Jockey Clayton Douglas continued his winning run as Henry Dwyer was delighted to prepare Riding High (NZ) (Raise The Flag) to win the A$125,000 Australian Steeplechase (3900m) at Sandown on Sunday. Riding High settled off the pace under Douglas and was given a perfect ride by the dual licence holder to defeat Michelin (NZ) (Pentire) by seven lengths with Rexmont (Shinzig) a further five lengths away in third. Last year’s Australian Steeplechase winner Bit Of A Lad (Ladoni) struggled from halfway and was eased out of the race by Steven…
Month: May 2021
Cunningham enjoys further success with Matamata partnership
Curraghmore Stud principal Gordon Cunningham continued his good form with Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard’s Ballymore Stables when Tevere (NZ) (Contributer) broke her maiden status at just her second start when storming clear to win over 1200m at Te Rapa. “Tevere is the third horse I’ve had in training with Ballymore,” Cunningham said. “The first was Chicharita who won the Royal Stakes (Gr.2, 2000m) and she finished fourth in the New Zealand Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m). “The second was Tofane, who we sold after she trialled and last year she…
McNab times his run to perfection with Marsh winner
Jockey Michael McNab brought up a winning treble at Te Rapa on Saturday when he guided the Stephen Marsh-trained Run To Perfection (Sepoy) to a comfortable five-length victory in the open 1400m event. McNab, who had earlier posted wins aboard promising maiden Tevere (NZ) (Contributer) and Marton visitor Uareastar (NZ) (Jakkalberry), never missed a beat as he worked Run To Perfection into a challenging position on the inner entering the home straight before exploding away from his rivals at the 200m. It was the third career victory for the four-year-old…
Francesca produces dominant display at Te Rapa
A dominant display by promising three-year-old Francesca (NZ) (Iffraaj) at Te Rapa on Saturday continued a run of success for trainer Murray Baker and longtime stable client Greg McCarthy. Baker, who prepares the Iffraaj filly with training partner Andrew Forsman, has trained a number of good performers for McCarthy including stakes winner Sabbatical (NZ) (Bakharoff) and Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit). Francesca had impressed Baker in the early stages of her development but was set aside after two eye-catching runs in August last year to…
Magri’s sights on Meadows ‘Jackpot’
Young Avalon trainer Ben Magri has made a big impression in his short training career, already having a Group success on his resume courtesy of Aston Gwen winning the G2 Sandown Laurels last December. The 20-year-old is poised to continue on his winning way at The Meadows on Saturday night, boasting two chances in the GRV Vic Bred Series Grade 5 final (525m) – Race 5 at 8.00pm. Lightly raced youngster Jackpot (Box 1) is chasing his fourth straight victory, having won his last three at The Meadows since resuming…
Fitzgerald out to conjure up championship win
By Jonny Turner Series leader Andrew Fitzgerald will be out to weave his magic in the final two heats of the New Zealand Amateur Drivers Championship at Rangiora on Sunday. The reinsman known by many as ‘Fitzy’ goes into heats three and four on 12 points, giving him a three-point lead of northern counterpart Frank Phelan (9). Fellow northerners John Kriechbaumer (8) and Sheryl Wigg (7) are close behind in third and fourth positions. Fitzgerald goes into Sunday’s racing hoping he can secure enough points to hold off those chasing…
Selections | Rangiora – 23 May
Selections for Rangiora today (Sunday) Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! RaceTime TROTTECHForm Analyst Race 112.00pm 7 Auchtercairn8 Wee Ring The Changes6 Ruby’s Delight1 Pete’s Dash Race 212.25pm 6 Jay Bee And Lou7 Westar Milly8 Tom Brady4 Moment Of Kaos Race 312.50pm 7 Classey Robin2 Honour Before Glory5 Martin John10 Dalness First Race 41.20pm 1 Luminite7 Nikki Noto3 Sporty Celine12 Woodlea Beaver Race 51.45pm 9 Beach Ball 7 Republican Party 2 Time And Tide 10 Ultimate Bird Race 62.10pm 9 Royal Del3 Rosie’s Son8 Bright Glow4 Sonoma Tyron Race 72.36pm 10 Artatac1 Khal Drogo11…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 23 May 2021
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Doomben Cup 2021 Winner Zaaki By 7 Lengths
Annabel Neasham‘s star import Zaaki proved himself a potential Cox Plate competitor in the spring with his powerhouse seven-length Group 1 $700,000 Channel 7 Doomben Cup (2000m) victory in Brisbane. Brandenburg (pictured in Sydney) set the pace and eventually ran 10 lengths back third to runaway Doomben Cup 2021 winner Zaaki. Photo by Steve Hart. The imported son of Leroidesanimaux continued his rise through the ranks on the Australian turf handing his trainer her second career Group 1 success and proving himself a genuine elite level performer. Zaaki enjoyed his…
Avdulla steers Kirwan’s Lane to Rosehill win
Talented four-year-old Kirwan’s Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit) notched the sixth win of his career when successful over 1500m at Rosehill on Saturday. The John O’Shea- trained gelding was having his second run back from a break and enjoyed an economical run three back on the fence under Brenton Avdulla from barrier 3, and only had to go around runner-up Ellsberg (Spill The Beans). “He’s been going really well and he is a top little horse,” O’Shea said. “Once he drew soft we were optimistic he could be in the finish…