Former champion jockey Bob Vance got to experience the thrill of winning a Group One race from the other side of the fence on Saturday and he loved every minute of it. Vance was one of the world’s leading riders in his heyday, winning four New Zealand Derbys, two Auckland Cups and the 1993 Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) aboard The Phantom Chance (NZ) (Noble Bijou). Finishing his career in the saddle in the late 1990’s with 583 winners in New Zealand and countless more from riding stints in Australia, Macau…
Month: February 2021
Les Crayeres provides pick me up for Kelso
Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso left Te Rapa racecourse on Saturday evening with mixed emotions after contrasting performances from their two runners on the day. Two hours after quality mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir) had shocked pundits with a tardy beginning that cost her all chance in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), exciting prospect Les Crayeres (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) turned frowns upside down with a stunning victory in the last race of the day. Royally bred four-year-old Les Crayeres had been set for the $30,000 special conditions maiden race that…
Richards experiences racings highs and lows
On a day that promised much, Te Akau Racing trainer Jamie Richards was left wondering what might have been when racing concluded on Saturday evening. The Te Akau stable had been firing on all cylinders midway through the action at Te Rapa with successive feature races wins with Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), followed immediately by Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m). With Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) expected to break the 13 career Group One wins record of…
Yearling sales coverage
As anticipation builds for NZB Standardbred’s 2021 National Yearling Sale, viewers from around the globe can look forward to an enhanced sale broadcast over the duration of the five day event. The new format will provide enriched content for standardbred enthusiasts, with a number of key sponsors jumping on board to support the 2021 Auckland and Christchurch selling sessions. Diamond Racing, Woodlands Stud and Southern Bred Southern Reared will support the coverage of the NZB Standardbred yearling sale sessions, bringing in all the action from the sale rings at Karaka…
Selections | Methven – 14 February
Selections for today’s Hororata Trotting Club meeting at Methven Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race JONNY TURNER Form Analyst Race 112.29pm 8 Jakarta13 Shiffty 4 He’s A Cassanova15 Majestic Whisper Race 212.54pm 4 High Flying Harry11 Hope For Love12 Shes Watching14 Cristiano Buccini Race 31.19pm 12 Seapris15 Mark O’Ronga 7 Billie Vista 2 Charnui Race 41.44pm 4 Lydia12 Wee Ring The Changes 11 Lilac Change5 Donegal Carrickfin Race 52.09pm 1 Sally Lindenny4 Cabella Noir 12 Show Me The Gray6 Ali Lindenny Race 62.34pm 3 Braeview Kelly2 Dont Lie To Me 1 Simply Delicious 7 Bettor Talk Art Race…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 14 February 2021
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER
2021 Apollo Stakes Winner Colette Beats Kolding, Verry Elleegant Third
Trainer Chris Waller was denied his sixth success in the Group 2 $250,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m) instead having to settle for second and third as Godolphin’s returning Golden Eagle winner Colette ran away with the race first-up. Golden Eagle winning mare Colette returned with an upset win in the 2021 Apollo Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart. Winner of the ATC Oaks last autumn and the $7.5 million The Golden Eagle last time out in the spring, the James Cummings-trained Hallowed Crown mare was forgotten by the punters fresh as a $12…
Black Caviar Lightning 2021 Winner: Nature Strip is Back!
Australian Horse of the Year Nature Strip atoned for his spring of near misses with an outstanding first-up performance to defeat the fellow Chris Waller-trained September Run in Saturday’s Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m). Nature Strip (pictured winning the TJ Smith Stakes in Sydney) returned to winning form first-up in the 2021 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Photo: Steve Hart. Not having saluted since Sydney’s Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) last autumn, Nicconi six-year-old Nature Strip showed just how good he was fresh at Flemington in the…
Every Rose Blossoms To Win Light Fingers
A pre-race plan to let Every Rose utilise her natural speed has come to fruition with the filly toppling her more highly-fancied rivals in the Light Fingers Stakes. Trainer Mark Newnham had been thrilled with the three-year-old leading into Saturday’s Group Two feature, although a soft track and outside draw dented his confidence. But Newnham and jockey Josh Parr stuck to their original race plan and Every Rose ($21) led throughout to beat the fast-finishing Never Talk ($16) with Away Game ($2.60 fav) third. “Her best runs have been when…
Godolphin Aim High With Emerging Colette
Rachel King has combined with Godolphin’s James Cummings to win the Apollo Stakes on Colette. The $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes is the jewel in the crown of The Championships races and the likely target for Colette after her stunning return at Randwick. The mare had never won below 1500 metres, nor first up, but neither statistic mattered as she relished the soft ground to sweep to victory in Saturday’s Group Two Apollo Stakes (1400m). Trainer James Cummings nominated the Queen Elizabeth and Sydney Cup as potential targets for the…