

Zac Purton bagged a fantastic four-timer on Wednesday at Happy Valley to gain the top spot on the premiership table with six wins, and he heads to the big course on Sunday with nine chances on the 10-race card, including last-start winner Regency Master (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Class 4 Tsim Sha Tsui Handicap (1600m). “I thought his last win was a solid effort, he had been working his way toward putting a performance like that together; he was a little bit weak and it just took him a little…

Exciting Sky Field is on the Hong Kong Classic Mile trail

Sky Field (Deep Field) made a big statement before the break between seasons and this Sunday at Sha Tin he readies for his return in the Class 3 Hung Hom Handicap (1200m), with the Four-Year-Old Classic Series on his radar. “It’s a big season for him, so I’m treating him like a horse with a lot of potential and the type of horse that I would train for the Hong Kong Classic Mile – that’s my target with him this season, so he’ll be progressing distance-wise,” trainer Caspar Fownes said. …