Month: July 2021

Jockey Ben Allen and Sansom (NZ) (Charm Spirit) continued their remarkable association when they combined for a seventh career win in Saturday’s final Group race in Melbourne for the season. The Gr.3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) victory at Caulfield, where he nosed out Group One winner Streets Of Avalon (Magnus), took Allen’s record on the Phillip Stokes-trained galloper to seven wins from 10 rides. “He’s been a very good horse to me,” Allen said. “A big thanks to the Stokes camp for getting me on him. He’s starting to mature into…

Cru Classe (NZ) (Reliable Man) prevailed in the Ciaron Maher Racing Premiership Handicap (2412m) on Saturday in a tooth and nail fight up the Caulfield straight.  Under jockey Dean Yendall’s urgings, Cru Classe ($7) scored a short-half-head win from Dubai Moon (Pride of Dubai) ($31) with the leader Bow Thruster (Press Statement) ($101) holding on for third, a further 1-¼ lengths away.  “It was the worst run I ever would’ve imagined for a 2400-metre race, they just walked,” Yendall said.  “Even at the half-mile they got slower again but she travelled lovely the whole way throughout.  “I had…

Order Again (NZ) (Iffraaj) has been rewarded for his consistency with an overdue victory in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday, continuing Chris Waller’s domination of the feature race.  Waller has now captured six of the past nine runnings and he was rapt to see Order Again finally have some luck this campaign.  “He’s been very consistent without a lot of things going his way. It was a well-timed run and in typical Hugh Bowman style he just got there in time,” Waller said.  “Normally we have to space his races but…

Local trainer Allan Sharrock gained a special result on his home track on Saturday to round out a record-breaking season for his New Plymouth-based stable. Sharrock prepared the quinella in the Listed Powerworx Opunake Cup (1400m) when rider Sam Weatherley guided race favourite Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) to victory over gallant mare London Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) in an exciting finish to the feature event on the day. Bred and raced by Sharrock in partnership with his brother Bruce, the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing…

Rookie apprentice Ace Lawson-Carroll completed his first winning ride in fine style when he guided handy winter sprinter Crystallize (NZ) (Iffraaj) to a comfortable victory at Te Rapa on Saturday. The 16-year-old, who weighs just 48kgs, made full use of his 4kg apprentice claim aboard the Danny Walker-trained runner as he set up a steady pace out in front in the open 1500m and defied his six rivals to run him down. Lawson-Carroll asked his mount for a serious effort shortly after turning for home with Crystallize bounding clear over…

Debutante It Might Be You (NZ) (Savabeel) looked to have a bright future ahead of her as she easily won a maiden 1200m event at Te Rapa on Saturday. Despite being caught wide on the pace throughout, the Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained daughter of Savabeel was handled patiently by rider Danielle Johnson and once asked to extend in the straight quickly gained the ascendency, before cruising to the line nearly four lengths to the good of her nearest rival. Bred and raced by Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick, It Might…