Shima Shine has taken the punters fancy in tonight’s Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup heats at Sandown Park taking top rank in TAB’s All In market at $5.50. The recent Group 1 TAB Topgun winner has drawn box three in the opening Melbourne Cup heat. “These races are always hard, but we are happy with the draw,” Tom Dailly said. Before the heats, Simon Told Helen was all the rage but a challenging heat and box four has seen him drift to $7 ($2 favourite to win his heat). “Since…
Month: November 2020
Kingston Town next for Inspirational Girl
Western Australian jockey William Pike was delighted to be rewarded with a Group One on his return to his home state when Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man) ran out a ready winner of the Railway Stakes (1600m) on Saturday. The man dubbed the Wizard from the West is keen to maintain the association with the daughter of Reliable Man as she heads towards the Gr.1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m). Prepared by Grant and Alana Williams for prominent owner Bob Peters, Pike said he was impressed by how much Inspirational Girl…
Captain Cook assignment for Kingsclere duo
Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will likely hold a strong hand in the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday-week. The duo are set to contest the feature mile with in-form runners Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel), who will take identical form lines into the race. Hypnos finished runner-up first-up at Hastings in October before winning the Gr.3 Red Badger Spring Sprint (1400m) and then the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton earlier this month. Concert Hall has also…
Abu Dhabi out for elusive maiden victory
Shaun and Emma Clotworthy are crossing all their fingers and toes that consistent galloper Abu Dhabi (NZ) (Haradasun) can break through for his maiden win at Te Rapa on Wednesday. The Haradasun gelding has been runner-up in his last five starts and his trainers believe it is his turn in the Beefeater Garden Bar 12/12 (2100m). “He is a really consistent horse, I really hope he can win this time,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “Sometimes you don’t want horses breaking out of maidens too quickly because they are still learning their…
Trentham Group Ones for Rock On Wood
Trainer Leanne Elliot is now eyeing Group One targets with consistent galloper Rock On Wood (NZ) (Redwood) after his win in the John Turkington LTD/ Wai Pine Logging Bulls Country Cup (1400m) at Awapuni on Saturday. The son of Redwood was victorious in the race last year and was once again piloted by Elliot’s son Ryan, who forewent the Premier day at Pukekohe to retain the ride on the family favourite. “It was a very good run on Saturday, he went well,” Elliot said. “It was nice that Ryan came…
Five-pronged attack for Sweeney
Te Awamutu trainer Debbie Sweeney will take a team of five to Te Rapa’s Wednesday meeting, including three last start runner-up performers. Her charge will be led by four-year-old gelding Covenant in the $400k Herbie Dyke Stakes Noms 8/12 (1400m). The son of Swiss Ace has been runner-up in two of his three career starts and Sweeney said he will need plenty of luck on Wednesday after drawing the outside gate in the 16 horse field. “He is a really nice horse and he goes well,” Sweeney said. “I hope…
Collett celebrates birthday in style
Sam Collett has designs of a great summer aboard the exciting mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir)after her stunning return to racing in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) at Pukekohe on Saturday. Riding the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained mare for the first time on raceday, Collett and Levante swooped from last on the turn on a day when it had been difficult to win from off the pace to account for Summer Passage and Its Destinys Child. It was part of a three-win celebration on her 31st birthday for Collett, who also…
Syndicate cashes up on debut
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Some people spend a lifetime waiting for a winner, a group of new owners at Manawatu literally waited minutes. They took “beginners luck” to a new level when Budvar Eyre raced clear at Manawatu last week. The five-year-old gelding capitalized on a perfect trip in the trail for David Butcher to get home by a length for owners, the Turbo 1 Syndicate. It was the syndicate’s debut as Budvar Eyre’s owner, and some of the members had literally only just joined. “Four of…
Double D grabs four at the Big M
by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk As if Dexter Dunn’s year couldn’t get much better – it has. At Meadowlands in New Jersey over the weekend the 10-time champion Kiwi driver won four of the eight stakes races, providing the dream finish for superstars Manchego, Kissin In The Sand and Bettors Wish in their last career starts. Always A Miki was the night’s other winner in the Governor’s Cup as champion trainer Nancy Takter provided three of Dunn’s winners, with expat Kiwi trainer Chris Ryder (Bettor’s Wish) the other.…
Breeders Crown Wrap
By Adam Hamilton YOU hope to leave a night like Breeders Crown having seen some potential superstars and that was certainly the case on Saturday night at Melton. The series was built to showcase the emerging young stars of the sport and, despite being COVID compromised like so many of our feature events this year, the Crown still delivered in spades. Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin had 20 runners across the 10-race card, won four of the finals and produced the two brightest stars in juvenile winners Ladies In Red…