Matamata visitor Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto) put a disappointing last start performance behind her when she produced a powerful closing burst to take out the Listed Power Turf Sprint (1200m) at Hastings. It was the first stakes victory for the Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained four-year-old after she went within a nose of achieving that goal two starts ago when narrowly defeated in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham. In between times she had finished well back on an unsuitable Slow9 surface over 1400m at Awapuni but…
Month: April 2021
Emotional win for Big Mike in Hawke’s Bay Cup
There was definitely a catch in the voice of co-trainer Shaun Phelan as he described just what the victory of stable favourite Big Mike (NZ) (Don Eduardo) means to his family after he led all-the-way to win the Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Hastings. The eight-year-old son of Don Eduardo has been a flag bearer for Phelan and his father Craig’s boutique training operation, having now won 12 of his 45 starts and more than $500,000 in prizemoney. Included in that tally is a victory in the…
Avantage makes it nine Group One wins with Te Rapa triumph
Despite being delayed a week, the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) lived up to its billing as one of the races of the season, as plucky mare Avantage (Fastnet Rock) made it Group One win number nine with a thrilling victory. The Jamie Richards-trained five-year-old started a red-hot favourite in the contest that was raced at Te Rapa on Saturday after the Te Aroha meeting last week was abandoned after race three due to a slippery track. Facing a small but quality line-up of mares on…
Wigg scores second trifecta at Alexandra Park
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk It’s hard enough for a small stable to get a trifecta, let alone two in the space of a month, but that’s exactly what Sheryl Wigg has achieved. The Kumeu horsewoman trained a trifecta just over a month ago at Alexandra Park and repeated the feat at the Auckland track on Friday when steering Frankie Jones to a comfortable seven length victory in the Autumn Trotting Carnival Fri 23 & 30 April Mobile Pace (2700m). Wigg urged the six-year-old gelding forward off the gate…
European interest leads to promising trotter
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk A keen interest in European trotting has led Canterbury trainer Michael Purdon to one of the most exciting juvenile trotters in the country. Purdon spent a year working for Yabby Dam Farm trainer Anton Golino in Victoria and he said listening to the well-travelled horseman’s tales instigated his interest in European racing. He began to follow racing in the region, particularly France, and when scouring a standardbred.gavelhouse.com catalogue his eye was taken by the pedigree of Mystic Max, a colt by French stallion Village…
Duke Of Cornwall hard to catch
By Jonny Turner Duke Of Cornwall’s blazing gate speed is set to put him where he needs to be at Saturday’s Wairio Mile Day. The Lauren Pearson trained two-year-old comes into his Winton assignment after beginning his career with a creditable fourth placing in last month’s Kindergarten Stakes. After flying the gate and then trailing the winner Akuta, the colt rallied strongly along the passing lane for driver Brent Barclay. “Brent was really happy, he was kicking himself a little bit that he didn’t stay in front and make them…
Selections Winton | April 17
Racing journalist Jonny Turner’s selections for today’s meeting at Winton Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race 111.45am 2 One Tree Hill6 Galway Girl4 It’s Summetime1 Birch Race 212.10pm 2 So Art I 5 Wrecking Ball 1 Noosa Beach13 The Naenae Express Race 312.35pm 5 Ariella11 Boudica4 Airwaves1 Pete’s Dash Race 41.00pm 2 Mach’s Back 1 Melton Mafia3 Ivana Legacy5 Especial Race 51.25pm 2 Steve3 Insist The Win5 Sunday Invasion 4 Svelt Race 61.50pm 3 Belmont Diva4 Wattlebank Star7 Sweet Belle 1 Insarchatwist Race 72.19pm 4 American Lightning5 Memphis Tennessee1 Pearl Harbour3 Johnny Mac Race…
Dominant Inglis Sires’ Winner Anamoe Now Eyes Champagne Stakes
The money proved dead right at Royal Randwick on Saturday as impressive Godolphin two-year-old Anamoe put paid to his rivals in the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ Produce. The colt by Street Boss firmed into as short as $1.90 with Ladbrokes coming off a last-start second to Stay Inside in the Golden Slipper – a performance punters were happy to back him on with James McDonald in the saddle for the first time. With Tiger Malay and Lightsaber both pushing forward, the pair chose to settle midfield before quickly shifting into…
Sydney Cup Up Next for Chairman’s Quality Winner Quick Thinker
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Quick Thinker returned to the winner’s circle at Randwick on Saturday with a brilliant staying performance to take out the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m). The So You Think entire claimed his first Group 1 on Day 1 of The Championships last year by a nose to Zebrowksi in the ATC Derby, but he failed to return the same horse during the spring running no better than fifth in two starts in Melbourne. With three runs under his belt and some fitness on his side,…
Waterhouse Eyes First Australian Derby Win With Yaletown in 2021
‘Racing’s First Lady’ Gai Waterhouse may have 144 Group 1 wins on her record but she chases an elusive victory in Saturday’s $2 million Australian Derby (2400m) with eleventh hour inclusion Yaletown. Yaletown could break the Australian Derby hoodoo for Gai Waterhouse this Saturday in Sydney. Photo: Steve Hart. Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ features four elite level races at Royal Randwick including 16 of the season’s top three-year-old staying types doing battle in the Group 1 Australian Derby over the mile and a half. Record seven-time Golden Slipper winner…