Top jockey Craig Williams is keen to stick with Only Words (NZ) (Sweynesse) in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m), believing the filly is on an upward trajectory after taking out the Gr.2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben. The Chris Waller-trained three-year-old was coming off a placing in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) and from a good draw in barrier seven, Only Words comfortably handled the middle-distance test to score by 1-1/2 lengths over Bargain (NZ) (Ocean Park), ahead of Charms Star (NZ) (Per Incanto). The first six past the post were all New Zealand bred, with all bar the Mark…
Month: May 2021
Queensland Derby on the cards for Horrifying
Mark Kavanagh is hoping to get Horrifying (NZ) (Shocking) to Brisbane for the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) and follow a proven path taken by former Derby winner Magicool. Providing Horrifying takes no ill effects from his victory at Flemington he will be in Brisbane next week to contest the Queensland Derby. Horrifying won his second race at Flemington on Saturday, taking out the Off The Track Community Trophy (2000m) to book a place to Brisbane. Now Mark Kavanagh is hoping a flight from Melbourne can be arranged after a flight last Tuesday was called off after Queensland Health…
Romancer scores knock-out blow in Straight Six
Romancer (NZ) (Redwood) has delivered a knock-out blow to punters with his victory in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington. Sent off a $101 chance under Lachlan Neindorf, Romancer led home a trifecta of outsiders down the Flemington straight 1200m course on Saturday to score by a length from I’m Telling Ya ($21) with Irish Songs ($51) three-quarters-of-a-length away third. Trainer Grahame Begg said he could not remember having a horse go around at such long odds. “Funnily enough, my wife said to me last night ‘I dont think you’ve ever had a horse go around at 150-1’,” Begg…
Polly runs a cracker to snare Cup
Former New Zealand mare Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour) has continued her love affair with Sydney racing, handling a steep weight rise to capture the Listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) at Rosehill. It was the six-year-old’s third victory from her past four starts after claiming the Gr.3 Epona Stakes (1900m) in March and another black-type success in the Listed Gosford Cup (2100m) earlier this month. She rose 3.5kg from her last-start win but made light work of the 58kg impost, settling midfield off a hot speed for Tommy Berry and closing strongly to score. Charlie Duckworth, deputising…
Mongolian Marshal scores at Flemington
Adelaide trainer Stuart Gower forgot one important piece of information as he legged replacement jockey Brett Prebble aboard Mongolian Marshal (NZ) (High Chaparral) at Flemington. As Gower explained post winning the TAB Supports National Jockeys Trust (1600m), a heat of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship, on Saturday that Mongolian Marshal is best saved for one last dash at his rivals. Settling at the tail of the field, Prebble allowed Mongolian Marshal to unwind quickly where he hit the front 200m from home. What looked like being a comfortable win turned into…
Belle Plaisir upsets in Rangitikei Gold Cup
Underrated galloper Belle Plaisir (NZ) (Proisir) sprang a minor upset when she picked up her first victory at stakes level when taking out the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m) on her home track at Awapuni. The Lucy Tanner-trained and part-owned four-year-old had won her previous start over a similar distance (1550m) at the venue but was ignored by punters for Saturday’s feature, being sent out at odds of better that $23. Given an economical trip in behind the speed by rider Kate Hercock, the daughter of Rich Hill…
Size’s Courier Wonder signals exciting future for Hong Kong’s sprint ranks
Courier Wonder (NZ) (Sacred Falls) is quickly evolving into one of Hong Kong’s sharpest sprinters and this Sunday (23 May) at Sha Tin the three-year-old will look to overcome the biggest hurdle of his burgeoning career when he faces a host of seasoned and better credentialed rivals in the Gr.3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap (1200m). Lining up as the least experienced runner in the race, the undefeated youngster has already been touted as the next generation of Hong Kong’s sprinting ranks, a mantle 11-time champion trainer John Size is hopeful…
Mesmerize too strong in feature steeplechase
The familiar colours of the Connors family were to the fore in a major jumping race in New Zealand once again on Saturday when consistent fencer Mesmerize produced a comprehensive performance to take out the Signature Homes Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) at Te Rapa. The rising twelve-year-old has proved a revelation of late, winning his last four races over the steeplechase fences after being somewhat of a bridesmaid earlier in his career where he had finished runner-up in ten of his previous 27 jumping starts. Settled towards the rear of the…
Sharrock double bright end to a tough week
Trainer Allan Sharrock finally had some good news to focus on when he produced a winning double with debutant Shamus and proven mare London Express at Awapuni on Saturday, after earlier in the week having two of their stablemates test positive for methamphetamine after racing at the venue on Anzac Day. Sharrock had his world turned upside down when informed that both Reliable Miss and Alhambra Lad had produced a positive result to the insidious Class A drug, with a full investigation launched by the Racing Integrity Unit. Sharrock was…
The Cossack marches home at Te Rapa
A fleeting visit back home from Melbourne paid dividends for top jumps jockey Aaron Kuru as he guided last year’s Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) winner The Cossack to victory in the first of the prestigious jumping events this winter, the Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m). Kuru, who now operates out of the Plumpton stables of trainer Patrick Payne, flew home to ride The Cossack for trainers Paul Nelson and Corinna McDougal and didn’t put a foot wrong as he had the Mastercraftsman seven-year-old near the action throughout the contest. Despite…