Our new Moment of the Month series reflects and highlights some of more significant moments…
Month: August 2021
Daillys’ mighty National ‘Deed’
After springing the biggest upset in the Victorian National Sprint heats, Andrea Dailly is relying on strength in numbers to claim the state title at The Meadows on Thursday night. Three heats of the Victorian Sprint series were held on Saturday night and ‘Team Dailly’s’ $38 roughie Fabriola Zad caused a sensation in the opening run-off with a dominant 30.01sec victory, eliminating $1.50 favourite Equalizer in the process. “It wasn’t really a surprise because the dog can run a bit and he loves The Meadows,” co-trainer Tom Dailly said. “He…
Turn Me Loose filly impresses at Ballarat
Three-year-old filly Ancient Girl (NZ) got off the mark in fine style at Ballarat on Tuesday for trainer Clinton McDonald, with the daughter of Turn Me Loose knuckling down late to score on debut over 1200m. Ridden by apprentice Josh Richards, Ancient Girl came from midfield on the synthetic track with a well-timed run to win in the manner of a filly that will appreciate getting over further. “She’s a filly that has always shown a little bit,” McDonald said. “We brought her to the synthetic because she had been…
Bostonian heads to retirement paddock
Triple Group One winner Bostonian’s (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) racing career is over. Bred and raced under David Archer’s Archer Equine Investment banner, Bostonian won 10 of his 24 career starts, including the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m), Gr.1 Doomben Ten Thousand (1200m), and Gr.1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m). All three victories came in Australia, where he raced as The Bostonian. The lightly-raced seven-year-old has been sidelined with a fetlock injury after finishing seventh in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) last August, and the findings of x-rays over winter led to his…
Plenty of spring options for Mo’unga
Annabel Neasham has plenty of options to ponder when it comes to last season’s Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel). The Warwick Farm trainer is deliberating over whether to send the Savabeel entire to Melbourne to contest the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) or Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), or stay in his home state to tackle the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m). Neasham will let some more water pass under the bridge before making a decision, but she was buoyed by his first-up trial over 1100m at his home…
Pike on weather watch
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike will be keeping a close eye on the weather ahead of racing at Te Rapa on Saturday where Group One winner Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock) is set to kick-off his spring preparation in the Super Seth & Waikato Stud Mile (1600m). The five-year-old gelding pleased in his 1300m trial at Cambridge earlier this month and Pike is cautious of giving him a first-up run on a heavy track. “He is entered for Saturday but we are having a good look at the weather. We wouldn’t want…
Daily Mail: Will of Grace?
Who gets the family bragging rights – Weblec Raider (Jeff Britton) v Mepunga Grace (Angela Langton)? Langton will be hoping it’s the ‘will of Grace’ when the talented duo lines up in a Restricted Win (3-6 Wins) final over 485m at Horsham this afternoon. Weblec Raider (3 from 7) won his first three starts but had had no luck of late, while Mepunga Grace (4 from 12) has won three of her past six. Expert form analyst The Watchdog says She Can Excite (5 from 16 – 3 of past…
2021 Waterloo Cup – possible contenders
The 2021 Waterloo Cup series is almost upon us! National Coursing Association Victoria Secretary Sean Lithgow takes a look at some of the coursing talent we hope to see in week one of the Waterloo Cup which will be held at Longwood. Nominations close for Victoria’s richest coursing event boasting $12,970 to-the-winner on Thursday 12 August at 8.30am. Nangkari So far unbeaten coursing, Nangkari sets up his wins in the first 20 metres with electrifying breaks from the slips and brilliant early speed. Longwood is a slightly shorter track than…
Crozier upbeat about Ringbolt ahead of Grand National
Canterbury locals will have just the one runner to cheer for in Wednesday’s Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury 131st Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton, with Ringbolt (NZ) (Pentire) being the South Island’s sole representative. The nine-year-old gelding suffered his first defeat over hurdles when finishing fourth of five runners in the Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) at Riccarton last Saturday, but trainer Danny Crozier said he had his excuses. “He scored the last (hurdle) and lost his back legs. He was never going to beat the winner, but it probably cost him…
Buckingham passes away
Gregarious, generous, a great contributor, best describe Clyde Buckingham who passed away last week after a short illness in Middlemore Hospital, aged 83. Buckingham was a Gold Star member of the Auckland Racing Club, where he had served as a director in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, and an active member of the Auckland Branch of the NZTBA. He also served as a director of the Counties Racing Club, the nearest club to the Karaka lifestyle property he shared with his wife Patricia on their retirement. Originally from Levin,…