Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) was at her best on Saturday when claiming the second elite-level win of her career with a brave performance to secure the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m). A few weeks ago the five-year-old mare was at a career crossroads. Having managed two Group placings since her Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) victory last autumn, her owners were weighing up whether to auction her at Queensland’s national broodmare sale. Rupert Legh was one of those keen to sell but on Saturday at Eagle Farm, he was happy he…
Month: June 2021
Spring Tide bounces back to winning form at Trentham
Talented winter galloper Spring Tide (NZ) (Darci Brahma) returned to the form he showed this time last year when he lumped 61.5kgs to victory over 1000m at Trentham on Saturday. The four-year-old son of Darci Brahma was having his second start in a new campaign after opening up with a creditable run for fourth at the venue last time. Trainer Chrissy Bambry resisted the temptation to put a claiming apprentice aboard her charge to reduce his hefty impost, sticking with rider Sarah Macnab who had been aboard at his first…
Ayrton Back In Business After Impressive Gunsynd Win
Boom horse Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj) is back in the winner’s stall after a dominant display in the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The three-year-old suffered his first defeat when beaten at short odds in the Gr.3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) last start, but on Saturday ran away from the field with ease to win comfortably by 2.75 lengths. A spell now looks on the cards for the son of Iffraaj, with co-trainer Mick Price looking toward the A$7.5m Golden Eagle (1500m) in the spring. Price said…
Bishara doubles up at Te Rapa
Trainer Nick Bishara took two horses to Te Rapa on Saturday and returned home a happy man after securing a winning double. Bishara started his winning run when maiden three-year-old Rubyshowoff (NZ) (Showcasing) secured her first victory when defeating her age-group rivals over 1400m while two races later progressive mare Cherry Lane (NZ) (Redwood) backed up a last-start victory at Ellerslie with another top performance when taking out an open 1600m contest. Heavily backed prior to race start, Cherry Lane travelled sweetly behind the pace for rider Andrew Calder before…
Mustang Valley provides sire with first winner
Promising two-year-old Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh) justified some heavy support from punters when she cruised to victory over 1200m at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained filly was sent out a warm favourite ($2.40) after finishing an eye-catching second on debut at Matamata last month, which was followed up by a late closing run for fourth in stakes company at Ellerslie. Carrying the colours of her breeder and part-owner, Windsor Park Stud, the daughter of their resident stallion Vanbrugh enjoyed a soft run in midfield for…
Healesville Super Sprinter says ‘Hello’
Straight track sensation Hello George has his sights set on reigning G3 Healesville Cup champion Zambora Lou in Sunday afternoon’s Super Sprint final (350m). Hello George, bred and owned by leading trainer Angela Langton and her mother Sue Smith’s Champagne syndicate, is the only racing greyhound in Belgrave-based David Bottrell’s suburban kennel and the environment obviously agrees with him. The well-bred son of Barcia Bale and multiple G1 finalist Vegas Bound also has a distinct liking for Healesville, where he has the remarkable record of 11 wins and four seconds…
Winter Cup of content for Grenfells?
The last time Anakie’s ‘Team Grenfell’ had three runners in a final – they trifectaed the race! That was in last month’s Listed Graeme Hull Memorial – formerly Wagga Gold Cup – when Yozo Bale, Xavien Bale and Usman Bale went 1-2-3. And they’ll be hoping lightning strikes twice in the ‘same place’. Well, not exactly. This time it’s Cranbourne where Nikoli Bale (Box 1), Xavien Bale (Box 3) and Usman Bale (Box 8) line up in the $20,535 to-the-winner Trios Winter Cup (520m) – Race 8 at 7.23pm. In…
Zaaki Dominates 2021 The Q22 Field & Odds
Annabel Neasham’s runaway Doomben Cup champion Zaaki is the in-form winter galloper to beat again with the horse at an odds-on quote to claim the inaugural $1.2 million The Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Toffee Tongue (pictured) is considered the danger to Zaaki in Saturday’s 2021 The Q22 in Brisbane. Photo: Steve Hart. A newly revamped feature on the Stradbroke Handicap Day card in Brisbane, The Q22 weight-for-age showdown replaces the race formerly known as the Eagle Farm Cup / P.J. O’Shea Stakes and there’s a huge prize…
Punters On Converge in 2021 J.J. Atkins Field & Betting
The money is coming for co-trainer Gai Waterhouse to secure her third success in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins with Converge the firm favourite to take out the mile feature for two-year-olds at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Converge is one of the top fancied two-year-olds in Saturday’s 2021 J.J. Atkins field in Brisbane. Photo: Steve Hart. Tulloch Lodge trainers Waterhouse and Adrian Bott saddle-up two of the fourteen juveniles facing off in this year’s $1,000,000 J.J. Atkins (1600m) including the top fancy Converge. Stablemate Volcanic Rock is a 20/1 outsider…
Joao Moreira believes Master Eight can again live up to promise at Sha Tin
Joao Moreira is closing in on a fourth Hong Kong jockeys’ title. Commanding a virtually unassailable lead in the jockeys’ championship, Joao Moreira is confident Master Eight can confirm his status as one of Hong Kong’s brightest prospects with victory in the Class 3 Hap Mun Bay Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (13 June). Leading Zac Purton 138 to 117 in quest of a fourth Hong Kong title, Moreira believes only unbeaten Courier Wonder is superior to Master Eight among the three-year-olds the Brazilian has handled this season.…