Month: September 2021

Former Kiwi galloper Inverell (NZ) (Shocking) will contest Wednesday’s Victoria Derby Preview (1800m) at Flemington. The son of Shocking made a good impression when winning at Sale on debut and has been set on a path towards the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) by trainer Clayton Douglas, who prepares the three-year-old for OTI Racing. “As soon as he came into the stable, he was a horse that showed us he has got a big engine and a beautiful big action. The further the trip gets, the better he is going to…

Star Kiwi mare Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) is set to back-up in the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Sandown on Saturday after lugging around 57kg to run fifth in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last Saturday. The daughter of Savabeel carried 5kg more than her vanquishers and trainer Jamie Richards was pleased with her performance given her hefty impost. “I thought she ran really well, I was pleased with the way she went,” Richards said. “She was going to have to break a few records in terms…

Lightly-raced mare Butter Chicken (NZ) (Savabeel) has made quite the impression in her fledgling career. The Savabeel four-year-old featured prominently last summer, winning one of her three starts, placing in her two other outings, including the Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield in February. She resumed with a pleasing trial win over 1190m at Cranbourne last month before finishing eighth in the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington earlier this month. She suffered interference in her first-up run and trainer Grahame Begg is looking forward to stepping her up…

Elephant (NZ) (Shocking) will attempt to return to his winning ways when he lines-up in the Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) on Saturday. The five-year-old gelding was handed his first defeat by the barest of margins in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley earlier this month and trainers David and Emma-Lee Browne believe he can return to winning form this weekend. David Browne has been pleased with the way Elephant has come through that run and believes Saturday’s run will be a good lead-in to the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap…

Jim Pender isn’t in any hurry to take on the topliners yet with Gospodin (NZ) (Proisir) despite a picket fence formline now stretching to five starts. A seven-week break and a step up to open handicap company didn’t prove any barrier to Gospodin in the Veterinary Associates Equine handicap (1200m) at Te Aroha on Sunday, as he comfortably beat a useful field of winter sprinters. The latest victory for the Tauranga four-year-old confirms his status as an exciting prospect, on winter tracks at least, but Pender said he won’t be…