Andrew Bensley speaks with premiership-leading jockey Danielle Johnson, who brought up her 1000th career win in New Zealand when piloting Feelin’ Fancy to win the Apparelmaster Waikato 1400 at Te Aroha, a day on which she rode four winners to take her NZ tally to 1003.
Month: February 2021
Vale Sam Brosnan
Former studmaster and trainer Sam Brosnan has passed away aged 99. Brosnan, father of successful trainers Mark, Peter and Maryann Brosnan, trained a host of winners from their former Oaklands Stud base. Brosnan stood a number of successful stallions including Palm Beach, Belmura, St Puckle and Neanderthal, the latter sire of 13-time winner Our Countess, placed in both the New Zealand and Wellington Cups and dam of Great Northern Hurdle winner Star Count. Our Countess was also the grand dam of 2011 Great Northern Hurdle winner Southern Countess who was…
Lou’s Lounge: Greyhound racing a family sport
Anyone not convinced that greyhound racing is a family sport need look no further than the Pearcedale property of leading trainer Andrew Paraskevas and partner Jess Litchfield. Speaking to her mum, GRV’s Louise Martin in the first ever edition on ‘Lou’s Lounge’ aired last Sunday on 7Two’s Thrill of the Chase, mother-of-three Jess revealed how her daughters India and Pippa play a huge role in looking after their greyhound pups right from the outset. “The girls would help me feed the pups every two hours,” Jess recalled about a litter…
‘ULRICKEN’ NOT STRICKEN!
The Watchdog was impressed by the “brilliant effort last week” of a second placegetter at Horsham, who “will be even better for the run”. But the form expert warns the obvious danger to the “likely leader” is all ‘Quality’, while it could be all champagne and ‘Caviar’ for another looming threat. You can digest his ‘food for thought’ by clicking on to today’s ‘Daily Mail’.
Golden Sixty chases third Group One
Golden Sixty is primed to reproduce his best as he bids for a 13th consecutive victory and third Group One win on Sunday. He will return to 2000m for the first time since the 2020 Hong Kong Derby in the Gr.1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin this weekend. Dismissing suggestions of building pressure, jockey Vincent Ho retains a measured confidence Golden Sixty can again perform at elite level. “He’s feeling well and we’re confident,” Ho said. Questioned about the star miler’s rise to 2000m for the first…
Like father, like daughter – Johnson joins the 1000 club
Former jockey Peter Johnson may have ridden 1370 winners in New Zealand, but it was at Te Aroha on Wednesday that he experienced one of his proudest moments in racing. His daughter, premiership-leading jockey Danielle Johnson, brought up her 1000th win in the saddle when piloting home Feelin’ Fancy to win the Apparelmaster Waikato 1400 for trainer Jamie Richards. While unable to be on course to celebrate the victory with his daughter, he was able to watch her reach the milestone remotely at his South Auckland property. “I was out…
Aegon to cope with rainy Rosehill
Undefeated Kiwi three-year-old Aegon will make his Australian debut on Saturday when he contests the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained son of Sacred Falls has impressed in his four career victories which include the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). Installed a $3.90 favourite for his fresh-up assignment, Forsman believes Aegon will cope with the likely rain-affected conditions on Saturday, with the Rosehill track rated a Heavy8 on Wednesday. “He has handled a Slow7 when he won…
Carston trio Southland bound
Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston will launch a three-pronged attack at the Listed ILF Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1600m) at Ascot Park on Saturday. It’s the final leg of the southern Guineas triple crown series, and the race has opened up with the absence of Showemhowitsdone (NZ) (Showcasing), the winner of the first two legs – the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m). Carston’s southern charge will be led by Sebring filly Gone With The Wind (NZ), who flew home late to finish third in the Dunedin…
Milford’s Derby credentials face Guineas test
The closer the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) gets, the more excited Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is about the chances of Milford (NZ) (Savabeel). The promising colt broke his maiden in black-type company last start, producing a strong staying effort to win the Listed Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie on January 10. Marsh said Milford has thrived since that race and he’s looking forward to seeing how he shapes up in the Gr.2 AJC Avondale Guineas (2100m) this Saturday. “He’s had a little break, and we took him for an…
A tried and true Tiger who just loves the dogs
Richmond premiership hero and GRV Board Member Emmett Dunne was special guest on 7Two’s Thrill of the Chase on Sunday. Emmett spoke about how proud he is that the greyhound racing community has adapted its practices in a way which has allowed it to continue racing during the current pandemic, and he was also asked if there were obvious parallels between AFL and greyhound racing. “Certainly…it (greyhound racing) is a competition and it’s a sport.” “Last year’s Melbourne Cup and watching it on TV, (Hard Style Rico’s trainer) Luckie (Karabitsakos)…