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Month: April 2021
Wide draw only negative to Nickalls SA experience
Llanacord (NZ) (Contributer) has settled in well following her arrival in South Australia ahead of her Group One test on Saturday. The Stephen Nickalls-trained three-year-old won the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) in a stirring finish last month and will attempt to add an elite victory to her tally when tackling the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville this weekend. The daughter of Contributer crossed the Tasman a week ago with Nickalls reporting she is ticking all the boxes while completing her build up to Saturday’s race. “Obviously she tucked up…
Turn The Ace a sentimental favourite for Baker
Murray Baker won’t be coerced into tipping one of his three two-year-olds over the others in Saturday’s Maara Grange 1200 at Te Rapa but he has undoubted sentiment around the debut of Turn The Ace (NZ) (Turn Me Loose). A winner of both his trials, Turn The Ace is a son of the Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Iffraaj stallion Turn Me Loose, who secured his place at Windsor Park Stud through his Group One wins in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington and…
Queensland raid for Platinum Invador
Group One performed stayer Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood) has crossed the Tasman for a three-start Queensland campaign. The five-year-old gelding has joined Barry Lockwood’s Eagle Farm stable and will have a 1815m pipe-opener at his new base on Saturday. “He went over on Monday night and got there Wednesday morning,” part-owner Neville McAlister said. “He will have a fitness run on Saturday and then there is a Group Three (Premier’s Cup, 2200m) at Eagle Farm on the 29th of May leading into the Brisbane Cup (Gr.2, 2400m).” Platinum Invador will…
Robinson looking to continue strong season
Lance Robinson may have a young team, but he has experienced one of his best seasons to date. The Riccarton trainer has nine wins to his name this term and with three months left to go in the season he has time to try and better his previous best mark of 14. “We have only had a young team of horses this season, but I am happy with where they all are and things have gone really well,” Robinson said. One of the more exciting equine athletes in his care…
Bob McArdle memorabilia up for grabs
Calling collectors of harness racing memorabilia. The family of the late Bob McArdle has a swag of photos, trophies and other items and they want them to go to a new home. Born in Tasmania he was a high profile harness racing figure on both sides of the Tasman, and was a founding partner of Nevele R stud along with Wayne Francis. Both Bob and his brother John were bloodstock agents, and it was from Brothers McArdle that “Bromac” would become their trademark. Among the best horses Bob McArdle…
Stac has come a long way in a very short time
By Frank Marrion courtesy of the HarnessXpress Not many horses are sent out a $1.20 favourite on debut in a maiden at Addington, but that was Stac just recently. The four-year-old gelding by Well Said is now unbeaten in four public outings and clearly has a very bright future, all of which is all the more surprising when one considers that up until about a month ago, he’d looked nothing out of the ordinary. In fact he’d been looking very ordinary if not hopeless. “We broke him in and gave…
Champion miler Circus Maximus to Windsor Park
Triple Group One winning miler Circus Maximus has been secured to stand at Windsor Park Stud for the 2021 breeding season. Aptly named due to his gladiatorial qualities, Circus Maximus was a fast, tough, elite level campaigner who was trained by Aidan O’Brien throughout his illustrious career. A winner at two, the son of Galileo was Group Three placed and a close-up fourth behind subsequent 2000 Guineas-winning stablemate Magna Grecia at Doncaster in the Gr.1 Futurity Trophy (1600m) at the end of his juvenile year. Circus Maximus began his three-year-old…
Paynter hoping to serve up a trotting feast
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Cambridge trainer Ross Paynter has an exciting couple of days ahead of him. The appetiser will come at his home track on Thursday when he lines-up As Free As Air in the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion Handicap Trot (2700m), with the main course coming a day later at Alexandra Park when Anditover competes in the Gr.1 Rowe Cup (3200m). As a trotting enthusiast, the Rowe Cup has always been held in high regard by Paynter who previously finished fourth in the staying feature…
Jason Teaz’s Cambridge tips
Form analyst Jason Teaz casts his eye over the fields at Cambridge tonight (Thursday). Race 1 4 Kayla Maguire6 Maurice8 Mighty Monica2 Boilover KAYLA MAGUIRE is a model of consistency. You would be very hard pressed to say she won’t win or at least run second in this on her form. Top pick.MAURICE was awfully disappointing last time. He is a hard horse to follow given he was woeful in his only start here too. If he fronts up can win this easily.MIGHTY MONICA has won and run third in…