Lance O’Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott, was pleased with the fresh-up run of quality four-year-old Dragon Leap (Pierro), who finished 8th in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday. The son of Pierro was only two lengths from the winner Dreamforce and will derive plenty of benefit from the hit-out. “I was very pleased with the run and how close he finished to the winner, albeit there wasn’t a great margin first to last,” O’Sullivan said. “There is plenty of improvement in him and we…
Month: September 2020
La Vernazza out for spring
Promising filly La Vernazza (NZ) (More Than Ready) will head to the spelling paddock after pulling up injured last week. The Brendan and Jo Lindsay-owned filly had joined trainer Jamie Richards’ Sydney team ahead of the spring, however, she will now be put on ice until next year. “She injured her hamstring somehow. We will just take it easy with her and it probably rules her out of the spring,” Richards told Sky Sports Radio. “It’s heartbreaking really because I think she is a very talented filly, but we have…
Tofane lures Moroney back to the races
Trans-Tasman trainer Michael Moroney will head to the races for the first time in five months on Saturday when he goes to Flemington to watch Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) compete in the Gr.2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m). With the COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria, Moroney felt it was wise to steer clear of raceday and focus his attention towards training his Flemington-based team. “One of the reasons why I wasn’t there was because I really wanted to make sure I could stay and train the team, that is the main thing,”…
Macnab in winning groove
Almost two years after suffering serious head injuries in a race fall, apprentice jockey Sarah Macnab has made a fine start to the 2020-21 season. The Wanganui-based rider kicked home a treble on her home track last Saturday, including a win in the Foxton Cup (2040m) on the highly promising stayer Hurry Cane. Her tally at this early stage of the new season stands at nine (almost halfway toward her 19 total number of wins last season), which has her second equal on the New Zealand Jockey’s Premiership, one behind…
Speed Star trial file
The countdown is on for the first Speed Star held at The Meadows on Wednesday 16 September. Keep up to date with the trials and the moving ranking board below. Saturday 5 September Catch The Thief stopped the clock in a time of 29.728sec (5.07) – the sixth fastest time run at The Meadows this year. Rock On Jimmy trialled over the 725m clocking 42.874sec, putting him in eight position in the Speed Star ranking. Manila Knight was unable to launch into the top eight following his trial, stopping the…
Camilleri says Horsham rival holds ‘Aces’
Rob Camilleri fears impressive heat winners Zipping Zarbo and Slingshot Titan will make the race for high class rival Weblec Ace in Tuesday afternoon’s lucrative President’s Cup Final (485m) at Horsham. Camilleri and partner Deb Coleman clean-swept the two President’s Cup heats, with Zipping Zarbo running a best of meeting 27.20s, while Bendigo Cup finalist Slingshot Titan clocked 27.31s, his ninth win from his last 12 starts. Both overcame box five to lead all-the-way, with Slingshot Titan holding the fast-finishing Weblec Ace at bay to remain unbeaten in two appearances…
Lou’s Healesville Cup
Zambora Lou has continued his litter’s dominance over Victorian Country Cups with a win in today’s Group 3 TAB Healesville Cup (350m). Litter brother Zambora Smokey won the Warrnambool Cup earlier this year. The son of Country Cup king Zambora Brockie and Zambora Cross, showed talent and determination in his first group race victory when defeating a hot Healesville Cup field at the odds of $3.20. WATCH: Zambora Lou take out the Group 3 TAB Healesville Cup from box four. “Races don’t often turn out how you think they will…
Simply Optimistic back in the winner’s circle
Former New Zealand galloper Simply Optimistic (Encosta De Lago) recorded his first victory for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natale Young when successful in a benchmark 78 race over 1200m at Geelong on Sunday. The six-year-old gelding was formerly trained by Busuttin and Young’s stable foreman Brendon Hawtin, and they were thrilled to get the win for the expat Kiwi who shares in the ownership of the gelding with his father Keith. “Brendon (Hawtin) who works with us does plenty of work with the horse and it’s just so good to…
Russell enjoying winning streak with Hurry Cane
Thomas Russell’s hands-on involvement with racing was cut short just over six years ago through a life-threatening injury, but the former jockey and trainer is still enjoying the thrill of the thoroughbred sport as a part-owner and jockey’s agent. Russell (38), who has been a tetraplegic since a trackwork fall, is co-owner of the in-form Hurry Cane (NZ) (Nom du Jeu), a decisive winner of the Foxton Cup (2000m) at Wanganui last Saturday, and he is agent for central districts jockey Leah Hemi. Last year Russell experienced one of his…
Patience paying off with Tanaawol
A patient approach with three-year-old colt Tanaawol (NZ) (Savabeel) paid off for trainers Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig at Geelong on Sunday. The son of Savabeel was having just his second career start, but showed plenty of improvement from his debut performance in April where he disappointed when finishing last. “It was a very slow run race that day and they sprinted home and it didn’t suit him at all,” Hayes said. “He did come out of that race very shinny. He was just very immature and told us he…