Bettor Twist likely to head over the ditch

By Michael Guerin The man behind champion pacing filly Bettor Twist is going to let her stay a three-year-old as long as he can. And that means don’t expect to see her racing in New Zealand in the first half of next season. Bettor Twist unsurprisingly put her rivals to the sword in last night’s $120,000 Nevele R Fillies Final at Addington, surging to the lead in the middle stages before racing clear of a brave Off N Gone and Bettor Talk Art in a 1:55 mile rate for the…

Fahys enjoy big day out at Winton

By Jonny Turner The quinella of Rakanotta and Rakareplay at Winton on Saturday provided a big thrill for Southland breeder-owner Brendon Fahy. Rakanotta became the first winner for her Group One performing dam Raksdeal when clearing out for a big debut win over her stablemate and relative Rakareplay when scoring by three lengths for trainer-driver Peter Hunter. After Hunter landed the three-year-old a perfect run in the one-one, race 2 could not have worked out any better for Fahy and Rakanotta. But the filly’s journey to the races has been…

Rebecca Heads to Ashburton full of hope

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Rebecca Heads has a goal of winning her first race as a trainer by the season’s end and she just may achieve that at Ashburton on Sunday. The young horsewoman will line-up Jay Bee And Lou in the TF Pearson Memorial Trot (2400m) where he will have the services of driver Ricky May. The Majestic son gelding was fractious away last start at Ashburton before recovering well and running home to finish third. Heads has her fingers-crossed that the five-year-old brings his manners on…

Selections | Ashburton – 16 May

Selections for Ashburton today   Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! RaceTime MATT CROSSCommentator Race 112.00pm 4 Ultimate Bird5 Daggy Lamb6 Press Play10 Opawa Louie Race 212.25pm 4 Jay Bee And Lou12 Majestic Upstart2 Good Yaself6 Moment Of Kaos Race 312.50pm 5 Beach Ball9 Smart Watch2 Splash Of Crimson9 Major Memphis Race 41.15pm 7 Chevron Art1 Faze Of Glory3 Eliza Davolta9 Alene Race 51.40pm 11 Samanthas Moon12 Bella Button5 Quik Shot2 Listen Easy Race 62.16pm 2 American Outlaw1 Rockenroll Graduate3 Buckingham4 Platinum Prince Race 72.46pm 7 Zia Bromac1 Acento4 Woodlea Beaver8 Royal…

2021 The Goodwood Winner Savatoxl Beats Instant Celebrity, Gytrash Third

The return of Gytrash turned out to be an upset event as the heroic favourite only managed to run third in the Group 1 $500,000 The Goodwood (1200m) behind shock winner Savatoxl and the second-placed filly Instant Celebrity. The Goodwood 2021 winner Savatoxl could head to Brisbane for the $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap next. Photo: Jenny Barnes. Former Alice Springs galloper Savatoxl has been racing in South Australia with Tony & Calvin McEvoy since late last year and has gone from strength to strength for the stable. Last time out…

2021 Doomben 10,000 Winner Is Eduardo

Joe Pride’s star sprinter Eduardo proved why he was at such short odds, the punters’ pick leading from barrier to box to score another Group 1 win this time in the 2021 Doomben 10,000 up in Brisbane ahead of a well-earned spell. Eduardo (pictured in Sydney) saluted for the punters with a tough 2021 Doomben 10,000 win in Brisbane. Photo: Steve Hart. After winning the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill second-up by 3.5 lengths as the top weight, Host seven-year-old Eduardo was last seen running third behind Nature…

Vladivostok rules in Morphettville Group Three

Lord Vladivostok (NZ) (Tavistock) posted his biggest win to date on Saturday when successful in the Gr.3 R A Lee Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville. The four-year-old gelding jumped smartly and settled just off the pacemakers before jockey Todd Pannell made his move with 500m to go. The pair were three-wide coming out of the turn and out-toughed Dr Drill (Dansili) to win by 0.2L with fellow kiwi-bred Vassilator (NZ) (Zacinto) running on for third. The son of Tavistock, who won twice in New Zealand as Vladivostok for former trainer and…

Lost And Running underlines Everest credentials

The first part of a patient and painstaking plan to advertise Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto) as an Everest contender has come to fruition with the emerging star posting his most important win to date in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill. Now, trainer John O’Shea is hoping one of his pre-race suitors comes to the party and locks him in for a start in the A$15 million showpiece. “We had some lovely overtures before the race, I don’t think he’s disappointed anyone today and historically speaking,…

Daring ride secures royal result in Rotorua feature

Consistent sprinter Pop Star Princess (NZ) (Makfi) secured her first black type success when she took out the Gr.3 Rydges Rotorua Stakes (1400m) on Saturday, courtesy of a daring ride by Jonathan Riddell. The noted front-runner had disappointed just seven days ago at Te Rapa when fading badly after being annoyed throughout the 1200m journey when taking up her customary pacemaking role. Riddell wouldn’t let that happen this time as he bounced the six-year-old mare to a clear lead from the starting gates and maintained a steady tempo that kept…