Eight time Group One winner Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock) has been retired from racing and will live out his days at Living Legends in Victoria. Connections made the announcement following Sunday’s HK$25 million Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin where the eight-year-old finished fifth to Golden Sixty. Hong Kong’s highest-rated galloper of all time – rated the equal of another great miler, Able Friend – bowed out with a Hong Kong career tally of 18 wins from 34 starts, as well as the local all-time record prize money haul of…
Year: 2020
Solid hit-out for Railway favourite
Exciting mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir) was in action at the Te Aroha trials on Monday, winning her 1000m heat by a head from another talented four-year-old in Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock). Levante set tongues wagging with a stunning last to first victory in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) last month and has been backed into $2.80 favourite for the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. On Monday, the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained daughter of Proisir cruised up under raceday jockey Sam Collett but had to dig deep…
The Irishman pleases at Te Aroha
Impressive debut winner The Irishman (NZ) (Tavistock) had a quiet trial at Te Aroha on Monday in readiness for a raceday return over the Ellerslie Christmas Carnival. The Tony Pike-trained son of Tavistock won at first time of asking at Avondale over 1100m before finishing fifth to Shezzacatch in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Hawke’s Bay in September. “He trialled up really well, he just went back from a wide gate and he’s rolled up nicely on the bridle,” Pike said. “Leith (Innes, jockey) was really happy…
Schofer riding crest of a wave
Nothing is stopping Taranaki apprentice Hazel Schofer in 2020, not even an increase in her riding weight. Schofer, 21, rode three winners – Butler, Beefeater, and Our Hail Mary – from five mounts at Awapuni on Saturday, and also earned a Group Three placing aboard Signora Nera in the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m). Schofer is not a natural lightweight and she took a break from racing in October 2019 due to her battles with maintaining her racing weight. But since her return in July 2020 – one that was…
Golden Sixty takes the baton with sparkling LONGINES Hong Kong Mile success
They came, they saw, they tried to blunt his dash, but they failed to conquer New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale graduate Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro): Hong Kong’s burgeoning hometown hero who dismantled his international rivals in the HK$25 million Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin with an exquisite performance. “He’s amazing, isn’t he?” jockey Vincent Ho said, moments after the brilliant five-year-old unleashed an unanswerable burst of speed that carried him to a dazzling two-length victory. For Ho and trainer Francis Lui, Golden Sixty’s success is a first at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races. …
King swings again
By Adam Hamilton IT was the ultimate finish to a stunning year. Rejuvenated star King Of Swing locked away Australian Horse of Year honours and Grand Circuit champion status with a dominant $175,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake win at Albion Park last night. It followed his powerhouse Miracle Mile and Hunter Cup wins earlier this year. And it was the final start in a 13-start season for Craig Cross and Luke McCarthy which netted 10 wins, three seconds and more than $1.1 million earnings. Whether he’s the best…
Aussie News – 14 December
By Adam Hamilton THE rise and rise of young trotting star Majestuoso continued with another feature Melton win on Saturday night. Andy and Kate Gath’s latest stable star made light work of a 20m backmark to thrash his rivals in the Group 3 Coulter Crown, closing in a slick 27.6sec final quarter. Majestuoso has won 16 of his 32 starts, including six of 12 this season and heads early betting for the Group 1 Great Southern Star early next year. “He’s a horse we’ve always had a huge opinion of…
The Dominator far from Green in Mile
By Jonny Turner A perfect display from The Dominator saw him take out a chaotic running of the Trotters’ Green Mile at Methven on Sunday. While the favourites Heavyweight Hero, One Apollo and Majestic Lavros galloped their way out of the feature event, the Donna Williamson trained seven-year-old made every post a winner in the hands of Craig Thornley. The Dominator, who led throughout, was challenged briefly by Majestic Lavros, who loomed with a serious challenge in the home straight. Though some may have thought the Mark Jones trained…
Fast 10 back for second year
It was over a few cocktails in Fiji two years ago that the idea for “Fast 10” was born. “I was having a pina colada,” says Fast 10 co-owner Glenn Hames said, “and Tony was having a Mud Slide!” Tony Russell is Hames’ partner in Quick Horse Racing Limited. While on holiday they were discussing how to give harness racing a makeover, and how to market it to people who were not regular race-goers. “It took about three months to work out the details,” says Hames. Fast 10, harness racing’s…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 14 December 2020
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