Month: September 2020
Riccarton’s synthetic track debate heats up as roadshow heads south
The Wyong Polytrack by Brian de Lore Published 10th September 2020 Leading South Island racing people remain divided on the issue of the building of the Polytrack at Riccarton with detractors of the proposal seemingly outnumbering those in favour by a Winx-like margin. But indications are the building of the track will go ahead despite the opposition. Blood pressures are sure to rise, and the debate is bound to be lively when the NZTR Roadshow arrives at Ascot Park, Wingatui, and Riccarton over Thursday and Friday of this week when…
Selections | Winton, 10 September
Justin Evans, Jason Teaz & our Jason Broad provide us with their selections ahead of the meeting at Winton today. Selections can be found here Head to www.tab.co.nz to make a bet!
Berger holds strong hand at Cambridge
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Cambridge trainer Mike Berger will be well represented at his home meeting on Thursday night when he lines-up seven runners at Cambridge Raceway. His charge will be led by Pull The Other Leg who will be vying for back-to-back victories in the Gregory Equine. Delivery Nationwide Mobile Pace (2200m). The four-year-old son of Sir Lincoln placed on debut before winning over 2200m at Cambridge Raceway last month and Berger is hoping for a similar result. “He has been going really well,” Berger said. “He…
Selections | Cambridge, 10 September
Jason Teaz, Josh Smith & Michael Guerin provide us with their selections ahead of the meeting at Cambridge today. Selections can be found here Head to www.tab.co.nz to make a bet!
Mile rehearsal for Mr Malek
Lee Freedman is hoping to get the answers he needs regarding Mr Malek (NZ) (Swiss Ace) running out a strong mile this Saturday when he lines up in a Class 1 race over 1600m in Singapore. Mr Malek will contest the Singapore Guineas (1600m) on September 26, but like the majority of his Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge rivals he has never been tested beyond seven furlongs. The son of Swiss Ace ran a brave third to Inferno in the second Leg of the series, the Singapore Classic (1400m) on August 30.…
Cadenabbia breaks through in Sydney
High-priced youngster Cadenabbia (Redoute’s Choice) has added his first slice of performance to a rich pedigree. The Chris Waller-trained colt ran second on debut and at Canterbury on Wednesday went one better with a touch of flair. Ridden by James McDonald, the $800,000 Cambridge Stud Karaka graduate comfortably justified his short price over 1550 metres. “He’s a lovely colt,” McDonald said. “He’s going to be better with a prep under his belt. He’ll furnish and I think he’s a real autumn colt but he’s doing a good job now.” Waller…
Cornflower Blue shortens for Guineas
The Jamie Richards-trained Cornflower Blue (NZ) (Savabeel) has firmed to a $10 chance in early markets for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 48th New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) following a dominant win at Matamata on Wednesday. Sporting the colours of Waikato Stud, the daughter of Savabeel was ridden like the best horse in the race by Danielle Johnson and forged clear by in excess of six lengths over the concluding stages. Out of the O’Reilly mare Tiffany Yellow (NZ), Cornflower Blue had not been seen on raceday since finishing second to…
Excitement ahead of U May Cullect’s return
By Jonny Turner The wait is finally over, southern sensation U May Cullect is back. The freak from Oreti beach will start at Winton on Thursday for the first time since a tendon injury forced him in to a lengthy rehabilitation following his only defeat race day defeat over a year ago. U May Cullect’s resumption culminates a long road back to the races which started with his owner Tom Kilkelly giving the horse more than eight months walking to strengthen the troublesome tendon. The seven-yhear-old’s rise from obscurity to…
Julius doubtful for Tarzino
Group One winning sprinter Julius is a doubtful runner in Saturday week’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m). The nine-year-old gelding finished seventh in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) last weekend at Te Rapa but is under a fitness cloud. “He didn’t come out of the Foxbridge Plate particularly well,” trainer John Bell said. “All four fetlocks are red raw, the back ones especially are really quite bad. To go into a Group One race you need to be 100 percent and to do that by Saturday week is not looking good.”