Month: September 2021

Kiwi raider Tutukaka will continue his march towards the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) next month when he lines-up in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Saturday. The Tony Pike-trained gelding finished eighth first-up in the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington earlier this month and trainer Tony Pike expects him to go close to winning this weekend despite clashing with Derby favourite Gunstock amongst a host of progressive types. “He has come through his fresh-up run really well,” Pike told The Form. “Frosty (jockey Damian Lane) is…

Group One winner Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock) will continue his path towards the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he lines-up in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday. The New Zealand-bred gelding gave his trainer and part-owner Denis Pagan his biggest moment in racing when winning last year’s Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) and the AFL premiership winning coach is pinching himself that he has a Melbourne Cup contender so early on in his training career. “Johnny Get Angry is a beautiful horse,” Pagan told the TAB Spring…

Popular Riccarton trainers Kevin and Pam Hughes will bow out of racing with Russian Fable (NZ) (Zacinto) their sole representative on their home track on their final day on Saturday. The Hugheses said the time was right for them to retire from racing after what has been a memorable association with the sport. Kevin Hughes racked up his 500th winner last season, the latest milestone in a career which saw him produce flat and jumping horses of the highest calibre over a 50-year period of training. “It’s been a great…

Hawke’s Bay jumper The Cossack (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) will be out to defend his title in the Paul Bibby Memorial Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) on Sunday, but it won’t be at the same venue. The iconic Great Northern jumps meeting has been transferred to Te Aroha from Ellerslie as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. The venue change has brought disappointment to the jumping fraternity who have been denied a chance to farewell the Ellerslie Hill, with its looming sale. “I am very disappointed that it is going,” said Paul Nelson, who…

Foxton trainer Chrissy Bambry isn’t too worried about the prospect of an improved track for Spring Tide (NZ) (Darci Brahma) for the second leg of the Hastings weight-for-age triple crown. Spring Tide made a huge impression in the first leg, the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), beating all but Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) after mounting a strong run from midfield. That effort came on a Slow8 track, which has been Spring Tide’s preferred going to date. All six of his victories have been on slow or heavy ground, while he is…