New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson is hoping third time’s a charm for Regal Ruby (NZ) (Night of Thunder) when she contests the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m) at his home track on Friday. Patterson was pleased with the filly’s last start runner-up effort last month but believes she will improve after a recent procedure. “She had a woman’s problem that we fixed up after the last race, which was giving her aggravation so she had a caslick done,” Patterson said. “The 1400m will suit her better as long as…
Month: November 2020
Breeders’ Stakes performance to dictate Jennifer’s path
Shaune Ritchie is confident Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) will put her best foot forward in Saturday’s Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe. Last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner had a brief freshen-up following a below par run in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) won by Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands). “I’m expecting a good performance from her,” said Ritchie, who trains in partnership with Colm Murray. “I wouldn’t be running a horse of her calibre if she wasn’t close to being back…
Bell secures his pick of RTR Sale
Cambridge trainer John Bell had to do a second take when he saw lot 169 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka sales complex this week. The Exceed and Excel colt out of Pins mare Chateau d’Yquem, who was offered through Lyndhurst Farm’s draft, reminded him a lot of Group One winner Julius and Group Three winner Mosse and he was so taken with the colt that he went to $525,000 to secure him. “There’s a touch of Julius to him and another very good horse Mosse. That type of horse is…
Awapuni race to fine-tune Rock On Wood for Group One target
Levin trainer Leanne Elliot is taking a proven path with her star galloper Rock On Wood (NZ) (Redwood) towards next month’s Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. Elliot will line-up the Redwood six-year-old gelding in Saturday’s John Turkington Ltd/Wai Pine Logging Bulls Country Cup (1400m) at Awapuni, a race he finished second in last year. Last year’s winner Wyndspelle went on to win the Captain Cook Stakes at his next start, success Elliot is hoping to emulate. “I’d just love to win a Group race with him,…
Hope’s tribute to late grandfather
By Jonny Turner Junior driver Ben Hope delivered a tribute to his late grandfather Peter with his winning treble at Rangiora on Wednesday. Hope combined with his mother and father, Greg and Nina, for his three driving wins the day after his grandfather was laid to rest in Blenheim. Scoring his first winning treble in the sulky was a fitting nod to the 89-year-old, who had been one of his biggest supporters. “We drove home today [Wednesday] from Blenheim because the funeral was up there yesterday,” Hope said. “And it…
Team Teal confirmed for 2021
Harness Racing New Zealand is pleased to confirm that it will once again be lending its support to the Teal Pants Campaign in 2021. Founded by Duncan McPherson in Victoria in 2014, the campaign was started to help raise awareness and raise funds for research of Ovarian Cancer. 2021 will be the fourth edition of the campaign in New Zealand, led by HRNZ and generously supported by many clubs and businesses across the harness racing sector. McPherson lost his wife to Ovarian Cancer and vowed to continue her fight, and…
Selections | Manawatu | 19 November
Selections for Manawatu today Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race JASON TEAZForm Analyst JOSH SMITHHarness News Desk Race 15.04pm 5 Thank You 9 Leesa Castleton 6 Caitlin’s Surprise 10 Splitting Image 9 Leesa Castleton10 Splitting Image5 Thank You8 Ardee Trouble Race 25.31pm 4 Greatest Showman 1 Jimmy Richter 5 Delma Craze 7 Speciale Uno 4 Greatest Showman2 Boilover5 Delma Craze6 Jetson Hunter Race 35.57pm 1 Richmond Toger 2 Lionel Messi 8 Godziller 5 Betancourt 5 Betancourt1 Richmond Tiger2 Lionel Messi3 Tonichoochoo Race 46.26pm 1 Scelta Uno 2 Golden Lace 10…
Knight pair must overcome wide draws
By Jonny Turner Roxburgh trainers Geoff and Jude Knight’s pairing of Deus Ex and Ferritts Sister head to Winton on Thursday ready to overcome wide draws. Both pacers bring excellent form to the meeting have looked ready strike in their recent outings. Whether they can convert their run of recent placings into victories on Thursday will largely rely on how they and driver Matthew Williamson will handle starting from the outside of the mobile arm in barrier 8. Deus Ex has returned south after running a creditable third, when rushing…
Black Opium retired
Jason Thompson has revealed this morning on RSN that his star greyhound Black Opium has been retired after coming in season. Black Opium, who was joined at the hip by Jason’s wife Seona, was a winner of 29 races from 61 career starts and amassed more then $580,000 in prize money. The daughter of Black Magic Opal and Captivating is destined for great things in the breeding barn, but a decision will be made on the sire of her first litter in the near future by owner and breeders the…
Blaze be Nimble
Aspiring young Allansford trainer Sam Grant never fulfilled his greyhound racing dreams. Sam’s life was tragically cut short when his car and a freight train, on its way to Warrnambool, collided at a railway crossing on March 19, 2013. He was only 22. But the tragic event has never been forgotten by the Warrnambool GRC which will honour the memory of Sam’s short life with the Sam ‘Barbie’ Grant Memorial (450m) on Thursday night. Incidentally, it would have been Sam’s 30th birthday. Warrnambool training stalwart Debbie Goudge, 59, has Nimble…