Epic Ashburton clash awaits

By Jonny Turner The clash harness racing fans have been waiting for will finally happen in the Ashburton Flying Stakes on Monday when Copy That takes on Self Assured and Spankem. Punters will get the most crucial line on their fancies for the New Zealand Cup with Copy That stepping out in the South Island first time this season to take on the All Stars pair after setting Alexandra Park alight in the spring. It will not just be a challenged for the northerner, as he is set to provide…

Inferno destroys best sprinters in Lion City Cup

Westbury Stud graduate Inferno put on what looked to be an exhibition gallop when running away with the S$400,000 Lion City Cup (1200m) on at Kranji Sunday.  In his typically economical debriefing style after the country’s premier sprint, trainer Cliff Brown said the Holy Roman Emperor four-year-old was “something else”.  A few minutes later, after emerging from the jockeys’ room, Vlad Duric said he had never ridden any horse quite like Inferno in Singapore.  Brown had expressed some misgivings about the drop from the mile at his last victory in the Singapore…

Nominations in for TAB Topguns

Nominations are in for the Group 1 TAB Topgun and Group 1 TAB Topgun Stayers which will be run on Saturday 7 November at The Meadows. Now the hard work begins. Over the weekend, the expert greyhound panel will deliberate over which greyhounds will make up the two eight dog invitational events. Fields for the $150,000 to-the-winner TAB Topgun Sprint and $75,000 to-the-winner TAB Topgun Stayers will be announced on Tuesday at 7pm on Sky Racing’s The Catching Pen which airs on Sky 2. Catch The Thief is currently the…

Concert Hall all class at Trentham

It may have taken nearly all of the Trentham straight to get her head in front but class performer Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel) delivered when it counted as she took out the Gr.3 Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) on Sunday. Sent out a warm favourite after producing a storming finish for second at Ellerslie when opening her latest campaign, the Savabeel mare delivered for her supporters despite giving them a few heart flutters along the way. Rider Ryan Elliot had her ticking along nicely towards the rear of…

Decisions to be made on Dragon’s direction

A comprehensive five-length victory over 3000m by Dragon Storm (NZ) (Shocking) at Riccarton on Saturday has created an interesting conundrum for his trainer Chris Gibbs. Gibbs, who prepares the six-year-old in partnership with Michelle Bradley, sent his charge south with an eye on a start in the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m) next month however Saturday’s win has opened up an opportunity to compete in the unique A$304,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool in late November. The Jericho Cup is a race that was introduced in 2018 to commemorate…

Rae’s phone red hot after speedy juvenile wins again

Back to back victories by promising two-year-old Follow Your Dreams (NZ) (Contributer) has trainer Kenny Rae’s telephone running red hot. The speedy son of Mapperley Stud-based sire Contributer set tongues wagging after his first-up win over 800m at Riccarton earlier this month and he backed that up with an even more decisive effort over the same distance on Saturday. Rae, who trains in partnership with his daughter Krystal Williams-Tuhoro, has been fielding offers for the stylish colt since he first stepped out at the trials back in August, but has had…