Corravally Star just needs luck

By Jonny Turner Trainer Bruce Negus hopes Corravally Star can find clear air among the wide-open spaces of Rangiora’s grass track on Sunday. The quality three-year-old comes into race 10 after going to the line untested in his last start at Addington. With the seventh placegetter in the group 1 Sires Stakes Final on New Zealand Cup Day best driven for one run, driver Jessica Young-Grant’s tactics are unlikely to change in the 2600m special handicap. So, Negus is hoping this time, the breaks can go Corravally Star’s way. “He…

Selections Rangiora 20 December

Selections for Rangiora Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race MATT CROSSCommentator Race 112.15pm 10 Jakarta2 This Time Gamble8 Summars14 Eilish Hall Race 212.40pm 4 On The Buzzer14 Mark O’Ronga12 Cristiano Buccini1 Perfect Cut Race 31.05pm 6 Faith No More2 Awapuni10 Orlando Magic4 Blink N Bones Race 41.30pm 14 A Guiness Dance8 Jacinda Eyre9 Wichenheiser10 Kowhai Shadow Race 51.55pm 5 Sport Mental2 Morano Chief9 Taumata VC10 Teds legacy Race 62.25pm 11 Take After Me9 Ali Lindenny5 Rachmaninov2 Kowhai Sundown Race 72.50pm 2 Mad Lu Li5 Deja Blue12 Judgement Bay4 Southerly Change…

Thrilling finish to Manawatu Cup

Hastings visitor Hunta Pence overcame his apparent dislike of the Awapuni track to register his biggest career victory when he took out the Gr.3 Bramco Granite and Marble Manawatu Cup (2300m) in a desperate finish on Saturday. The Patrick Campbell-trained eight-year-old had failed to finish in a dividend bearing placing in ten previous trips to the Palmerston North circuit, including fifth place finishes in the two previous editions of the staying feature. A last-start winner of the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) last month, Hunta Pence was overlooked by many before…

Frodo too fast in Group Two feature

Pocket rocket Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock), who affectionately carries the moniker Frodo due to his diminutive stature and ungainly build, captured the biggest victory of his burgeoning career when he dashed away from his rivals in Saturday’s Gr.2 Kevin Pratt Memorial Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni. The Allan Sharrock-trained son of Tavistock has captured hearts due to a pugnacious, never-say-die attitude that has now produced ten wins from 15 career starts, with his last three victories at stakes level. Set for the race by Sharrock after a hollow win…

Familiar look to impressive Te Rapa maiden winner

Promising three-year-old Mongolian Wings (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) showed he could be on a similar path to his illustrious sire when he produced an eye-catching display to shed his maiden status at Te Rapa. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained gelding is by triple Group One winner Mongolian Khan who scooped a Group One Derby double in his three-year-old season when successful in both the New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie and the Australian Derby (2400m) at Royal Randwick. The Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry-owned entire went on to capture the…

Magic moment for magic man

Veteran jockey Chris Johnson established a new national record for race victories on Saturday at Awapuni when Sassenach (NZ) (Per Incanto) provided him with win 2452 in New Zealand. The 56-year-old required one winner to surpass the previous mark set by David Walsh after drawing level at Invercargill last Saturday. In typical Johnson fashion he set the new benchmark in spectacular style with a ride befitting the occasion. Johnson dropped the Austin Brown-trained five-year-old mare to the rear of the field in the rating 65 2100m contest, saving every inch…

All eyes on Wairio Cup start

By Jonny Turner The first few metres of the Wairio Cup on Saturday are set to be as important as its final few strides for Watch Me Now and Ragazzo Mach. Their talents can not be questioned, but their experience behind the tapes certainly can ahead of the 2400m feature handicap. Watch Me Now returns to racing for the first time since serving her rivals up a thrashing in the South Of The Waitaki event on Show Day at Addington. Prior to that, the Kirstin Barclay and Tank Ellis trained…