New Zealand-bred colt Ranting (NZ) (Zoustar) will face his biggest test to date when he steps out in Saturday’s Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington. The Troy Corstens-trained son of Zoustar was a last-start winner of the Gr.3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) and Corstens admitted the three-year-old would have to be on his best behaviour to score in elite company. “Ranting can still do a little bit wrong,” he said. “You saw in the Blue Sapphire that he pulled extremely hard. He’s not going to be able to do…
Month: October 2020
Cup contender in action
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) contender Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) stepped out at Flemington at Breakfast with the Stars on Tuesday and trainer Chris Waller is pleased with her build-up to the race that stops the nation. “Mark Zahra said she was nice and bright and relaxed and he couldn’t have been happier,” Waller said. It will be the first time the daughter of Zed has raced beyond 2500m, though Waller felt the step up in distance would not trouble her. “The unknown is the two miles but it only looks…
Cambridge Polytrack open for business
Horses stepped out onto New Zealand’s first synthetic surface last week with construction of the Polytrack completed at the Cambridge Jockey Club. Construction began in January this year and nearly 10 months on, Cambridge Jockey Club chief executive Mark Fraser-Campin is more than happy with the result and enthusiastic about the benefits it will bring to New Zealand racing. “It opened last Thursday afternoon and we had six or seven horses go around with senior riders,” Fraser-Campin said. “We opened it for slow work on Friday morning and all the…
Dual-pronged Derby assault for Busuttin-Young
Trent Busuttin trained Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel) to win the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in 2011 and he thinks it’s about time he gets his hands back on the coveted mug. Together with wife Natalie Young, Busuttin will have two chances in the three-year-old feature at Flemington on Saturday – Albarado (NZ) (Savabeel) and Wertheimer (NZ) (Tavistock). Albarado finished third in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington two starts back before winning the Gr.3 Neds Classic (2000m) at Caulfield a fortnight ago. “It was a messy race the Norman…
Start crucial for Pembrook Playboy
By Jonny Turner Finding a position in the first 100m of Thursday’s Group 3 Southern Supremacy Stakes at Ascot Park is set to be crucial for home town hero Pembrook Playboy. The star Southland pacer’s quest to win his province’s flagship event for three-year-old colts and geldings got a little tricky when he drew barrier 1 on the second row of the mobile. With no other horses on the second line, it may appear a simple case of trainer-driver having to Nathan Williamson angle Pembrook Playboy off the inside to…
Stylish Memphis fit and ready
By Jonny Turner Tough staying tests have Stylish Memphis fit and ready for her next Oaks challenge in yet another corner of the world at Ascot Park on Thursday. The Mark Jones trained pacer will attempt to match her New South Wales Oaks victory and go one better than her runner-up effort in the Victoria Oaks when the group 3 Southland Oaks Final takes place on Southland’s biggest day of harness racing. Stylish Memphis’ staying qualities can not be questioned leading into the 2700m feature, if the incredible times she…
Gazza’s ‘last hurrah’
Sadly, after 357 games, it will be the ‘last hurrah’ for Geelong’s “little master” Gary Ablett… What a champion! The dual Brownlow medallist (2009 & 2013) is eyeing his third premiership medal in tonight’s history-making AFL Grand Final. Ablett won a flag with the Cats in 2007 and 2009. And TAB wasn’t going to miss Gazza’s momentous – and emotional – occasion! It’s cross-sports offer is an enticing $5.50 for Ablett to kick 1+ goal against the Tigers in the ‘big dance’ and the aptly named Last Hurrah – based…
Fownes plots December trail for Columbus County
Caspar Fownes is putting his faith in Columbus County (NZ) (Redwood) to put down a Group One marker in the Class 2 Time Warp Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday. “We’ll make an entry for the Hong Kong International Races with him,” the handler said. “He’s rated 97 but hopefully that’ll change after the race on Wednesday.” Fownes knows Columbus County will need to lift his rating to around 110 or higher to warrant an invitation to the HK$95 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 13 December, but…
Price ready for a big week at Flemington
Mick Price isn’t sure his Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) runner Redwood Shadow (NZ) (Redwood) has the form to win the race but he believes he deserves his opportunity to have a shot at it. “He worked very well there last Thursday and he’s ready for the race,” Price said of the Redwood gelding who is trained out of his Warrnambool stable. Redwood Shadow will be having only his fourth start and at his most recent appearance he finished fourth behind fellow Derby contender Albarado in the Gr.3 Caulfield Classic (2000m).…
Kiwi-bred mare ready for Golden opportunity
Trainer John O’Shea is confident All Saints’ Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls) will be competitive in Saturday’s A$7.5 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill. The Gr.3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) winner has been targeting the rich race since the start of the season O’Shea has been pleased with her build up so far. “She had a nice positive run the other day (Gr.3 Angst Stakes, 1600m) where the barrier meant she was no chance before she jumped out but she went very well,” he said. “This week it will be a very similar…