Month: March 2021

Delay won’t dampen Golden Shine

Editor BOAY

Co-trainer Tom Dailly says the rain-enforced delay to the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg series (520m) at Wentworth Park has done absolutely no harm to superstar Shima Shine’s preparation for Saturday night’s rescheduled heats. If anything, Dailly believes the extra week’s break and re-draw may have boosted Shima Shine’s prospects of handing the prolific Anakie kennel a third Easter Egg title, after winning the race with Grigorieva Bale in 2013 and Fernando Bale in 2015. At $8.50 in TAB’s ‘All In’ market, Shima Shine sits on the second line of…

Destruction’s Launching Pad semi-final demolition

Editor BOAY

Destruction demolished his rivals in a devastating display in his Launching Pad semi-final at Sandown Park last night. Jumping from box 2, Destruction was pressured early but held his place on the rail through the first turn and from there was never headed, charging into the $210,000 final five lengths clear of Fernando Mick. His winning time of 29.39 was not only the fastest time he’s recorded at Sandown Park but the fastest of the four semi-finals. Destruction earned his place in Launching Pad series by winning a ticket via…

Strike-rate king continues reign

NZHarnessNews

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Ray Faithful kept his reign as strike-rate king at Ascot Park on Thursday when winning the Book Now For Diamonds Day Mobile Pace (2200m) with Suzie Rocks. The local horseman has kept an impressive strike-rate over 30 years as a trainer, and it is something he is pretty proud of. “We have always been a pretty good strike-rate stable, it is something we like to pride ourselves on,” Faithful said. “We don’t like to go unless we think they are ready. But getting up…

Big night at Addington and Alexandra Park for Josh Dickie

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Josh Dickie has a shot at a special 10 minutes tonight most young trainers could only dream of. But while he will have the best seat in the horse for the first leg of a special trotting double he might not even see the second leg. This is Dickie’s first season training is his own accord, even though father John is still around the stables to help out, and he has quickly established himself as one of the stars of harness racing’s future. So much so he…

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Editor BOAY

Glenn Rounds’ Aston Rupee looks a ‘dollar dazzler’ in a Launching Pad semi-final at Sandown Park tonight. He set tongues wagging on G1 Australian Cup night, clocking a flying 29.47sec win at The Meadows – only 2L off the 525m track record. Aston Rupee, who has won five races from nine starts, boasts a sizzling 29.25sec PB at Sandown. However, he had no luck when fourth in his Launching Pad heat last week. The Watchdog expects him to “make amends”, but to ‘lift off’ to stardom he’ll need to overcome…

Silver Lake out of the Launching Pad

Editor BOAY

Silver Lake is out of the Launching Pad after picking up an infection. Trainer Graham James made the decision to withdraw the son of Fernando Bale this morning after returning a high white blood cell count. “If we had 10 days he would have been right,” said trainer Graeme James. “But there’s no point in putting him in tomorrow if he’s not 100% – the welfare of the dog comes before any race or any money.” Silver Lake is regarded as one of the country’s most exciting prospects and was…

Thief boosts Thompson’s Egg hunt

Editor BOAY

The weather gods were smiling on Jason Thompson’s quest for an unprecedented third Golden Easter Egg title when last weekend’s heats were washed out by Sydney’s big wet and rescheduled for Saturday. Thompson, whose two Easter Egg victories came courtesy of Don’t Knocka Him in 2012 and Moreira in 2016, had only one original entrant for NSW’s most prestigious race in Aussie Secret, which was a race morning scratching before the meeting was postponed. But the one-week delay allowed Thompson to boost his hand. Significantly. He’ll now launch a three-pronged…

Mitchell Kerr found guilty at JCA hearing

NZHarnessNews

Former Canterbury horse trainer Mitchell Kerr has been found guilty of four charges at a Judicial Control Authority hearing in Christchurch. Kerr was not at the hearing which was held at Addington Raceway Kerr handed in his trainer’s license last year, citing mental health issues. He was subsequently charged by the authorities after an investigation. The hearing heard how Kerr had a gambling habit that involved him losing around a million dollars with an Australian betting agency. The tribunal concluded that Kerr was involved in a series of fraudulent activities…

‘BIT’ SPECIAL!

Editor BOAY

Matt Lanigan’s On The Bit – one of the first progeny of 2018/19 Victorian GOTY Orson Allen to race – has caught The Watchdog’s discerning eye at Ballarat tonight. They ‘jumped from trees’ to back him on debut at Ballarat last week and he duly saluted in a slick 25.01sec. On The Bit is owned by the ‘Correct Weight’ syndicate comprising a number of prominent jockeys. And if you’re not already on The Watchdog’s Daily Mail bandwagon – jump on! The form expert returned a healthy 67.5% profit yesterday, and…

Pearl Series early bird entries nearing close

NZRacingDesk

The early bird entries for the NZB Insurance Pearl Series are set to close on March 31. The lucrative series awards bonuses to nominated fillies and mares who win registered races during their two, three, and four-year-old seasons. Bonuses of almost $2.6 million and prizemoney of nearly $2.8 million are spread across 215 individual races throughout the country. NZB Insurance representative Jim Bruford said the scheme was developed to encourage breeders to retain their fillies to race and nominators have been reaping the rewards of late with a high percentage…