On a day where the contenders for the upcoming age-group classics at Riccarton were on display around the country, South Island galloper Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) threw her hat in the ring with an impressive maiden victory. The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained three-year-old was backed off the map in the first event at Riccarton on Saturday as she reverted to maiden company after producing an eye-catching late run for fifth in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1400m) at her previous start. The Written Tycoon filly didn’t disappoint as she announced…
Month: October 2020
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 25 October 2020
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Kiwi mare Melbourne Cup bound
Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man) gave her connections the thrill of a lifetime when winning the Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington last year, but the New Zealand-bred mare now has the opportunity to usurp that moment at the Melbourne track on Tuesday-week. The daughter of Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man cemented her place in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) with an impressive display when taking out the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on Saturday. The four-year-old mare settled off the pace from barrier four and had all 11…
William Wallace turns back the clock with classic win
Versatile galloper William Wallace (NZ) (Darci Brahma) showed there was still plenty of fight left in his eight-year-old legs when he outlasted his younger rivals to take out the Listed Christchurch Casino Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The Darci Brahma gelding has always enjoyed his visits to Christchurch, having won twice at the venue earlier in his career, and demonstrated that affinity with another spirited showing. Rider Sarah McNab allowed her charge to find his feet in the early running before making a sweeping run around the field…
The Whale’s Pick 6 for Ashburton on Labour Day
With the largest Harness Pick6 pot up for grabs since lockdown noted tipster Craig “The Whale” Thompson has shared his thoughts on Monday’s $100,000 guaranteed terminating Pick 6 at Ashburton and says “it isn’t easy”. Leg 1 : Race 6 at 3.02 : The Fiona Stuart Memorial Pace. “This is the hardest of them,” says The Whale before opting for top pick No 3 Gliding Away. He’s also including No 13 Koenigsegg, No 5 Yossi and No 11 Somekindawonderful. Leg 2 : Race 7 at 3.37 : The Lather Up…
Snow returns to Cambridge
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk It may be nearing summer, but snow is back – Snow Weaver that is. After a seven year hiatus from the training ranks, the man behind star trotters Petite Evander and Pride of Petite made a winning return at Cambridge Raceway earlier this month with debutant Petitewillshine. Weaver was delighted with the win and said the four-year-old gelding favoured the left-handed way of going at Cambridge. “We had been having trouble getting him to go right-handed and he won two of his first three…
Louis’ rocky road to Tuapeka
By Jonny Turner Plenty has gone wrong for star Otago pacer Spirit Of St Louis ahead of the season’s biggest race on his home track, Sunday’s Tuapeka Cup. The Graeme Anderson and Mike Love trained four-year-old comes into the 2700m Forbury Park handicap after overcoming a throat infection which was discovered after his last start at Winton. That diagnosis explained why Spirit Of St Louis produced a slightly disappointing effort for third when he could not go with the winner, Pembrook’s Playboy, after sitting on his back before the home…
Selections | Cambridge, 25 October
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Smart three-year-old leaves rivals speechless at Te Rapa
Smart three-year-old Need I Say More (No Nay Never) let his actions do the talking at Te Rapa when he gave his age-group rivals a galloping lesson in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) on Saturday. The Jamie Richards-trained runner had his doubters after he was beaten into fourth in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at his last start when a well-backed favourite. There were plenty prepared to bet against him again on Saturday, with punters installing the Katrina and Simon Alexander-trained filly Tinker McPhee as…
Vitesse Bo shapes as serious Guineas contender
Cambridge visitor Vitesse Bo (NZ) (Proisir) caused a minor upset when she defeated some well credentialled age-group classic contenders when taking out Saturday’s Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600) at Riccarton. The younger half-sister to Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) winner Travelling Light was having just her third start as she registered career victory number one with a dogged performance. The Ben Foote-trained Proisir filly relished the wide-open spaces at Riccarton as she settled in a handy position before issuing a challenge four out from the fence rounding the home bend. Favourites…