The Auckland Trotting Club is launching two new winter series – one for local horses, the other for horses from the South Island. These Futurity Finals to be held at Alexandra Park will be 2200m mobiles on July 30, and will be worth $30,000. All horses must be three-year-old or older pacers and be rated as non-winners for handicapping purposes as at March 31 2021. All southern horses must also have had a minimum of two races in the South Island. To be eligible for the final a horse must…
Month: April 2021
News Briefs – April 14
Longview Lady goes out with win Longview Lady is in foal and has been retired from racing. Driven by Blair Orange and trained by Ken Barron she went out on a winning note beating favourite Italian Lad at Addington last Friday night. The four-year-old Bettor’s Delight mare won six from 39 and $85,694 in stakes. She has been served by Art Major. Bitamuscle sidelined Highly promising trotter Bitamuscle has a stress fracture of the cannon bone and will require a three month spell. The winner of three of six for…
Mitchell Kerr gets life ban
Following a Judicial Control Authority hearing last month Mitchell Kerr has been banned from ever training horses again. The JCA has handed down the life ban effective immediately, after Kerr was found guilty of four charges. For more information please click here
Ellie Barron to be acknowledged at Winton’s Ladies Mile day
The Wairio Trotting Club hold their annual Ladies One Mile Day at Central Southland Raceway in Winton this Saturday. Each race on the programme will be a fast paced one mile contest. The first race is scheduled for 12 noon and admission will be free. Feature races include the Ladyship Stakes Final, a Free-For-All Mobile Pace plus the first of four heats of a new Southern Fillies & Mares Series which will culminate in a final. The club will run its very popular Prizes In Purses competition throughout the day.…
‘Titan’ tackles Geelong Gold Cup ‘mountain’
Champion trainer Anthony Azzopardi has scaled greyhound racing’s highest summits several times – particularly with litter brothers Whiskey Riot (G1 Melbourne Cup) and Fernando’s Riot (G1 Australian Cup). The ascent isn’t nearly as steep with his rising star Aston Titan – but, regardless, Azzopardi is enjoying the ‘climb’! Aston Titan (Box 1) lines up in Heat 5 (Race 8, 9.27pm) of the G2 Geelong Gold Cup (460m) on Friday night and Azzopardi is cautiously optimistic. “He’s no world-beater… He’s a nice city dog who might pinch a good race if…
Did you hear about the greyhound that won his 101st race and went into a bar?
David Warburton, Tatura based hobby greyhound trainer, could not be happier with his homebred greyhound Tat Warby (Banjo Boy x Fire Stricker). At the greyhound’s very first start, in February 2018, he was a winner, and more recently a winner at start number 100. And, winning again, at start number 101, more than three years later on March 22. But don’t expect the ‘evergreen’ Tat Warby – known about the house as ‘Warbo’ – to be venturing to tracks other than Shepparton any time soon. According to David, “I love…
CANINE ‘CYCLOTRON’
Has The Watchdog been hit by ‘cosmic rays’? Well, he has ‘extreme energy’ on the chances of Zevatron who has an ability to ‘accelerate particles’. Astrophysics puns aside, Zevatron is ideally drawn in the ‘pink’ alley. “Zevatron likes to use plenty of the track, and he’s armed with breathtaking pace once he balances up. So, from a good draw, there should be no excuses,” The Watchdog said. He’s also won 10 races from 30 starts and has a respectable 25.16sec PB over 450m at Shepparton. But the expert form analyst…
Victory comes at tough time for Scott family
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk At 72 years old Fred Scott has achieved a first. On Sunday he trained his first winner when favourite Takemybreathaway took out the sixth at Methven. After drawing one, the daughter of Bettor’s Delight got the trail from the mobile only for Blair Orange to move outside the leader Conquer Me and win by half a length from Rick Reilly. While “delighted” with the result it comes at a time of great sadness in the Scott family. Fred and Jan Scott’s son Glenn…
QUERY ON QWARA?
Two potential superstars and a faultless beginner engage in a ‘battle of speed’ over 390m. And The Watchdog has given the nod to the Andrea Dailly trained Qwara Bale – albeit with a few reservations. The expert form analyst says she’s “probably better suited over a slightly longer journey” and “runs into her gifted kennelmate”. Qwara Bale has won eight races from 15 starts, including three of her past four. Back in February, she was a Lil Dickie Oaks finalist. However, Quintana Bale – also trained by Dailly – has won…
Geelong Gold Cup heats Friday night
Some of the most exciting prospects in the land are set to line up in Friday night’s Geelong Gold Cup heats (520m), and none more so than Shima Classic – who will kick off proceedings in Heat 1 at 8.08pm. At 24 months old, Shima Classic has won eight from 14, and will be looking to bounce back from her defeat in the Ballarat Cup when she blew the start after being the fastest heat winner. Others to look out for include Kuro Kismet, winner of the Launching Pad, and…