If Levante (NZ) (Proisir) is going to become a Group One winner, she’s going to have to wait until she’s a five-year-old. The exciting four-year-old mare ended a good yet somewhat frustrating 2020-21 season when she finished fourth last Saturday in the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. Ken Kelso, who trains Levante at Matamata with his wife Bev, said no plans had been made about what her potential targets would be next season. “She’s spelling now,” he said. “We haven’t at this stage…
Month: April 2021
Tiggerlong Tonk buries Group 1 hoodoo
Victorian star Tiggerlong Tonk finally broke his Group 1 hoodoo with a thrilling last-gasp victory in the Sky Racing Perth Cup Final (520m) at Cannington on Saturday night. It was Tiggerlong Tonk’s tenth appearance in a G1 event but the wait was worth it for an emotional Correy Grenfell, with the 27-year-old Anakie trainer winning the Perth Cup for the second time in three years. Grenfell’s 2018/19 Australian Greyhound of the Year Orson Allen also opened his G1 account when winning the 2019 Perth Cup. “We’re relieved,” said Grenfell, moments…
JARICK’S WINNING ‘VOW’?
They’re saving the best for last at Sandown Park today. The clash between top prospects Jarick Bale and Wedding Or Baby in Race 12 will be a cracker! The Watchdog rates Jarick Bale a “star in the making”. He’s won five of his past eight starts. “Three starts back he announced his arrival on the big stage when he ‘blew up the clock’ in a blinding 29.09sec at Sale,” he said. However, the expert form analyst also has a high opinion of “likely pacesetter and obvious danger” Wedding Or Baby.…
First sell out at Harness Jewels
Cambridge Raceway has had its first sell out for the up-coming Harness Jewels, and other packages are set to follow. With less than seven weeks to go before the big day, the G.H. Mumm marquee has been sold out, that’s 350 tickets at around $300 a pop. “That is our premium offering,” says David Branch, Cambridge Raceway Chief Executive, “we expected it to be popular but tickets have just flown out the door.” “Its great because the pressure has gone to sell tickets and our focus can now move to…
Big miles turns plodder around
Jess Murphy has an unorthodox approach – but it seems to be working. She reckons she’s helped turn a “plodder” into a “winner”. The plodder she talks of is Mach O’Melley, a 7 year old by Mach Three out of Perfect Passion, that’s trained by her father, Eddie Murphy at Waikouaiti, near Dunedin. “He’s a huge horse, about 17 hands but with a nice nature – a gentle giant.” On the racetrack Mach had plateaued so in an attempt to “wake him up” Murphy started riding him. “He had just…
Copy That back to his sizzling best
By Michael Guerin It has taken less than a minute for Copy That to allay any fears about his fitness heading into the $95,000 Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park’s star-studded meeting this Friday. Copy That is in the conversation with Self Assured and Amazing Dream for the title of New Zealand’s best pacer but he looked anything but at the Pukekohe workouts 10 days ago when he was beaten by a three-year-old filly in a two-horse trial. That convinced trainer Ray Green his stable star needed a proper hit out…
Caulfield tune-up for Tagaloa
Tagaloa to head to Sydney for the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes. A gallop between races at Caulfield should have Tagaloa in top shape for his shot at the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes at Randwick. The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained three-year-old is Sydney bound on Saturday for the weight-for-age contest over 1400m, his first outing since finishing third in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington at the end of February. Under race jockey Luke Currie, Tagaloa sat off stablemate Savvy Lad, eventually winning the gallop by a length.…
Ryan thinking north after Caulfield double
Mahamedeis wins the VOBIS Gold Heath at Caulfield. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Nick Ryan has grander plans in store for his two Caulfield winners with plans of tackling Group 1 races in Brisbane during the upcoming Winter Carnival. Prior to Easter, Ryan made the move from Caulfield to Flemington and Saturday’s double with Mahamedeis and Dice Roll were his first winners from his new training base. Mahamedeis, a stable stalwart, took his prize money past the $1 million mark with his win in the VOBIS Gold Heath (2000m) while Dice Roll,…
From backyard pet to straight track star
Wangaratta’s Ian Beattie rode trackwork for 16 years before quitting the thoroughbred industry to pursue other interests. He’s now training greyhounds – and couldn’t be happier! After meeting up with greyhound trainers Jason Whybrow and Nicole Lummas – who he can’t thank enough – Beattie has the very first greyhound he has trained – Blackpool Astro – in the Greyhound Clubs Victoria final (350m) – Race 6, 12.19pm – at Healesville on Sunday. Blackpool Astro has won his past four starts – including his past three under Beattie’s guidance, after returning…
Addington Owners Night – 14 May
Addington Raceway (NZMTC) is very excited to announce it will hold an Owners’ Night for ALL current (regardless of whether their horse is racing that night) AND potential owners on the 5 Star Premier Race night on Friday 14 May 2021. It is already a huge race night which includes the 2YO colts and geldings NZB Standardbred Harness Million and the Nevele R Fillies Final. The event, held in the Christian Cullen Lounge on level 1 of the Metropolitan Stand, will include plenty of activities, prize draws, meal specials, a…