By Michael Guerin This is not the type of phone call you want to get when you are in quarantine. It is not the type of phone call any trainer wants to get any time but Brad Williamson knows it could be a lot worse. Williamson is in quarantine after his potentially career-changing trip to Australia where he drove not only his first group one winner but also his second and third behind Majestic Man. But as much as he loves Majestic Man, Williamson’s own stable star is Cracker Hill,…
Month: April 2021
No Easter break for Anthony Butt
By Adam Hamilton Former Kiwi horseman Anthony Butt will spend more time in planes and cars than on the racetrack as he chases two major wins this weekend. It starts with his third trip down to Tasmania in as many weeks when he teams with Dean Braun’s exciting ex-Kiwi pacer Willie Go West, the favourite in Saturday night’s $75,000 Group 2 Tasmanian Easter Cup in Launceston. On Sunday, 1000kms from Launceston, Butt will drive his own budding star Wolf Stride, who is $2.50 favourite for the inaugural $100,000 Group 1…
Sixteen ‘sweet’ for Egg semis
Devel Sixteen might have been beaten but her run was impossible to miss as the Victorian late entry produced one of the standout performances in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg heats last weekend. Trained by Jessica Sharp and family at Avalon, Devel Sixteen stormed home to be edged out by local Zulu Warlord, clocking a flying 29.60s in defeat. “It was an unbelievable run, I thought,” said Jason Sharp, Jessica’s husband. “I know Flying Ricciardo did his thing out in front (29.22s) but for Devel Sixteen to come from…
Owner’s late Launching Pad ‘Mayle’
Proud owner Mel Mayle admits the nerves are building in the countdown to Thursday’s Group 3 Launching Pad Final (515m) where her “goofball” Kuro Kismet is TAB’s $3.70 second favourite. As well as sharing in the ownership with her dad, Bruce Waugh, Mel will have the all-important task of leading Kuro Kismet to the boxes for the $150,000 to-the-winner Launching Pad, affording trainer Matt Clark the luxury of cheering from Sandown Park’s grandstand. “I’m still a bit shell-shocked,” Mel said. “Matt and I have been talking about nerves and he…
NZTR releases industry reshaping actions
NZTR has released a significant document today which will shape the future of the thoroughbred industry in New Zealand. The Industry Reshaping – Our Actions, NZTR Strategic Priorities document outlines seven actions which have been endorsed by the NZTR Board as part of the Industry Reshaping Project. These seven areas for action set out key focus areas to drive improved industry performance. With a clear framework and defined timelines, the actions – The Racing Product, Venues, Participants, Clubs, Marketing & PR, Wagering & Content, and The Business of Racing – will be…
Sword Of State misses trial
Group One winning juvenile Sword Of State was one of a number of horses affected by the abandonment of the Taupo trials on Thursday after six heats due to the slippery nature of the track. The Jamie Richards-trained son of Snitzel was to use the trial before a decision was made whether to push on to the Gr.1 ATC Sires’ (1400m) on the opening day of The Championships at Randwick next Saturday. Richards indicated the well-bred colt would have a jumpout at Matamata on Friday after missing the key hitout.
Champion stayer Let’s Elope for Hall of Fame induction
Let’s Elope, one of the great racemares in Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) history, has earned induction to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. Already a member of the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, Let’s Elope will take her place alongside fellow New Zealand-bred greats of the turf at the Hall of Fame induction dinner in Hamilton on the evening of May 2. Previous inductees with the Melbourne Cup on their CV are Carbine (1890), Phar Lap (1930), Rising Fast (1954), Might And Power (1997) and Ethereal (2001), but like…
Bonny Lass primed for Group One
Graham Richardson is an excited man ahead of the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on Saturday. The Matamata horseman, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall, will line-up Bonny Lass in the juvenile feature and he is hoping she can take home the lion’s share of the $225,000 purse. “It’s really exciting heading into the Group One with a filly like her,” Richardson said. The daughter of Super Easy has been impressive in all three of her starts to date, winning on debut on her…
SA Derby ambitions for Tavistock 3YO
Progressive staying three-year-old Deepstrike made it back-to-back win at Sandown on Wednesday with an impressive victory over 1800m. Prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the son of Tavistock will now be aimed at Group races in South Australia, with his conditioners likely to keep the lightly-tried gallopers runs spaced at this stage of his career. “He’ll go to the Chairman’s Stakes (Gr.3, 2000m) in three and a-half weeks’ time and then on to the South Australian Derby (Gr.1,2500m) on May 8,” co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr said. Sporting the…
Aegon on song ahead of Doncaster
Group One winner Aegon pleased his connections with his trial win over 1175m on the polytrack at Warwick Farm on Thursday ahead of his tilt at the Gr.1 Doncaster (1600m) at Randwick next Saturday. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained gelding had a brief freshen after he finished sixth in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m), his first taste of defeat on raceday. “He would have needed it because we have been pretty soft on him and he did have a freshen-up so he needed that day out, and I am…