Trainer Andrew Forsman put aside the disappointment of having to scratch pre-post favourite Francesca (NZ) (Iffraaj) from the feature race at Awapuni on Saturday when he and training partner Murray Baker produced talented two-year-old filly Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) to win on debut at Matamata. Forsman had been expecting progressive four-year-old Iffraaj mare Francesca to be hard to beat in the Gr.3 Boehringer Ingelheim Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni, but a swollen leg that was discovered on race morning put paid to her starting in the contest. “She (Francesca)…
Month: September 2021
Will Demons ‘earn’ the win?
After an AFL season that feels like we’ve been all over the place – venue changes, games changing times at short notice – it’s time for efforts to be rewarded with answers this week for the Dees in the West and Earn The Answers at The Meadows on Saturday night. TAB has brought order to the apex of the season, offering $4.40 for the long-overdue Demons to beat the barking Bulldogs, and Earn The Answers to triumph in race eight (6.34pm). It’s been 57 years since the Dees completed the…
Returning Rhino’s Healesville safari
After being sidelined by a “one in a million” injury, Group 1 Maturity Classic finalist Handsome Rhino will ‘charge’ back into action at Healesville on Sunday afternoon, taking what trainer Paul Galea hopes are the first steps on the path to the Melbourne Cup. Prior to his enforced spell, Handsome Rhino had been highly competitive in elite company, qualifying fastest for the Maturity at The Meadows in July with a 29.85sec heat victory, before running fifth to Qwara Bale in the final. The May 2019 son of Aston Dee Bee…
Classic aims for Forgot You
Improving colt Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) earned a tilt at two of the spring’s three-year-old classics with a late-charging win in Friday night’s Gr. 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at The Valley. Less than a week after they combined to win a Group One with Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma), jockey Daniel Moor and trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young were dreaming about the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) with their son of Savabeel. After beginning well from barrier three, Forgot You was given a charmed…
Daily Mail: Jonah eyeing Geelong Derby berth
Promising greyhounds converge on Geelong this evening with three outstanding heats for both the Geelong Derby (460m) and Geelong Oaks (460m). Recent G2 Healesville Cup placegetter Hill Top Jonah (14 from 28 – 6 of last 7) highlights the first Geelong Derby heat, but Kinson Bale (4 of last 5) will be a formidable foe. Nikoli Bale (2 from 2 Trk/Dst) and dual Group finalist Mr. America (10 from 19) headline the second Geelong Derby heat, while Street Riot (8 from 15) and Peaky Blazer (4 from 7) have the…
Auckland Cup downgraded to Group Two
The Pattern Review for races run in the 2020-21 season has been completed, with the New Zealand Pattern Committee downgrading three races. Most notably, the two-mile Auckland Cup has been downgraded from Group One to Group Two level, which leaves the Melbourne Cup and Sydney Cup as the only 3200m Group One races in Australasia. The Pattern Committee recommended that the race keep its prizemoney ($500,000), that it revert to being a handicap and that it be given “Heritage 1” status in the event that New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing supports…
Sky Darci is primed for strong return
Joao Moreira has unshakeable faith in Sky Darci’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma) ability to cope with various contingencies as the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner resumes in the Gr.3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Facing eight quality rivals in the first Group race of the 2021/22 Hong Kong season, Moreira suspects Sky Darci’s premium distance is 1600m but is trading on the five-year-old’s versatility and competitive nature to hold sway. “He’s trialled not so long ago (14 September) and he gave me such a good feel.…
Entriviere out to secure lucrative Invitation
Classy New Zealand mare Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock) will be out to secure a spot in the A$2 million The Invitation (1400m) when she contests the Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The Jamie Richards-trained mare made a pleasing start to her spring preparation when winning the Gr.2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) earlier in the month and will be met by a similar field this weekend. “She’s a quality mare and seems to have bounced out of that first-up run in good shape,” Richards said. “She’s drawn the outside barrier,…
Zouzarella favoured in Guineas warm up
Cambridge Stud-owned filly Zouzarella (Zoustar) can further stamp herself as the horse to beat in the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 13 when she contests the Listed Jim Maloney Stakes (1400m) at Sandown. Prepared by Anthony and Sam Freedman, the three-year-old filly has had two starts for two wins, both at Moonee Valley, and looks to be suited stepping up in distance. “Everything points toward her enjoying a bigger track and a longer run in, albeit when they come down that hill, I’ve had plenty of horses…
Pike quartet on song for Matamata
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike will venture to Matamata on Saturday with an in-form quartet of runners. Amongst them are youngsters Pacific Dragon and Khufu, while consistent types Rapid Falls and River Run also look hard to beat. Pike hopes to get the day off to a flyer when last-start Te Rapa winner Rapid Falls contests the opening race, the Te Akau Racing 1600m. Rapid Falls won on a heavy track last start, conditions she will face again on Saturday with Matamata rated a Heavy11. “Rapid Falls is a lightly raced…