Veteran rider Chris Johnson is just one win away from setting a new record for most wins by a jockey in New Zealand after securing success aboard the Ellis Winsloe-trained Points Score at Ascot Park on Saturday. Johnson joins current record holder David Walsh on 2451 New Zealand victories and needs just one more win to establish a new national benchmark. In typical Johnson fashion, he sat quietly on Points Score before guiding the five-year-old into a challenging position approaching the home corner. Points Score hit the front early in…
Year: 2020
Staying future for Eulogy winner
Lightly raced Cambridge visitor Whimsical showed she will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming age-group staying features when she produced a gritty performance to take out the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at just her third start. The Stephen Marsh-trained Savabeel filly had hinted she had plenty of ability when she easily accounted for her maiden rivals over 1400m at Te Rapa last month. Marsh had no hesitation in stepping the filly up to stakes company and was rewarded with a strong victory, courtesy of a…
Showoroses upsets in Te Rapa feature
Underrated mare Showoroses made full use of an electric beginning from a wide barrier to lead her rivals a merry dance as she took out the feature race at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m). The Showcasing four-year-old had put the writing on the wall that she was ready to take out a stakes race when finishing second to Media Sensation in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe last month. Although her chances looked to have been dented when she drew the outside…
Daring ride pays off in Waikato Cup
Apprentice Callum Jones made the most of a late call up when he guided outsider Ocean Billy to victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa. Trainer Bill Pomare had struggled to book a rider for the Ocean Park five-year-old leading into the race and turned to the inexperienced Jones, who had ridden the horse to win an open handicap over 2200m at Ruakaka back in September. Jones, who can still claim a three-kilogram allowance in eligible races, threw caution to the wind midway through the…
Coventina Bay gets first stakes success at Te Rapa
Promising mare Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) added valuable black type to her burgeoning race record when she prevailed in a desperate finish to the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa. The Robbie Patterson-trained five-year-old had gone close at stakes level at her last start when finishing second to race rival Mascarpone in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) on the track in early November. A tardy start cost her that day but she made amends this time around with a much better beginning that allowed rider Samantha Collett…
Methven selections from ‘The Local’
‘The local’ is looking forward to Methven becoming the speed capital of New Zealand for one day, as the club hosts the trotters and pacers green miles highlighting a big day of really tough fields, where as with the last meeting here, big prices may well be the order of the day. So here is what he likes: Race 1 – Mid Canty pacer Taurus to beat enigmatic Megarock and debutant Better Tart, multiples Opawa Louie and Miss Behavin. Race 2 – Talented Shandon Belles to beat improving Mentalist and…
Burlington back on top
By Jonny Turner Burlington put a frustrating run behind him when speeding to victory at Addington on Friday night. Driver Stephen McNally took control of race 5, spearing the five-year-old to an early lead before his charge unleashed a fast last 800m to win. The sight of Burlington rolling along in the lead would have come as a welcome change for his group of owners. The Brent White trained five-year-old got a long way out of his ground in the Kaikoura Sales Series Aged Pace and was trapped three-wide for…
Sundees Son wins in national record time
By Michael Guerin John Dunn’s coy smile tells the real story. Because you get the feeling deep down inside he thinks his superstar trotter Sundees Son is ready to defend the title of New Zealand’s best trotter. He sure looked ready when he nonchalantly sat parked outside Majestic Man to win the Lyell Creek Stakes at Alexandra Park on Friday night in national record time for the 2200m mobile. It was remarkable stuff as Dunn seemed to be uber confident Sundees Son could sit outside a very good rival and…
All Stars stable beyond words after successful night
By Michael Guerin Punters may have been stunned by Beyond Words beating our best mare in the Rosslands Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park on Friday night but the All Stars weren’t. The unheralded mare headlined a wonderful night for the soon to be greatly-altered stable in which they won four races, including the Woodlands Stud Caduceus Club Classic with Bettor Twist and the Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup with Spankem. Neither of those wins were unexpected but they were both hard fought yet the win that shocked most was Beyond…
Laver’s game on point
By Jonny Turner Laver will be out to serve up yet another strong performance when he steps out in the feature pace at Addington on Saturday night. After winning on Kaikoura Cup Day, the Geoff and James Dunn trained pacer took his game to a new level with two placings at the New Zealand Carnival. The four-year-old continued his good momentum with a tough effort for second equal in last weekend’s Akaroa Cup and he looks set to go well again in race 6. “Has been flying since Kaikoura,” James…