New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2021 National Weanling Sale at Karaka will unveil the first progeny of an exciting new crop of first season sires. New Zealand-based Sires ACE HIGH Standing at Rich Hill Stud for a service fee of $10,000, Ace High (AUS) is by High Chaparral out of an unraced Redoute’s Choice mare who is a three-quarter or half-sister to stakes performers Winner’s Way (Starcraft), That’s a Good Idea (Flying Spur), Kneeling (Encosta de Lago) and Rezyana (Redoute’s Choice). Ace High was an outstanding staying three-year-old in Australia, completing the interstate spring double of the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and Group One…
Month: April 2021
Local trainers eye Hastings spoils
Hastings trainers Sue Thompson and Mick Brown are looking forward to their local meeting on Saturday where they will line-up three runners. Zed gelding Overstayer (NZ) will be out to continue his winning form from last campaign when resuming in the Pam Holden Racing Mile (1600m). The six-year-old won on the same course and distance in December and his trainers are hopeful of a repeat performance this weekend. He had initially been earmarked to start at Hastings a fortnight ago, but those plans were hindered after an infection. “We would…
How The Watchdog would spend $50 on TAB’s ‘All In’ market
Form expert The Watchdog is pulling on the leash ahead of Thursday night’s eight sensational heats of the Group 2 Warrnambool Cup (450m). TAB has installed superstar Shima Shine as $4.80 favourite in ‘All In’ betting, ahead of Equalizer, trained by five-time Warrnambool Cup winner Jason Thompson, and Ballarat and Shepparton Cup hero Ferdinand Boy, both at $6.50. Since brilliantly winning the Horsham Cup in March, Shima Shine has been beaten at odds-on in the heats of (in order) the Golden Easter Egg, Ballarat Cup and Perth Cup and The…
News Briefs – April 28
Weanlings go under the hammer The first ever standalone National Weanling Sale will be run by NZB Standardbred at Karaka next Monday. All weanlings will be eligible for the Harness Million Sales Race series. 130 weanlings will be sold. Leading studs Alabar and Woodlands Stud will both hold a public parade of their weanlings at Karaka on Sunday, with Woodlands at 1pm, and Alabar from 2.30pm. The Monday sale starts at noon. Purdon works his magic Spellbound’s Group 3 win at Melton on Saturday night has given both the horse…
Thompson’s ‘fab four’ for Warrnambool
To say Jason Thompson has an affinity with the Group 2 Macey’s Bistro Warrnambool Cup (450m) would be a massive understatement. The champion Pearcedale trainer boasts five Cup victories, courtesy of El Galo (2008), Hanify’s Impact (2009), Ronan Izmir (2013), Black Magic Opal (2014) and last year with Zambora Smokey. With four frontline contenders in Thursday night’s heats – (in heat order) Catch The Thief, Zambora Lou, Equalizer and Aussie Secret – Thompson is striving to add to his impressive Warrnambool Cup collection and go back-to-back for the third time.…
Yesberg team bounces back with long weekend double
by Brian Cross Anzac weekend proved something of a drought breaker for Ohoka trainer Trent Yesberg after an absence from the winner’s circle of several weeks. First up it was Majestic Action showing the way at Rangiora on Sunday, getting everything right and putting on a totally professional trotting display. Drawing well after months on the unruly list and with perfect manners, the five-year-old Majestic Son mare reminded her trainer of just what she can do when the stars align. “We’ve had the mare for just over a year now,”…
Aussie News – April 28
Hopefully the barrier draw hasn’t robbed us of an epic $200,000 Group 1 WA Derby at Gloucester Park on Friday night. The build-up has been superb with Lavra Joe in one corner, Jumpingjackmac in another and then potential blowout contenders headed by Mighty Ronaldo. The marbles seemingly couldn’t have fallen worse for Lavra Joe, who goes into the Derby with seven wins and a massive second from his eight starts this season. He’s drawn inside the back row. In contrast, Gary Hall Sr’s emerging Jumpingjackmac gained a huge advantage with…
Favourites draw well on Rowe Cup night
By Michael Guerin At first glance the three favourites for the glamour races of Rowe Cup night at Alexandra Park appear to have been handed the perfect draws to continue their dominance of the carnival. But when it comes to trotters Sundees Son and Five Wise Men those looks may be deceiving. Copy That in the Taylor Mile, Sundees Son in the Anzac Cup and Five Wise Men (Sires Stakes) all won their major assignments last Friday night and will be hot favourites to do so in group ones this…
Richmond joins straight track ranks
NSW was welcomed into Australian greyhound racing’s straight track fraternity – which already included Victoria, Queensland and South Australia – when Richmond hosted the state’s first ever TAB straight track meeting on Saturday morning. It was the first meeting held on a straight track in NSW since October 18, 2014 at Appin. “I didn’t think I would ever see it,” said Richmond GRC President Peter Rodgers. “It started off just a slipping track. But you’ve got to remember this is new for old. “The old track used to go up…
WELL BUILT’S ‘SOLID FOUNDATIONS’
The Watchdog has earmarked a speedster with ‘structurally sound’ form – at Warrnambool. And it’s the aptly named Well Built who has been laying down ‘solid foundations’. He’s won two of his past three starts (67%) and loves the ‘red’ alley, from which he’s three from five (60%). “He’s drawn to figure prominently. He’s been taking on, and beating, some high-class types…,” The Watchdog said. But the expert form analyst inferred he’ll need to ‘tame’ Tiger Time who recently contested the Listed Mount Gambier Cup. “He’s the most gifted chaser…