Month: September 2020

A pipe opener over 500m on Friday worked the oracle for classy sprinter Dawn Patrol (NZ) (Dawn Approach) as he downed a quality field over 1400m at Ellerslie on Saturday. The five-year-old Dawn Approach gelding was having his second start in a new campaign after finishing well back in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) first up at Te Rapa. Trainer Frank Ritchie was keen to get plenty of work into his charge after he faded out badly in his first run, to the point where he gave him an extra…

Unfancied Awapuni galloper Master Fin caused a massive boilover in one of the special features at New Plymouth on Saturday when he outstayed his rivals to take out the NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3210m). It was the second running of the race that serves as the first New Zealand qualifying event for the unique A$304,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool in late November, a race that was introduced in 2018 to commemorate the centenary of a race run on the desert sands in Palestine in World War I…

Underrated galloper Supreme Heights (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) produced a gritty performance to lead all the way when taking out Saturday’s Gr.3 NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series (1400m) at New Plymouth. The lightly raced Jimmy Choux five-year-old relished the testing Heavy10 underfoot conditions as she repelled the challenges of local mares London Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) and Ladies First (NZ) (Dylan Thomas) to register her sixth career victory and first at stakes level at just her 15th start. Rider Sam Collett bounced her away quickly from an outside barrier to…

Race favourite Quattro Quinta (NZ) (Darci Brahma) backed up an impressive trial performance ten days ago when he proved too quick for his rivals over 880m in the first two-year-old event of the season at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Darci Brahma gelding was warmly supported off the back of his impressive victory in a 650m trial heat at Te Rapa and never gave his backers cause for concern as he sat in behind a steady pace for rider Troy Harris before asserting his superiority in the run home to win…

Talented five-year-old Alfa Oro (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) returned from a brief break to score at Moonee Valley on Friday night, when leading throughout in the 955m race. The son of Bachelor Duke won four races in succession last campaign and picked up where he left off for trainer Matt Laurie, who has been patient in his handling of the quality galloper, who suffered a life-threatening injury as an early three-year-old. “It was pretty easy in the end and I am happy to keep his winning record going for the moment…

Former Kiwi galloper Simply Optimistic ran out a ready winner of the MSC Signs Lockdown Legends Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night, making it back-to-back wins for the NZB Ready To Run Sale graduate. Prepared by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Simply Optimistic is raced by their foreman Brendon Hawtin and his father Keith. The six-year-old gelding was ridden more prominently than planned by Craig Williams and it worked the oracle. “He’s doing a terrific job,” Hawtin said. “Big thanks to Trent and Natalie, they’ve done a terrific…

Andrew Bensley catches up with Wexford Stables’ co-trainer Andrew Scott about their runners at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Andrew Bensley talks with owner Neil O’Dowd as he seeks to win back-to-back NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3210m) with Aigne at New Plymouth on Saturday.

Kiwi-bred three-year-old Savannah Cloud (NZ) (Savabeel) secured his maiden victory last start and trainer Phillip Stokes is hoping he can continue that form line at Caulfield on Saturday. The Savabeel colt will jump from barrier four in the Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) and Stokes is happy with his charge heading into the three-year-old feature. “He is a very nice colt, he couldn’t have been more impressive winning his maiden,” Stokes said. “He relaxed beautifully and has trained on nicely. “It’s a tough race, but I think he is one…