The connections of star three-year-old Krug have accepted an invite for the $250,000 Group Rising Sun in Queensland. The race is the richest in the Southern Hemisphere for three and four-year-old pacers. New Zealand Derby winner Krug, who’s had 13 wins in just 20 starts for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, is just one of four invites to the first ever running of the Group One feature at Albion Park on July 10. “All the three-year-olds in Australia and New Zealand, to get down to the last couple and get…
Month: April 2021
IRT Harness Jewels Promo
The IRT Harness Jewels silks are now being worn by all of the nine category leaders! Will these nine leaders take home the crowns on the 6th June?
Landmark ruling in Tasmanian Cup inquiry
By Adam Hamilton Almost six weeks after winning Tasmania’s biggest race Bullys Delight has been stripped of victory. A subsequent inquiry, headed by one of racing’s most experienced and respected stewards Ray Murrihy, not only took the $75,000 Group 2 Tasmanian Cup final off Bullys Delight, but relegated him from first to last place. It all stemmed from driver Rhys Nicholson’s excessive and improper whip use along with him continually dropping his right foot from the sulky rest to kick the hock – known as “hocking” – Bullys Delight in…
Queensland campaign in the offing for exciting three-year-olds
Andrew Forsman has only just returned to New Zealand after overseeing the final preparations of his team competing in The Championships in Sydney, but he is hoping it won’t be too long until he is back across the Tasman. Forsman and training partner Murray Baker will have a strong contingent at Ellerslie on Saturday, including a couple of three-year-olds they have earmarked for Classic targets in Queensland over the coming months. While a trip to the sunshine state is in the offing for Joy Alone and Daqiansweet Junior, Forsman said…
Cup hero Kimetto’s untimely passing
In a tragic lead-up to Friday night’s Geelong Gold Cup final, Aston Kimetto, brilliant winner of the race in 2018, has passed away. Trained by Jason and Seona Thompson and raced by prolific owner/breeder Ray Borda, Aston Kimetto, a regally bred son of US sire KC And All and champion stayer Sweet It Is, only raced 23 times for 11 wins. Aston Kimetto’s career was cut short by injury but he was a three-time Group winner, with Borda affording him the ultimate accolade. “Ability-wise he’s the fastest dog I’ve had,”…
Elliot prepared for another Beauden blitz
The ease of Beauden’s last-start win in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) even surprised his biggest fan, jockey Ryan Elliot. Not because Elliot didn’t think the six-year-old Bullbars gelding was capable of producing such a compelling performance but because he did it on a track wetter than he prefers. Elliot heads to Riccarton on Saturday to ride Beauden in the Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) and with conditions set to remain in the dead range, the Hamilton jockey doesn’t expect to be caught off-guard again. “I didn’t think…
Henderson hoping to pop some bubbles at Ellerslie
Carl Henderson is full of excitement heading into the Listed Staphanos By Deep Impact Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Te Awamutu trainer will line-up Atullibigeal (Street Boss), who has been installed a $2.50 favourite by TAB bookmakers after his last start victory at Ellerslie. The son of Street Boss led from pillar to post over the 1300m journey, reinforcing Henderson’s high opinion of the gelding. He had two prior unplaced starts, including running seventh on debut in the Gr.3 Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m) at Matamata in February.…
Per Incanto service headlines Hall of Fame auction items
The value of a highlight auction item at the upcoming New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame induction evening has increased after a timely win at Hastings last weekend. Sporting the colours of Little Avondale Stud, Roch ’N’ Horse became the 19th individual stakes winner for her sire Per Incanto when successful in the Listed Power Turf Sprint (1200m). Little Avondale Stud have kindly donated a service to their popular stallion Per Incanto to be auctioned at the gala event, to be held at SkyCity Hamilton on Sunday May 2. Roch…
Breeding book brings big reward
Hardy stayer Big Mike, the winner of the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) last Saturday, has taken his breeders Sally and Geoffrey Fausett on a ride of a lifetime. The retired couple race the gallant gelding with members of the extended Phelan family, and were thrilled when he recorded his 12th win in the Hawke’s Bay Cup. “It’s been a thrill of a lifetime for us,” Sally Fausett said. “Horse racing is a wonderful thing and you never know what’s going to happen.” When the Fausetts retired from their successful…
Alexandra Park debut awaits Five Wise Men
By Michael Guerin New Zealand’s most exciting young trotter is relying on a friend in high places to help him overcome the Alexandra Park hoodoo that affects so many first-time visitors. Five Wise Men makes his Alexandra Park debut in $62,500 Lone Star Sires’ Stakes Trot tomorrow night and after five straight wins including the NZ Trotting Derby he is on-odds to win again. But Alexandra Park, the only right-handed major harness venue in Australasia, can present a tough challenge for newcomers, especially young trotters who are often still working…