Month: June 2021

It’s been a few years now since Gai and Rob Waterhouse were active in the tried horse market in New Zealand, but that is all about to change. The Waterhouse stable gained huge success through horses purchased off the track in New Zealand through the likes of Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner Descarado (NZ) (High Chaparral), Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2600m) winner Herculian Prince (NZ) (Yaminin Vital) and Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) winner Tullamore (NZ) (Savabeel). Waterhouse and training partner Adrian Bott have signaled their intention to increase the opportunities available…

Paul O’Sullivan attributed Fairy Floss’ (NZ) (Guillotine) victory in the Class 4 Ping Tin Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday, the grey’s fourth success from his past six starts, to maturity and the genius of rider Joao Moreira, who brought up a double on the Guillotine gelding. “He’s a horse who took a long time to adjust to Hong Kong,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s more relaxed now and he’s found his groove. It was a good solid win today and he had a lot against him. He was out in the…

There were handshakes and salutes all around after the running of the feature event at Ellerslie on Monday, the McGregor Grant Steeplechase (4150m). Underrated jumps jockey Hamish McNeill guided outsider Eion to a memorable victory in the race first run in 1901 as the Winter Steeplechase before being renamed in 1957 in honour of former Auckland Racing Club president, Dr Alexander McGregor Grant. The Ken Duncan-trained Eion was having his second race start since September 2019, with his first run back from the injury-enforced break just last Thursday over 2100m…

The education process will continue with budding star Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj), who signs off his three-year-old career with an important run in Saturday’s Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm. Co-trainer Mick Price said on Monday that the Group Three race is a crucial one in Ayrton’s development as a racehorse ahead of a potentially lucrative Spring Carnival in Melbourne. “He’s coped well since his last run and this is all part of toughening him up to be a racehorse,” Price said from Queensland. “He’s good. He’ll have a course…

Showy chestnut filly Flash Mary (NZ) (El Roca) showed she has plenty of substance to add to her good looks when she made a winning debut at Ellerslie on Monday. The two-year-old daughter of El Roca was having her first start off the back of an eye-catching win over 900m at the Te Rapa trials last month, with punters installing her as the $2.60 favourite for the 1200m contest. On the very testing Heavy11 surface, Flash Mary settled nicely in the trail for rider Lynsey Satherley before moving to the…

A minor injury has cruelled the season of one of Australia’s best jumpers, Bee Tee Junior (NZ) (Dom Du Jeu). Trainer Rachael Cunningham confirmed that last year’s Grand National Steeplechase hero had missed several weeks of work after he sustained a minor leg injury in April. While the nine-year-old has recovered well from the setback and returned to light exercise, Cunningham said she would’ve been in a race against time to get the gelding fit enough for a return to jumping. “He had a little setback about six weeks ago…

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