The all-conquering Te Akau team is sticking to a proven Group One formula with rising star three-year-old Brando. The striking son of Savabeel scored a dominant victory in Saturday’s Listed Shaw’s Wire Ropes Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie, which will be used as a springboard into the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on January 16. In the two years prior to its elevation to Listed status in 2018, Te Akau won this Boxing Day three-year-old event with Hall of Fame and Age of Fire, who each won the…
Year: 2020
Promising mares feature prominently at Ellerslie
Progressive mare Vamos Bebe took the step up to stakes company with relative ease when she strode clear in the final stages of Saturday’s Listed Hallmark Stud Sprint (1200m) at Ellerslie for a comprehensive victory. Trainer Jamie Richards backed his opinion of the I Am Invincible four-year-old, who was rated a clear six points lower than any of her eight rivals and was rewarded with performance that showed she is well up to top company over the sprint trips. Rider Danielle Johnson had her charge well positioned in the trail…
Ayrton motors his way towards a big future
Mick Price will delay a decision on whether exciting three-year-old Ayrton will head to the Australian Guineas after his breathtaking win at Caulfield. Price branded Ayrton “a Group horse” as he emulated his debut performance at Bendigo by sprinting away from his opposition to win Saturday’s Ken Sturt Handicap by 4-1/4 lengths. He scored in a time of 1:27.96 for 1400 metres, 0.75 seconds outside the course record. His jockey Jamie Kah said he was a raw talent and would be amazing once he got to 2000 metres plus. Price,…
Northern raider dominates in Hazlett Stakes
Matamata mare Sheezallmine gave her southern rivals a galloping lesson when she strode away in the home straight to take out the Listed Alleviate Administration Hazlett Stakes (1200m) at Wingatui. The Daniel Miller-trained five-year-old had -trekked south off the back of a handy performance for sixth behind Levante in the Listed Haunui Bowl (1100m) at Pukekohe last month. Miller hasn’t been afraid to travel his charge, giving her an extended campaign in Christchurch last season where she picked up her first stakes victory when successful in the Gr.3 Stewards Stakes…
West Coast test for Belmont Major
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk A refreshed Belmont Major will head to Patterson Park on Saturday to contest the Pulse Energy Westport Cup (3200m). The Tom Bagrie-trained gelding was given a freshen-up after his two runs over New Zealand Cup week last month and is now primed for a West Coast campaign. Bagrie was pleased with Belmont Major’s efforts at Addington Raceway last month, where he finished runner-up on Cup Day before posting an unplaced result on Show Day. “I thought he went really well,” Bagrie said. “On the…
Selections Westport 26 Dec
Selections for Westport today. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race MATT CROSSCommentator Race 111.35pm 12 Tas Girl Bromac13 Caballe Beach10 Full Of Desire5 Dancemyster Race 212.05pm 2 Love To Dance10 Manzini3 Dalness First6 Drink The Wind Race 312.35pm 10 Tedesco5 Bella Button12 Mentalist11 Far More Zealous Race 41.10pm 1 Jacinda Eyre10 Starvin Marvin5 It’s A Laugh4 Hello Adele Race 51.45pm 2 Morries Girl1 Wickenheiser10 Flo Motion9 Le Pole Dancer Race 62.20pm 6 Unico Gem12 Tombelina8 Terrier4 The Diva Race 72.55pm 9 Better Believe It5 Kingsdown Atom4 Krystal Delight13 Peter Forsberg…
Big Fish Little Fish – Westport 26 December
Rain a hinderance for Bergerson
Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson was looking forward to lining up Beefeater in the Manawatu Standard Sumer Cup (1550m) at his home meeting on Boxing Day, but he is now looking at other options following inclement weather in Palmerston North. The Group Three winner has been in good form this preparation, finishing runner-up in his first two starts before an unplaced run in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), and then a last start victory at Awapuni a fortnight ago. “I don’t think I can get him any better, but the…
In-form galloper set to strike at Ellerslie
Pukekohe trainer Richard Collett had initially planned to head straight to the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day with talented gelding Super Strike, but he has elected to head to the Auckland track a little sooner with his charge. Super Strike will contest the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final (1500m) on Boxing Day after Collett was hesitant whether the four-year-old would gain a start in his initial Group Two target. “We were going to go straight to the Rich Hill Mile with this horse instead…
Oaks candidates on show at Wingatui
Trainer Robert Dennis is hoping to get the green light for his future plans around promising three-year-old fillies The Gift and Ocean Point when the pair step out at Wingatui on Boxing Day. Dennis has the stablemates nominated for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in March and is keen to see them measure up on Saturday if they are to continue on an Oaks path. Power filly The Gift goes in to her 1200m contest off the back of a 10 day freshen-up following her…