Racing in NSW has received a shot in the arm with the announcement of a $20 million prize money injection and the addition of a new race type to Sydney Saturday programs. The annual boost in stakes, unveiled by Racing NSW on Wednesday, will be spread across country and metropolitan racing. It includes the creation of $100,000 Midway Races, which will be open to horses trained out of small to mid-sized city and metropolitan stables. The Midway Races will be added to Saturday metropolitan programs from July 1 with eligibility…
Month: February 2021
Bluey, Shelby share Australian Cup favourtism
The all-important box draw for Saturday night’s $429,000 Group 1 Australian Cup was broadcast live on 7Two’s Thrill of the Chase this morning, with connections of the eight contenders on track at The Meadows for the occasion. Interestingly, the three most accomplished group performers in the final – Tommy Shelby, Tiggerlong Tonk and Christo Bale – all draw awkwardly in boxes 4, 7 & 8 respectively, throwing the race wide open. Moments following the box draw TAB’s Trent Langskaill announced Tommy Shelby and Fernando Bluey as the equal favourites at…
THE ‘AVENGER’
The Watchdog was ‘back in the black’ with a 30% profit for punters yesterday. And the form expert now settles on a young ‘Avenger’ to prove a ‘marvel’ in a $10,000-to-the-winner final at Sale. But who are the arch rivals out to stop this potential ‘superhero’? You’ll only find out by clicking on today’s ‘Daily Mail’.
McDonald upbeat ahead of Chipping Norton
Leading Sydney jockey James McDonald is looking forward to continuing his association with multiple Group One winner Verry Elleegant in the Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday. The gun hoop missed her Victorian spring Group One double in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) and Caulfield Cup (2400m) but was reunited with the New Zealand-bred mare in the Gr.2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick 10 days ago. They finished third behind Saturday race rivals Colette and Kolding, and McDonald was pleased with her first-up effort. “She was fantastic,” McDonald…
Begg follows proven path with Butter Chicken
Trainer Grahame Begg is excited by the prospects of promising three-year-old filly Butter Chicken (NZ) (Savabeel), who caught the eye when runner-up in last Saturday’s Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) behind Parure (Fastnet Rock). The daughter of Savabeel will now step up in distance as she heads to the Gr.2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley on March 13. “We are going to aim her at the Alister Clark Stakes before considering taking her up to Sydney,” Begg told Racing.com. “It is three weeks between races and we know it…
Wexford eyeing Sydney with Force Of Will
A Sydney autumn raid could still be on the cards for exciting three-year-old filly Force Of Will (NZ) (Power). The daughter of Power was scratched from the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) earlier this month after trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott weren’t happy with the routine bloods taken from her a couple of days prior. They have been happy with the way she has bounced back and a trip across the Tasman to contest the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 27 is now being favoured over…
Oaks path for Amarelinha
Rising star Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) will not be a late entrant for the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m). Te Akau principal David Ellis has confirmed the three-year-old filly will be aimed at the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 20, with the Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie on March 6 as her final lead-up. TAB bookmakers reacted by shortening the daughter of Savabeel into a $1.70 favourite for the Oaks, as connections of colts and geldings let out a…
Selections | Invercargill – 24 Feb
Selections for Invercargill today (Wednesday) Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! RaceTime JONNY TURNERRacing Journalist Race 13.29pm 3 Sunday Invasion1 Tease My Tartan4 Bill5 Whangamata Race 23.54pm 4 Sportscam1 The Naenae Express6 Noosa Beach10 Marie Long Race 34.32pm 9 Magnetic Terror6 Belle’s Boy7 Arlo Maguire5 Capitano Race 44.57pm 1 Bettors Highlight7 Holy Havoc4 Jaffie J3 Von Art Race 55.28pm 3 Dream Of Glory7 Fireball11 Omaggio 10 Boarding Call Race 65.58pm 6 Galleons Future9 Insist The Win13 T Bone Rawhide7 Steve Race 76.29pm 9 Melton Mafia1 Better Galleon10 Johnny Mac3 Jody Direen
Llanacord seeking ultimate Oaks tribute
Stephen Nickalls hopes to get exciting three-year-old filly Llanacord (NZ) (Contributer) to the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) next month as a tribute to her former trainer Glynn Brick. The daughter of Contributer broke her maiden in style in a 2000m contest at Whanganui last week, clearing out by eight lengths and highlighting her stamina. The filly is owned by Nickalls, who trains at Rangiotu, near Foxton, along with his mother and stepfather, Dianne and Kevin Hopson. The latter bought him for $15,000 at Book 2…
Wilson eyeing up season PB
By Michael Guerin Robert Wilson could take a step closer to a personal best season at today’s Invercargill meeting. The Balfour trainer has three of his six racehorses in training engaged at the short and sharp seven-race meeting and all three appear to have at least each way chances. And if any of Tease My Tartan (race one), Galleons Future (race six) or Better Galleon (race seven) were to win it would take Wilson to 10 winners for the season, edging closer to his PB of 13. He recorded that…