Australian three-year-olds have rarely ventured across the Tasman for the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) or Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in recent years, and despite a healthy contingent among this year’s nominations, that trend appears likely to continue in 2021. No Australian three-year-olds have contested a Guineas at Riccarton since 2017, when the Francis Finnegan-trained Trinity Hill finished a close seventh behind Risque. Expat New Zealand trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have put forward seven early nominations for this year’s edition of the 2000…
Month: September 2021
Staying test for Penelope Cruise
Penelope Cruise will run 1000m further than she has before when she contests the NZB Airfreight Road To Jericho (3210m) at New Plymouth on Saturday, but trainer Allan Sharrock believes she is up to the task. The six-year-old daughter of Ocean Park heads into the race off the back of a win and runner-up performance over 2000 and 2100m respectively, giving Sharrock confidence ahead of her first staying assignment. “I think the run at Hawera last week has topped her off nicely and she gives every indication that she is…
Butcher joins select club
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Waikato horseman David Butcher brought up a special milestone at Cambridge Raceway’s meeting on Thursday, reining home a treble, culminating in his 2500th driving win. Butcher began the night in good form, winning behind the Steve and Amanda Telfer-trained Riverman Sam in the Chanelle Lawson Photography Mobile Pace (2200m), before reining home Hooray Henry, whom he also trains, to victory in the Blue Do Tickets On Sale Now Mobile Pace (2200m). “All the Telfer runners improved with the run last week. It wasn’t a…
Methven meeting transferred due to storm damage
Methven’s opening grass track meeting of the season on Sunday has been transferred to Ashburton. Winds gusting at over 110 kilometres an hour ripped through the area overnight, causing trees to topple at the Mt Harding racecourse. Debris was also thrown onto the track. Local officials have been at the scene since first light assessing the damage and it’s been decided that Sunday’s meeting cannot go ahead. Instead the meeting will be held on the all-weather surface at Ashburton, 30 kilometres down the road. It’s expected there will be minimum…
Cousin to ‘Jonah’ Ferdinand’s Cup bid
Superstar sprinter Aston Rupee underlined his claim to the mantle of Australia’s fastest greyhound when winning back-to-back Group 3 Speed Star match race series on Wednesday night at The Meadows. Trained by Glenn Rounds, Aston Rupee won the G3 Bill Collins Memorial Speed Star (515m) at Sandown Park on June 2, clocking a near-record 29.06sec. On a cold and at times windy night, not conducive to the flying times usually associated with the Speed Star concept, the well-bred son of KC And All and Aston Miley was $1.60 favourite to…
Ferdinand Boy eyes country cups ‘bonus’ at Healesville
Country cups ‘king’ Ferdinand Boy is chasing a monster $100,000 payday in Sunday’s $71,250 Group 2 SEN Track Healesville Cup final (350m). Trained by David Geall, Ferdinand Boy (Box 5) is not only eyeing off the $50,000 Cup winner’s purse, but will also receive a $50,000 bonus offered by GRV for winning three provincial cups in a calendar year, courtesy of victories at Ballarat and Shepparton. Ironically, one of Ferdinand Boy’s major rivals is kennelmate and close relation Hill Top Jonah (Box 1), last Sunday’s fastest heat winner. Click HERE …
Whyte confident progressive trend can continue
Douglas Whyte is eyeing another big season. Driven by a signature desire to excel, Douglas Whyte is contemplating a career-high of 50 winners for the season after opening the 2021/22 term with victories at the each of the first two meetings. Renowned for attention to detail and unstinting professionalism as the most successful jockey in Hong Kong history with a phenomenal 1,813 wins and 13 consecutive riding championships, Whyte is quickly bearing down on the 100-win mark as a trainer after hauls of 44 and 41 in his first two…
Williamson fires ahead of Hannon
By Jonny Turner Brad Williamson started his season in style and showed his team are on song for his home town’s biggest day of harness racing on Thursday. Williamson hadn’t started a runner from his strike rate stable before producing both Laurie’s Legacy and Simone Lindenny for victories at Young Quinn Raceway. The wins not only have Williamson’s team in the best kind of form ahead of the upcoming Placemakers Hannon Memorial meeting. The reinsman got the chance to get a line on his Hannon drive in Vintage Cheddar ahead…
Treble for locked down trainers
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk South Auckland trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan may be under lockdown but they were able to enjoy watching their stable runners record a treble at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night from the comfort of their living rooms. While their famous silver and blue colours were expected to feature prominently on the night, they enjoyed securing the treble nonetheless. “It was a good night, a few of them went some good races,” Phelan said. Doctor Steve put on a clinical performance in the NZMCA…
Selections | Addington Today – Friday
Commentator Matt Cross makes his selections for Addington tonight – Friday – Sept 10. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! RaceTime MATT CROSSCommentator Race 15.21pm 2 Talent Agent9 Fly Like A Falcon8 Best Trio 1 Leconte Race 25.46pm 11 Jimmy Carter7 Phoebe Onyx 9 Sods Law10 Red Harbour Race 36.13pm 13 Ned Kelly11 Better Fly12 Stephs Boy3 Tasman Tempest Race 46.41pm 9 Sugar Me12 Superbass2 Slip The Hundy 4 Rockntommy Rulz Race 57.07pm 7 Beach Ball 6 Swagger Man 9 Executive Banner1 Itsamoneymaker Race 67.34pm 6 Sundees Son3 Midnight Dash1 Vacation Hill4 Majestic…