Month: July 2021

Revolution ‘Elevates’ Harry’s dynasty

Editor BOAY

It’s no exaggeration to say Harry Manolitsis has a ‘Midas touch’ when it comes to racing success, these days with greyhounds and previously in the harness code. Manolitsis has bred, raced and/or trained G1-winning greyhounds Get It Gizmo (2019 Topgun), Moreira (2016 Golden Easter Egg) and Elevated (2018 Sapphire Crown). He’s also owned champion pacers Young Rufus and Tupelo Rose, both multiple G1 winners, among a host of top-shelf standardbreds. “I’ve been lucky,” said Manolitsis, modestly playing down his remarkable success. “I’ve probably won 16 or 17 G1 races in…

Daily Mail: White’s Warragul ‘Paua’ play

Editor BOAY

Is undefeated youngster Paua Of Janie the real deal or a ‘flash’ in the pan? That question could go a long way towards being answered tonight at Warragul when Steve White’s exciting NSW import Paua Of Janie (6 from 6) makes her second Victorian appearance, facing G3 winner Blackpool Flash (24 from 46 – 6 of past 10). White and his ‘Paua’ team will feature in another standout Warragul clash, with Paua Of Buddy (4 from 6 – 3 from 3 Trk/Dst), Paua Of Janie’s brother, tackling Aston Gigante (3…

Spring in steps of star gallopers

NZRacingDesk

Group One targets await stablemates Probabeel and Sword Of State in Australia later this year and they took their first serious steps this afternoon toward spring goals with trial outings on the all-weather track at Cambridge. Trainer Jamie Richards was well-represented during the day with crack mare Avantage also in action and she will be chasing elite level titles at home while Entriviere is likely to campaign in Sydney. Probabeel settled in a handy spot off the fence in her open 800m heat and she wasn’t pressured by rider Opie…

Patience paying dividends for Mirabelli

NZRacingDesk

Patience is paying off for Cambridge trainer Paul Mirabelli with his much-improved gelding Charred, and it may lead to a tilt at the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) in November. It took 39 starts for Charred to win his first race, in a maiden highweight at Tauranga on April 21. But there’s a solid chance it will be start 44, scheduled to be in the Rating 74 Avondale Sunday Markets (2100m) at Avondale on Wednesday, when he records his third. Following his highweight victory at Tauranga, Charred finished third in…

Blacks A Fake – where is he now?

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk   As King of Swing attempts to do a “Blacks A Fake” on Saturday at Albion Park, the champion himself is enjoying retirement in rural Queensland. If the defending champion King Of Swing wins the $250,000 2021 TAB Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship again on Saturday night he’ll emulate the double achieved by “Blackie” in 2006 and 2007. Back then the race was known as the Winter Cup. After Blacks A Fake won again in 2009 the race was re-named in his honour. On…

Bordeaux and the HERO programme – Part 4

NZHarnessNews

In a few short weeks Bordeaux has come a long way. Before he arrived at Chanelle Dickie’s Selwyn Equestrian Centre he’d never been ridden, now he’s not only getting used to life under saddle but he’s started jumping small fences, and a lot more besides. After winning 11 races on the track the 10-year-old trotter is part of Harness Racing New Zealand’s HERO programme. (HERO stands for Harness Education and Rehoming Opportunities). This is the fourth in a series of videos about Bordeaux, and gauges his progress with Dickie before…

2021 National Breeding Awards

NZRacingDesk

The Ebbett VW 2021 NZTBA National Breeding Awards will be held at the Mystery Creek Events Centre on Saturday, 21st August. The gala event will recognise the 19 individual Group One winners bred by New Zealand-based breeders, who between them won 30 elite races in Australasia. The winners of the Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan Breeder of the Year, Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year, and the three Champion stallion trophies – Dewar (Australasian earnings), Centaine (Worldwide earnings) and Grosvenor (New Zealand earnings) –  will also be crowned. In…

Surprise hometown advantage for Nelson jumpers

NZRacingDesk

The prospect of better ground in their own neighbourhood has seen leading jumps trainers Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal direct three of their charges toward the rescheduled Wellington prestige jumps races on Thursday. With bad weather causing the abandonment of Trentham’s major winter raceday last Saturday, the Hydra-Cell Pumps Wellington Hurdle (3100m) and the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) have been moved to Hastings. The only scheduled runner in these features at Trentham for Nelson and McDougal was No Tip in the hurdle. But with the shifting of the venue,…

Big swing in draws for the King

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  Even rival driver Anthony Butt concedes the $250,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake is King Of Swing’s “race to lose.” A somewhat deflated Butt admitted repeating his win with Copy That over King Of Swing was going to be a huge ask after the barrier draw. King Of Swing will start from the pole and looks almost certain to lead without much stress or pressure, while Copy That has gate five. “The draw has made King Of Swing very hard to beat,” Butt said. “We had the…

Options galore for Copy That after latest Group One triumph

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin When Auckland trainer Ray Green thinks about what may lay ahead for Copy That in the next year he feels even more relieved he has had both his Covid vaccination shots. Because the 73-year-old admits he doesn’t know quite where his stable star is going to be taking him. Green had one of the most satisfying nights of his very interesting career when Copy That and American Dealer both won group races at Albion Park in Brisbane continuing a superb strike rate during Green’s winter campaign. Copy…