Lost And Running scores Everest slot

Exciting sprinter Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto) has secured his spot in this year’s Everest. The John O’Shea-trained four-year-old was announced as the TAB’s slot-holder on Wednesday afternoon and is marked a $13 with Sportsbet for the race. The talented gelding has won six of his seven starts and is rated as one of the county’s best up-and-coming sprinters. The Everest will be run at Randwick on October 16. O’Shea said he is thrilled to secure a spot in this year’s race with a horse he rates so highly.…

Almsgiver scores maiden win

New Zealand-bred gelding Almsgiver broke maiden ranks at Swan Hill on Sunday when taking out his mile event. Finding himself outside the leader in the early stages, jockey Dean Yendall eventually found cover for Almsgiver, one out one back, before peeling out at the 600m mark and going for home in the 1600m contest. Trainer Matthew Williams was pleased with the run, though he felt there is plenty more to come. “Once he works things out, he will be very competitive. We would like him to eventually get out over…

Rae excited about stable youngsters

A lot of people dread winter, but not Kenny Rae. The Ruakaka trainer gets to enjoy the warmer climate of the winterless north, but it is also a time when a lot of young untried horses enter his barn. He enjoys campaigning the older warhorses in his barn like Major Tom and Kaharau, but he admits he gets a kick out of trying to find his next star amongst a new crop of juveniles. “We have got 26 in work and nine rising two-year-olds have just come in,” he said.…

Bothamley closing in on 200 wins

Invercargill jockey Daniel Bothamley might have a Great Northern win on his resume but a decision to put his jumps riding career on ice has paid dividends in recent times as he edges closer to 200 career wins. Bothamley, 36, had planned to work for a building firm for the winter but demand for his services in the saddle has meant he is as busy as he has ever been as a senior jockey. Already this season, he has taken 220 rides, nearly as many as his last four seasons…

Australian Grand Nationals await promising jumper

Promising jumper Aigne (NZ) (Sufficient) travelled across the Tasman two years ago to contest the Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool and owner Neil O’Dowd is keen for a repeat crossing, but this time for other targets. O’Dowd, who trained Aigne to his sixth-placed run in his sole Australian start, has now entrusted the eight-year-old to the care of Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers who has formed a formidable partnership with the gelding since joining his barn. Aigne won four of his seven starts for Myers last year, including the Pakuranga Hunt…

Acento searching for maiden win

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk David Thompson is hoping Acento can be rewarded for her consistency at Addington Raceway on Sunday. The daughter of Gold Ace has placed in her last four starts and she will be vying to break maiden ranks in the Paul Renwick Joinery Fillies & Mares Mobile Pace (1980m) this weekend. Thompson has been pleased with her recent run of form and said she has just run into better horses on the day. “She hasn’t been far away,” Thompson said. “They were two nice horses…

Verry Elleegant returns to work

Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) stretched her legs out at Rosehill on Tuesday morning in her first day back at Chris Waller’s stables. The Cox Plate-bound star was the main attraction at Rosehill, with track rider Chris Harwood ecstatic with how she has returned. “She’s seemed to have come back well. The pre-trainers must have done a good job with her because she’s very nice and settled,” Harwood said. It starts the long campaign towards a Cox Plate for Verry Elleegant, who won last year’s Caulfield Cup. Verry Elleegant is currently…

Pike ventures north in search of good ground

Tony Pike won’t be surprised if Ruakaka candidate Witsabouthim (NZ) (Savabeel) becomes a cups contender in the next two years. Witsabouthim is nominated for two 1600m events at the Northland track on Saturday, a three-year-old set weights and penalties event and a Rating 65 event for all ages. His choice of race may well depend on the relative strengths of the fields and the barrier draws. Witsabouthim has raced just twice, having no luck on debut when fifth at Avondale and then showing great acceleration in the last 200m to…

Cameron keen to return to the saddle

Matthew Cameron is planning a return to the saddle after calling time out on his career in December last year. The two-time Champion Jockey surprised many when stepping away from racing as it entered the peak of the racing season, but after seven months away from riding, the talented 34-year-old has had a chance to properly re-charge the batteries. “I’ve been thinking (about returning) the last month or so,” Cameron told Weigh In. “I’ve been getting a little bit of itchy feet here watching the races, and being so close…

Tatts Tiara confirmed for Tofane

Trainer Mike Moroney has given the green light for Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) to have a crack at securing her third elite-level victory at Eagle Farm next week. The daughter of Ocean Park doubled her Group One tally when taking out the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at the Brisbane track last week, continuing her purple patch of form. She lugged around 60kg to finish runner-up in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) the start prior, rewarding her owners for electing against selling her at auction last month. Moroney, who hasn’t been able…