In this week’s update of the Harness Jewels leaderboard, there have been five notable withdrawals – in the 4YO Diamond, the 3YO and 4YO Emerald, and the 3YO and 4YO Ruby. The top 12 horses in each of the nine categories will make the final fields for the Jewels at Cambridge on June 6, with each Group One worth $100,000. In the 4YO Diamond the previously fifth-ranked Longview Lady has been withdrawn as she’s in foal with Le Pole Dancer going into the top 12, she’s at 11 after winning…
Month: April 2021
Two Illicit makes pleasing return
Roger James couldn’t have been happier with the return to racing of high-quality mare Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) at Te Rapa last Saturday. The issue now is to see if there are any autumn targets for her to chase. One of the best three-year-olds last season, Two Illicit won on her return to racing as a four-year-old before finishing just behind the placings in both the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2000m). However, injury kept her off the track throughout summer, and her effort…
Schofer riding the crest of a wave
Hazel Schofer is riding the crest of a wave at the moment and she is hoping that will continue. The Taranaki apprentice jockey scored her 50th win of the season, and second at stakes level, when piloting Big Mike (NZ) (Don Eduardo) to victory in the Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Hastings on Saturday. “It was an exciting race to ride, I don’t go to the front very often, but it’s nice when it pays off,” Schofer said. “It’s always a bit easier when you are on a front-running…
Ritani scores brave win
Trainers Kerry and Ian Taplin had their hearts in their mouths when their mare Ritani (NZ) (Makfi) looked like she would be headed in the Ascot Sports Bar Handicap (1600m) at Ascot Park on Sunday, but they needn’t have worried. The six-year-old mare called on all her reserves to fight back and gain a half-neck victory over Picture Me Rollin (NZ) (Highly Recommended), with a further half-length back to Rosie Glow (NZ) (Shocking) in third. It was her fourth win from 10 starts for the Taplins who said she was…
Bombers and Equalizer to ‘fly up, up’?
Essendon won’t be the only ones ‘striving for glory and fame’ tonight. But will Brisbane be ‘tamed’ by today’s AFL/Greys offer from TAB? The betting giant anticipates Bombers’ supporters will ‘blitz’ a $5.00 quote for Essendon to lose by 24pts or less (or even win) against the Lions and two-time G1 finalist Equalizer notching his fifth win from nine starts over 525m at The Meadows. The Bombers – who went down to the Sydney Swans by 3pts last week – are 12th on the AFL ladder with one win from…
ASTON FASTNET V GOTHAM DUKE
Electrifying youngster Aston Fastnet takes on seasoned star Gotham Duke in today’s ‘Must-Watch’ race, to be run over 525m at The Meadows. Just 24 months old, the Jason Thompson-trained Aston Fastnet has won four from nine including scintillating victories at Sandown Park (29.11sec Best) and Ballarat (24.78sec Best). Tonight is his first start at The Meadows, and The Watchdog has marked him as one of his best bets on the card. “Aston Fastnet is one of the hottest prospects on the planet, and I think all greyhound fans cannot wait…
Cullen pair dominate in Classic
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Multiple Group One winner Self Assured ended his season on a high with a hard fought victory in the Group Three Rangiora Classic (2600m) on Sunday. The Hayden Cullen-trained five-year-old found an early position in the one-one behind stablemate Spankem, before the pair pushed forward and driver Jonny Cox secured the lead with 1800m to go. Self Assured was left untouched up front until driver Tim Williams extricated Spankem out of the trail to apply pressure on his stablemate turning for home. Spankem steadily…
Babylon Berlin searching for stakes victory
Consistent filly Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) will be looking for her first stakes victory at Te Rapa on Saturday-week when she contests the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). The daughter of All Too Hard has been stakes-placed on three occasions this season, including the Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings last September, Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie in January, and the Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1300m) at the Auckland track last month. She has failed to finish on the podium in just one of her…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 19 April 2021
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