By Jonny Turner After a powerful return to racing Tac Mac looks ready to strike at Ascot Park on Thursday. The Brent Shirley trained filly kicked her new campaign off in style when running second to Duke Of Dundee on Northern Southland Cup Day. The effort pleased Shirley and showed the real Tac Mac after her form tailed off at the end of her last campaign. “She has always had the ability but she had a lot of seasonal problems last time in,” Shirley said. “I took her up to…
Month: March 2021
Moonlight Maid set to answer Freedman questions
Moonlight Maid after winning the Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Ballarat trainer Mitchell Freedman had hoped to have a clear idea of potential goals after Moonlight Maid had a recent outing at Flemington. But the performance, when second-last in the Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m) on March 6, left plenty of questions which Freedman hopes will be answered in the Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Bendigo on Saturday. Moonlight Maid missed last year’s spring with what the trainer described as a “few niggling issues, nothing major” after…
Extra week no problem for Artorius
Luke Currie to ride Artorius in the Group 1 Golden Slipper. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Sam Freedman is unsure what the wait of an extra week will do to the chances of Artorius in the Group 1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. But one thing Freedman does know, is that he and his father Anthony, who co-trains Artorius, are not alone. Heavy rain in Sydney last week caused the postponement of the Golden Slipper to Saturday which Sam Freedman believes has not helped nor hindered the chances of Artorius. “It’s probably not…
Raised temperature forces O’President out of Slipper
Leading trainer Chris Waller’s hopes of claiming a first Golden Slipper success have been reduced with O’President being withdrawn with an elevated temperature. O’President, a winner of two starts this preparation leading into Saturday’s delayed Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill, was an +1000 chance with TAB at the time of his scratching. The two-year-old was found to have an elevated temperature following a routine inspection by the stable on Wednesday morning. In a statement, Waller said the stable had monitored O’President for two hours before making the decision to treat…
Pukekohe Treble for Tiley
Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley enjoyed a day out on his home track, saddling three winners on Wednesday headed by impressive juvenile Quicken Away (Vancouver), who defeated a strong field over 1200m to book his place in next month’s Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). The Ben Kwok-raced son of Vancouver had caught the eye when closing well for second earlier in March and closed well again to defeat talented galloper Aglianico (Rubick) and stablemate Cool Change (NZ) (Showcasing) under a perfect Samantha Collett ride. “He is a quality…
Home targets for Sword Of State
Te Akau principal David Ellis and trainer Jamie Richards have elected to remain in New Zealand with Group One-winning juvenile Sword Of State (Snitzel). New Zealand’s leading stable announced the colt will instead head to the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on April 3 where he will be ridden by Te Akau’s retained jockey, Opie Bosson. A Sydney mission was originally on the cards, however, that trip was ruled out due to a number of variables, including the recent inclement weather and track conditions, which…
Lion’s Roar on song for Guineas
Last start Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) victor Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer) will be out to add another Guineas to his name at Rosehill this weekend. The John O’Shea-trained gelding will step up to 2000m for the second time in his career in the postponed Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas, after finishing runner-up over the distance in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick last October. O’Shea is pleased with the son of Contributer ahead of the weekend and he is hoping for a series of fine days in the lead-up to the…
The Box Seat – March 24
Join hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin for the latest edition of The Box Seat – March 24
Addington Weekly – March 24
Welcome to the Addington Raceway News update for March 24 2021 with Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams, ahead of their bumper night on Friday.
Baker-Forsman unleash promising 3YO stayers
Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman landed an early double at Pukekohe on Wednesday, with promising three-year-olds Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange) and Granados (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) both scoring over 2100m and shaping as stayers of the future. Daqiansweet Junior took plenty of confidence from a maiden win at Matamata last week and took the step up to Rating 65 grade with ease, demolishing his rivals by seven and a half lengths under a cool Opie Bosson ride. Raced by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry group, who are…