Month: December 2020

Andrew Bensley talks to jockey Craig Grylls who rides unbeaten filly Shezzacatch in Saturday’s Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni.

Andrew Bensley talks to trainer Frank Ritchie about the prospects of Dawn Patrol and Fiscal Fantasy at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Wary and respectful of world-class opposition, Francis Lui carries a characteristically understated sense of confidence into the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) with Golden Sixty at Sha Tin on Sunday. The New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale graduate, who did his early education in Matamata under trainer Graham Richardson, is only the fourth horse to win 10 consecutive races in Hong Kong’s professional era – a feat achieved by Silent Witness, Co-Tack and Sunday’s adversary Beauty Generation. Lui believes Golden Sixty is ideally placed to continue his streak…

Trainer Allan Sharrock has his team flying at present and the New Plymouth horseman will be well represented at Awapuni on Saturday, in addition to sending quality mare Sinarahma north for the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. The last start Group Two runner-up has the services of Opie Bosson and is rated a $6 second favourite in a market headed by Supera at $2.70. “For two or three runs early this preparation I couldn’t get her travelling how I’d like to, but in the last three weeks…

Manawatu horseman Bryce Newman is looking to take his racehorse training operation to new heights. The accomplished equestrian has held a trainers’ license since 1999 but has only ever had a handful of horses bound for the races. Newman, who “chases a few cows around” on his 550-acre property in Bulls, previously focused mainly on pre-training whilst also juggling the rigours of eventing at elite level. “We used to do a lot of pre-trainers but in the last couple of years we’re turning more and more to training,” he said.…

Symon Wilde believes in-form mare Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock) could be a stayer of the future and that is why he regards her Flemington assignment as imperative. Wilde will run Tralee Rose over 2530 metres in the Brew Stayers Trophy on Saturday when she will be trying to take her record to four wins from as many starts this preparation. Wilde has such a big opinion of her, he is even looking as far ahead as next year’s spring carnival. The Warrnambool trainer said if Tralee Rose could win at…

Wingatui trainer Terry Kennedy hopes one of his runners at Ascot Park on Saturday will provide a record-breaking moment for long-time friend Chris Johnson. Heading into Saturday’s eight-race programme, Johnson has a career tally of 2450 victories in New Zealand – one short of the all-time record held by David Walsh. Johnson has rides in all eight races on Saturday, including the Kennedy-trained runners Back Hut, Secret Sound and Ray’s In Command. Over the two decades since Kennedy switched from riding to training, Johnson has been in the saddle for…