The Watchdog is cock-a-hoop about the quality of the GRV Vic Bred Maiden finalists at Shepparton. But he’s singled out one in particular – Perfectly Poised, who he believes is bred to be a star. She’s been placed at her only three starts and her dam, Zara’s Entity, won a G3 Cranbourne Classic and was an Adelaide Cup finalist – both in 2017. “She likes to rail hard in her races and from a good draw, she should fire through and be in a prominent spot throughout,” The Watchdog said.…
Month: May 2021
Two Illicit to make Australian debut
Roger James is excited to be back on Australian soil for the first time in 18 months. The trans-Tasman travel bubble has allowed the Cambridge trainer to travel to Sydney with stable runner Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux), and soon to be Queensland for a three-race campaign. It is Two Illicit’s first trip across the Tasman and James said the four-year-old mare is not the best traveller. “I wouldn’t say she is the most relaxed traveller, she does stress a bit travelling and it is made worse this year because…
Draft Code of Conduct and Social Media Policy Regulations
HRNZ is looking to introduce Code of Conduct and Social Media Policy Regulations which can be viewed here. The object and purpose of these regulations is to ensure that the participants of harness racing in New Zealand conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, particularly in their engagement with other participants. As part of the consultation process, please find attached these proposed regulations for your information. Please provide any feedback to Liz Bishop at lbishop@hrnz.co.nz by 4.00 pm on Wednesday 26 May 2021. It is intended that the Code of Conduct…
Grasstrack racing going from strength to strength
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Grasstrack racing has been a massive success this season , and there will be even more meetings in 2021/22. The dates calendar was released last week and it has 38 grasstrack meetings next season, including three dual code meetings. That’s an increase of four on this season, and includes the return to Hawera in Taranaki. Their two meetings will be held over Waitangi weekend (February 4 and 6 2022). There will be two other North Island meetings at Wairarapa and Kapiti, and 34…
Sword Of State confirmed for Cambridge Stud
Group One winning juvenile Sword Of State (Snitzel) will join Cambridge Stud’s stallion roster at the conclusion of his racing career. Te Akau Principal David Ellis has confirmed that the exciting young son of champion sire Snitzel has been secured for future stud duties by Cambridge Stud, in partnership with his current ownership. Raced by the Te Akau 2020 Four Colt Breeding Syndicate, Sword Of State was purchased by David Ellis as a yearling for A$600,000. The quality two year old has won four of his five starts in his…
Group Three option for Llanacord
Manawatu filly Llanacord (NZ) (Contributer) will in all likelihood stick to taking on her own sex in South Australia after racing without luck in Saturday’s Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville. The Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) third-place finisher is nominated for the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville this weekend, but her trainer Stephen Nickalls said the filly is more likely to head to the Gr.3 South Australian Fillies Classic (2500m) on May 15. “She’s in the Derby, but there’s some very good horses like (Australian Derby winner)…
Late flurry at weanling sale
By Michael Guerin New Zealand Bloodstock Standardbred saved the best for last at their weanling sale at Karaka on Monday. The equal two top lots of $36,000 each inside the final 15 minutes of a busy day capped a successful sale for the industry. An Art Major filly from Matuvutu sold to Beaufine Park and a Bettors Delight colt from five-race winner No Liability purchased by Robert Dunn shared the honours for the day as lots 124 and 130 of the 130-lot catalogue. They didn’t win that title by much…
DOCTOR’S ORDERS!
He hasn’t been seen since finishing seventh in a Group 2 Ballarat Cup heat on December 5 last year. But The Watchdog is confident potential star Dr. Tucker, who has won nine from 16, will ‘bark the orders’ at Sale where he boasts a flying 24.73sec PB. He emerged as the ‘new kid on the block’, taking out last year’s Group 3 Great Chase and following up with a third to retired superstar Hard Style Rico in the Group 3 Silver Bullet – both at The Meadows. “When at his…
Two-Pronged Derby Assault For Maher And Eustace
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable will have Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) and Let’s Karaka Deel (NZ) (Dundeel) running for them in the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville. David Eustace cannot see any reason why Explosive Jack should not be able to add a Gr.1 South Australian Derby victory to the one he achieved in Sydney. Explosive Jack won the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 10 and will on Saturday attempt to add the South Australian Derby at Morphettville to make it five wins in eight starts. …
SA Derby for Deepstrike
Deepstrike (NZ) (Tavistock) will be out to make amends for his unplaced run in the Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2040m) last start when he contests the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday. The son of Tavistock was a luckless beaten favourite in the Chairman’s and Mick Price, who trains the gelding in partnership of Michael Kent Jr, said there are some positives to be taken out of the run. “I don’t think not having a hard run will hurt that horse as he’s a lightly framed Tavistock gelding,”…