By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Hot And Treacherous will be looking to keep his undefeated recorded at Cambridge Raceway intact on Thursday when he lines-up in the Farrier Supplies Cambridge Gold Cup (Qual) Handicap Pace (2200m). The Brian and Gareth Hughes-trained gelding was victorious at the Waikato venue earlier this month, with all nine of his previous starts at Alexandra Park. The son of Captaintreacherous spent most of last year competing against the country’s top three-year-olds and his trainers said he appreciated the step-back in class in his recent…
Month: January 2021
Boss Announces Plans For Southern Stint
Glen Boss will base himself in Victoria for the start of their carnival to ensure he can ride Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet and star sprinter Bivouac when they kick off their autumn campaigns. The top jockey said he made the decision to head south to safeguard against any interstate travel restrictions that might be imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Boss usually rides in Sydney but has been in Queensland in the lead up to last Saturday’s Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast. “I’m going to…
Australia Stakes tips, best bets and odds comparison | Jan 22
What Australia Stakes Where Moonee Valley – 1 McPherson St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 When Friday, January 22, 2021 | 8pm AEST | Race 4 Prizemoney $200,000 Distance 1200m Status Group 2 Race Conditions Weight For Age 2020 Winner Scales of Justice – 58.5kg | Jockey: Dean Yendall | Trainer: Lindsey Smith Recommended Betting Top Horse Racing Bookies Group racing returns to Victoria when the Group 2 Australia Stakes is set to be run and won at Moonee Valley on Friday night. The featured event on The Valley’s eight race…
Quackerjack Ready To Rebound At Randwick
Quackerjack will be back on his favourite track when he contests the Carrington Stakes at Randwick. A rise to a more suitable distance has Quackerjack poised to rediscover his best form when he tackles the Listed Carrington Stakes at Randwick. The baldy-faced gelding turned in a creditable first-up performance when finishing just over 2-1/2 lengths behind subsequent Magic Millions Cup winner Eleven Eleven in the Christmas Classic on January 1. It was the first time the five-year-old had contested a 1200 metre race since his juvenile season and trainer Mark…
Richards Out To Continue Karaka Dominance
Te Akau Racing will bid to continue its indomitable run in the Karaka Million 2YO at Ellerslie with five runners, led by undefeated youngster On The Bubbles. Trainer Jamie Richards has nominated On The Bubbles as the stable’s leading chance to claim a fifth successive win in New Zealand’s rich two-year-old race. Te Akau has claimed the feature for the past four years with Melody Belle (2017), Avantage (2018), Probabeel (2019) and Cool Aza Beel 12 months ago. Two years ago, Probabeel overcame a wide gate to win and Richards…
Melody Belle pleases in Te Rapa hit-out
Dual Horse of the Year Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) and stablemate Te Akau Caliburn (Camelot) had an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Wednesday ahead of their feature targets at Trentham at the end of the month. Galloping at intervals, Melody Belle worked boldly over 1000m under jockey Opie Bosson, in preparation for the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), while Michael McNab put Te Akau Caliburn through his paces ahead of the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at the same meeting. Melody Belle finished runner-up in her 1200m trial at Matamata last…
Super result for proud breeder
A promise made by Janet Hepi to one day send a mare to Hallmark Stud has resulted in Super Strike (NZ) (Super Easy), the winner of the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. “Dad had a farm right opposite Hallmark, and quite often I would wander over to see the horses,” said Hepi, the daughter of prominent Auckland businessman and breeder Lou Fisher. “Denny (Baker, Hallmark Stud) always knew how much I loved horses, and he would always say why don’t you send me a mare to one…
Classic targets for Marsh duo
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is looking forward to tackling some Classic targets with a pair of promising three-year-olds. Last start Listed 3YO Salver (2100m) winner Milford (NZ) (Savabeel) has returned to Marsh’s barn after a light freshen-up and is being set for a tilt at the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 6. Marsh has been pleased with the way he has returned and is eyeing the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) as his lead-in race for the big dance. “He has been great and he is…
Australian campaign on horizon for Concert Hall
Three of Australia’s feature middle distance races are on the cards for classy Cambridge mare Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel) this autumn. The six-year-old mare has been nominated for the Gr.1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 6, and she also has the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on March 20 and the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) on March 27 on her radar. Roger James, who trains Concert Hall with Robert Wellwood, knows what it takes to win the latter pair, having won the Ranvet and Tancred in 2014 with his…
Te Akau vying for five-peat
Two years ago Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) overcame her outside barrier to win the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and trainer Jamie Richards is hoping another of his runners can replicate that performance in the Doubletree By Hilton sponsored race on Saturday. Richards highlighted On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) as the leading chance of Te Akau’s quintet in the race prior to the barrier draw and he is still standing by that call after drawing the outside barrier with the undefeated gelding on Wednesday. “We have won it from out there before,…