Zayydani’s (NZ) name will long be remembered at Lindsay Park after the Savabeel mare officially began the new phase of the stable’s history when she took the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2137m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The win in the A$200,000 race provided the newly formed training partnership of brothers Ben and JD Hayes with their first success. “That was a great thrill even though it was all the way up at Eagle Farm,” Ben Hayes told Racing.com from Caulfield. “JD is back at the farm (near Euroa) and…
Month: June 2021
Roughie needs golden Geall touch
Jeff Geall will need some of his high-flying brother David’s magic to rub off on Zipping Clifford if the 70-start roughie is to cause a surprise in Saturday night’s 600m FFA at The Meadows (race 6 at 8.07pm). Jeff is a relative newcomer to the training ranks and didn’t have to look far for an ideal mentor. He works in partnership with Lara-based David, who’s enjoying a fantastic run in 2021 with two-time country cups winner Ferdinand Boy and boom prospect Koblenz, winner of his past nine. But Jeff concedes…
Tutukaka Derby bound
The Tony Pike-trained two-year-old gelding Tutukaka ticked the first box as he makes a long-range bid for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) with a dominant victory in the Listed Tattersall’s Life Member Stakes (1830m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Ridden by Michael Cahill, the half-brother to Melody Belle always looked in control when sitting outside the leader and posted a four-length winning margin over runner-up Balmaurice. The victory was the first from four starts for Tutukaka, who put the writing on the wall with a third placing in the Listed…
Popstar Princess too tough for her rivals in Tauranga Classic
A gun front-running ride by Jonathan Riddell and the pugnacious nature of Popstar Princess (NZ) (Makfi) combined to provide the pair with a memorable victory in the feature race at Tauranga on Saturday, the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m). The Fred and Lindsay Cornege-trained Makfi mare was back to her brilliant best as she defied race favourite Supreme Heights (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and a host of talented female rivals to run her down after doing all the donkey work in front on the Heavy11 surface. Riddell judged things to…
Divine Duke puts jumping career on hold again
Capable winter stayer Divine Duke (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) has once again put a potential jumping career on hold with a powerful performance to take out Saturday’s Seeka Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) at Tauranga. The rising nine-year-old made it back-to-back victories after a similar performance at Ellerslie over 2200m at his previous start. Carrying just 52kgs courtesy of the 3kg claim by apprentice rider Joe Kamaruddin, Divine Duke defied his normal racing pattern of trailing the entire field in the early stages by racing keenly in midfield this time. Kamaruddin hugged the…
Plan comes together for McKay two-year-old
Trainer Sally McKay made the long trip north from her Invercargill base to Riccarton with butterflies in her stomach and a host of doubts as to whether she had done the right thing with her stable runner Palmetto (NZ) (Ghibellines), who was making his raceday debut on Saturday. The two-year-old son of Ghibellines hadn’t sighted a starting gate until last Monday with McKay unable to get a barrier certificate for him due to the unavailability of starting gates at her Ascot Park base at an opportune time. In desperation McKay…
Shima and Demons – let it snow!
There’s ‘no season like snow season’ – but Dees’ fans have put their ‘Toorak tractors’ away, if you’ll excuse the pun. That’s how well Melbourne is travelling this year! And that’s why Demons’ supporters will paradoxically get on ‘skis’ for a quick piece of TAB’s AFL/Greys Saturday night action. TAB is offering $4.50 about Melbourne ‘snowballing’ Essendon and budding champ Shima Classic winning at The Meadows. The Demons are perched on top of the ladder with 11 wins from 13 matches and Essendon 10th with six wins. Inexplicably, Melbourne went…
Krug hot favourite to win Aussie opener
By Adam Hamilton Young Kiwi star Krug is $1.30 with the Aussie TAB to open his Queensland raid with victory in tonught’s Redcliffe Derby (7.43pm NZT). It’s natural to think a horse of his talent should win a race of that calibre, way below the heights he’e scaled at home. But top Queensland driver Grant Dixon, who has driven at Redcliffe more than just about anyone, warned the unique triangle track could present challenges for Krug. “It’s a different track, that’s for sure,” Dixon said. “Cran’s a great trainer and…
2021 Tattersall’s Tiara Field: Tofane, Savatiano, Odeum Draw Wide
The Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) brings an end to elite level racing for the season in Brisbane on Saturday and it shapes-up as an open affair with the likes of Tofane, Savatiano and Odeum all drawing wide for the Eagle Farm feature. Dual Group 1 winning mare Tofane is the widely-drawn favourite for Saturday’s Tatt’s Tiara 2021 at Eagle Farm. Photo: Steve Hart. The Tattersall’s Tiara 2021 field features a capacity line-up of fillies and mares and the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au are led by Michael Moroney’s…
John Size upbeat over Drops Of God, Blaze Warrior as championship hopes flicker
John Size hopes Drops Of God can reprise his best form. Conceding the 2020/21 Hong Kong trainers’ championship is clearly Caspar Fownes’ to lose, John Size is optimistic Drops Of God and Blaze Warrior can preserve flickering hopes of a 12th championship when the emerging pair spearheads the trainer’s quality entry at Sha Tin on Saturday (26 June). Trailing Fownes by seven winners (68-75) with six meetings to go before the end of season on 14 July, Size is downplaying his chances of becoming the winner of the most trainers’…