By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk It may have taken Deja Blue 26 starts to clear maiden ranks, but the consistent pacer did it in style at Ashburton on Thursday. The Michael Cations-trained mare hummed off the gate to take an early lead for driver Terry Chmiel before handing up to Kerala Star heading into the home straight for the first time. A lap later the daughter of Mach Three was able to take advantage of the passing lane to slingshot her rival and run away to a comfortable 4-1/2…
Month: November 2020
The Chosen One thriving
Connections of The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) are thrilled with the way he has returned to New Zealand after his fourth-placing in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) last week. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained runner had a pleasing spring, winning first-up at Flemington in September before running third in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) last month. “He has been home for just over a week now,” Forsman said. “It was great to get him home so quickly, he’s letting down really well. “He will probably only need to have…
Guineas test for Kiwi-bred
Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani will line-up Furioso (NZ) (Atlante) in the Gr.2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) on Saturday and he admits he is having a throw at the stumps with the lightly-raced three-year-old. The son Atlante has had just the two career starts, breaking through for his maiden victory at Cranbourne last month, and Cumani believes he will put in a good showing this weekend. “We put him in as a late nomination as the Sandown Guineas came up a bit light, except for Aysar, so we thought we’d have a…
Impressive juvenile winner sidelined
Promising juvenile Wakiri (NZ) (Vespa) was backed into $1.10 favouritism for the McIntosh Cranes/Team DH. Inter Building LTD 2YO (1000m) at Awapuni on Friday and won accordingly. He was sent straight to the front by premiership-leading jockey Danielle Johnson and ran away to a comfortable four length victory over Brazen Blue, with a further 1-1/2 lengths back to Silky Red Fox in third. Trainer Roydon Bergerson was pleased with the win and he believes the son of Vespa has a bright future. “Wakari is a pretty professional horse,” Bergerson said…
Matchmaker out to emulate star Canterbury filly
Success for Matchmaker in Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton would complete a remarkable double for North Canterbury trainer Nick Wigley. Wigley and his wife Carol raced star filly Canterbury Belle, who won the Classic for trainer Dave Kerr in 1984. Now Matchmaker, who Wigley and his training partner Kayla Milnes produced to win the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton last month, has a gilt-edged chance of emulating one of Canterbury racing’s great performers. “Canterbury Belle was strong and powerful and she’d grind…
Gibbs in search of NZ Cup with promising stayer
Ruakaka trainer Chris Gibbs is hoping a meticulously planned campaign for progressive stayer Dragon Storm will pay dividends at Riccarton on Saturday. The six-year-old gelding has enjoyed a perfect build-up to the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m), with the five-length last-start winner of the Road To The Jericho (3000m) on October 24 rated an $8 prospect for Saturday’s $250,000 feature. “He’s a horse that doesn’t take a lot of racing, that’s why we set our plan in place where he’s fourth up, straight into the Cup,” Gibbs said.…
Remembrance Day
Today marks the end of World War 1, and as such GRV remembers the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in times of human conflict. We also recognise the valiant efforts of members of the greyhound racing community during these times and thank them for their service. At the going down of the sun, And in the morning, We shall remember them.
‘Big Ben’ clocks up Horsham 410m TR
Provincial flyer Benchester’s track record-breaking ‘spree’ continued at Horsham last night. Trained at Junortoun by Mark Morrissey, Benchester clocked a sizzling 22.66sec – shaving two lengths off the previous 410m mark of 22.78sec set by Spring Hummer on October 13. Ironically, Benchester ($1.80F) – who led throughout from Box 4 – defeated Spring Hummer ($2.60) by 2.94L in a Free For All. He remains undefeated from four starts over this track and distance Owned by Bryan Rushton, Benchester (Oct ’17 Magic Sprite x Dewana Babe) set a new time standard…
Dominion disappointment for northern trainers
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk South Auckland trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett were hoping they would be cheering home stable trotter Temporale in the Group One Majestic Son Dominion (3200m) at Addington Raceway on Friday, but instead their attention will be solely on Alexandra Park. The dual Group One winner was struck down by a bug when campaigning in Canterbury ahead of Friday’s feature trot and his trainers are now waiting for him to improve before he can travel back to their Waiuku property. “Temporale got crook down…
Spankem looms as horse to beat
By Michael Guerin Spankem looms as the best bet in today’s $180,000 New Zealand Free-For-All because he has two ways to win the race. And one of those might make him a certainty. The Cup runner-up for the second year on Tuesday, Spankem will be the second favourite for today’s pacing group one at Addington with bookies and many punters thinking Amazing Dream deserves to be favourite with the very real chance she might trail potential leader Classie Brigade. But Spankem may actually be the better bet because he has…