Month: September 2021

Wellington hits Hong Kong Sprint trail

AAP

Wellington is Hong Kong’s second-highest rater sprinter behind Hot King Prawn. After a superb first full-season in Hong Kong which encompassed Group 1 glory, jockey Alexis Badel is brimming with excitement ahead of Wellington’s return after partnering the star sprinter in a hit-out on the turf at Sha Tin on Monday, 13 September. “I’m definitely excited, I always knew he was a special horse and it’s good to see a horse like this achieve and perform at this level,” Badel said. The affable Frenchman gained a maiden Group 1 success…

Panfield returns in style ahead of HKIR assignment

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Panfield (right) cruises to trial victory at Sha Tin. Armed with options heading towards LONGINES Hong Kong International Raceday in December, Tony Millard will adopt a flexible approach with Panfield after the star stayer’s effortless trial win at Sha Tin on Tuesday (14 September). Last season’s Champion Stayer of Hong Kong, Panfield is likely to kick off his 2021/22 campaign in the Group 2 Oriental Watch 60th Anniversary Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) on 17 October after hitting the line strongly under Karis Teetan over 1600m this morning. Casting further…

Quality Bloodlines in 2021 Ready to Run Sale Catalogue

NZRacingDesk

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale has earned its stellar international reputation through the remarkable racetrack results of its graduates, along with the acclaimed horsemanship skills of its many respected vendors and preparers. But the catalogue is also never short of high-quality pedigree credentials, and 2021 is no exception to that rule.  This year’s catalogue features 23 siblings to stakes winners, as well as the progeny of no fewer than 26 stakes-winning racemares. Buyers will also have the opportunity to access the progeny of more than 30 mares who are all…

Flame’s Cox Plate dream takes next step

NZRacingDesk

Brett Scott’s Cox Plate dream with Irish Flame (NZ) (Zed) takes its next step this weekend when the talented former New Zealand import races second up in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m). The tough son of Zed put in an eye-catching performance finishing third when resuming in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) at The Valley and Scott has warned punters not to underestimate the tenacious galloper this spring. Down in the weights to 52kg for Saturday’s A$1 million contest at Caulfield, the Ballarat Cup-winner will be ridden by…

Yvonne Andrews is ‘Grassroots’ to the core!

Editor BOAY

Kilmany greyhound stalwart Yvonne Andrews, 77, has been at the coalface of the sport since childhood. She’s also earned a healthy respect for an unwavering attention to canine husbandry. Yvonne recalls being a youngster regularly accompanying her grandparents, Frank and Eva Ray, to greyhound race meetings. “I remember huddling around warm braziers at Olympic Park on cold wintry nights … And I was always surrounded by greyhounds at home. “In the old days, we also went to coursing meetings in a furniture van with everyone sitting in the back compartment…

Daily Mail: Collinda Patty’s on the clock!

Editor BOAY

Middle distance sensation Collinda Patty will be the main attraction at Wednesday afternoon’s meeting at The Meadows, where she looks set to continue her sensational recent form, despite dropping back to the sprint trip. Trained by Jason Thompson, Collinda Patty (5 from 13) has created a huge impression in winning her last two starts, both over middle distanced, breaking former superstar Dyna Double One’s long-standing Sandown Park 595m record, before a last start victory in the G3 Speed Star (600m) match race series at The Meadows. While Collinda Patty is…

Buddy’s ‘paua-ful’ Warragul 400m TR

Editor BOAY

“Buln Buln East Bullet” Paua Of Buddy became the first greyhound to officially go under the magical 22-second barrier over 400 metres at Warragul last night. Trained by Steve White, Paua Of Buddy ($1.20F) led all the way from box eight to score by a massive 11.14 lengths and establish a spellbinding new track record – 21.999sec. Ironically, he shaved around one length off the previous mark – 22.073sec – jointly held by his older half-brother and kennelmate Paua Of Oscar (March 24, 2020) and former star Aston Bolero (August…

GRV Board confirms $5.3million new prize money distribution

Editor BOAY

The GRV Board yesterday decided on a prize money allocation distribution that includes a 12% increase to Metro and Provincial base prize money, supports the payment of fourth place, and upgrades a selection of Preference to Maiden race meetings from Level 3 to Level 2 status. The Board’s decision comes into effect as of 1 October this year. Form Guides and FastTrack will not display fourth place payments for up to a month, as changes are made, but payments will be made. “The Board decision followed consideration of 1866 responses…

Rain the only drawback for heavily armed Richards

NZRacingDesk

This weekend will prove to be one of trainer Jamie Richards’ busiest to date, with 34 horses accepted at Taupo on Friday, Riccarton and Hastings on Saturday, and Te Aroha on Sunday, plus a trio of stars — Probabeel, Kahma Lass and Amarelinha — in Australia. “It is probably the most we’ve had entered for a weekend,” Richards said. “But it’s the time of year that we look forward to and hopefully the weather can play its part. We’ve got the gun loaded but it’s just kept raining.” Rain forecast…

Williams set for dual role at Riccarton

NZRacingDesk

Leading South Island jockey Kylie Williams will don two hats at Riccarton on Saturday. While set to ride a quality book at the Christchurch meeting, she will also have her first runner as a trainer in six years. Williams previously trained for eight seasons where she recorded five wins and she is looking forward to returning to the training ranks this weekend when she will line-up debutant Grandiloquent in the Speight’s Maiden (1200m). Williams has had the four-year-old gelding in her care since he was a weanling and she is…