By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk In May those closest to Chase Auckland feared his racing days were over. And now they’ve made the call. The winner of 14 races, including seven Listed or Group features in this country, and nearly $800,000, has been officially retired. “It’s been an emotional time,” says Alabar Racing Syndicate manager Ivan Behrnes. The signs were not good after Chase Auckland finished second to South Coast Arden at Addington on May 14. That was his first race since fracturing a hock in Australia in…
Month: July 2021
Pagan’s patient approach with juveniles
Being patient wasn’t in the Denis Pagan playbook as an AFL coach, nor is it something he enjoys as a trainer, however, that approach is paying off particularly for two of his New Zealand-bred charges. “I hate it, but you’ve got to do it and they’re my horses and I’m not in any rush,” Pagan said. “My time will come next autumn when I have five or six good staying types up and about. “I’ve got better results when I’ve been patient and the words ring in my ear ‘It’s…
Morrison takes early lead in Junior Championship
by Jonny Turner John Morrison made a nearly perfect start to clinch an early lead when the New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship got underway at Addington on Thursday night. Morrison went down to early runner-up Sheree Tomlinson by the barest of margins in heat one before going one better in the second of two opening night heats. Morrison has had a few cracks at the championship and has had plenty of placings before, but in his final year as a junior driver the reinsman broke through for a heat win.…
Vincent Ho wins Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong’s leading home-grown jockey
Vincent Ho receives the Tony Cruz Award. Vincent Ho has crowned a glorious season by claiming his third consecutive Tony Cruz Award as Hong Kong’s leading local jockey, clinching overall honours with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (14 July). Already the jurisdiction’s leading Group 1 rider in 2020/21 with five successes at elite level – four on Golden Sixty and another on Loves Only You – Ho finished the term with 61 wins to deny apprentice Jerry Chau, who completed a phenomenal first full season with 58…
NZB Insurance carrot for Cambridge winners
New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance has thrust their support behind the new Cambridge Synthetic track, with a $10,000 bonus up for grabs at the next meeting on July 28 for several runners set to contest the three-year-old set weights and penalties race over 1550m. The Stephen Marsh-trained Miss Cartier was the first to become eligible for the prize when winning the NZB Insurance $10,000 Bonus Heat on June 16, with the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Encantador claiming the second heat on June 30, and on Wednesday the Jim Collett-trained gelding…
Vincent is Truly Reliable
Trainer Ray Vincent is optimistic he can claim his first stakes victory at Belmont Park on Saturday. Ray Vincent will saddle up Truly Reliable (NZ) (Reliable Man) in the Listed Drummond Golf Belmont Classic (2200m). Vincent believes his confidence in Truly Reliable measuring up is warranted following his encouraging third in last fortnight’s Listed Aquanita Stakes (2000m). The three-year-old son of Reliable Man finished two lengths shy of Tena Koutou, but Vincent says the way he finished the race off was reassuring. With Shelby Bowtell aboard, Truly Reliable was doing his best work late…
Queen Constantine impressive at Wanganui
Queen Constantine (Holy Roman Emperor) recorded her first New Zealand victory at Wanganui on Thursday when taking out the Rosser Underwriting & Fasttrack Insurance 2060m. Backed into favouritism ($2.90), with apprentice jockey Kozzi Asano aboard, Queen Constantine took up a front-running role and was never hampered by her competition, running away to a comfortable 3-3/4 length victory. The European import had previously started four times in New Zealand for owner Kevin Hickman of Valachi Downs, each on dead footing but seemed to relish an extra amount of give on Thursday…
Schofer brings up century at Wanganui
Leading apprentice jockey Hazel Schofer reached one of her major goals of the season at Wanganui on Thursday, bringing up 100 wins. The Taranaki hoop was just one win shy of the milestone heading into Thursday’s meeting and Schofer thought promising two-year-old Yeaboi (NZ) (Yeaboi) could be the horse to get her there in the Spooner Dry Cleaners 2YO (1200m). Her assessment was correct, and the son of Belardo got up to win by a short-head over Queen Of Spades (NZ) (Iffraaj) for Schofer’s employer, Allan Sharrock. “Yeaboi had won…
John Morrison leads after the first night
2021 McMillan Equine Feeds NZ Junior Driver Championship Tonight saw the first two heats of the 2021 McMillan Equine Feeds Junior Driver Championship held at Addington Raceway. The first heat was taken out by Sheree Tomlinson on the Fred Scott trained Takemybreathaway securing valuable points. John Morrison and Kaleb Bublitz finished in second and third. The second heat saw John Morrison as the successful driver aboard Sheeza Artist for Greg and Nina Hope. Sarah O’Reilly and Sheree Tomlinson picked up 12 and 10 points after finishing second and third. After…
Fortune’s no ‘Fool’
Fate has treated Fortune’s Fool badly in luck. No, I’m not reciting Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. I refer to a greyhound – named metaphorically after the “Bard of Avon’s” Romeo character – that won’t accept ‘banishment’ from the racetrack. Bred, owned and trained by Maddison ‘Maddi’ Toner, 22, Fortune’s Fool (Feb ’19 Mepunga Blazer x Bel Air Mist) finally got his ‘fame’ – all 25 seconds of it – in a Maiden heat (440m) at Sale last Sunday. Fortune’s Fool, who is 29 months old, was making his race debut…