Veteran galloper Justacanta continues to thrive in Australia this spring and landed his second stakes race of the campaign when winning the Gr.2 Linlithgow Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. A Group Three performer in New Zealand, Justacanta was transferred by trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy to Patrick Payne in Victoria earlier in the spring, after trialling well on two occasions. The eight-year-old has run well in all bar his first-up assignment at Moonee Valley and came from last on Saturday under a perfectly timed Dean Yendall ride to run…
Month: October 2021
Cream rises to the top in Feilding Cup
Quality mare House Of Cartier (Alamosa) proved a class above her rivals when she took out the Listed Ricoh Feilding Gold Cup (2100m) at Awapuni. The Peter Didham-trained mare was having her first start since finishing fifth at Group One level in the Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings and was installed a warm $2.50 favourite for Saturday’s contest. On a day that was favouring those handy to the pace, rider Sarah Macnab had House Of Cartier off the fence from an inside draw quickly after the start and she made…
Debutant proves a star at Tauranga
Trainer Rudy Liefting had been expecting a forward showing on debut from his three-year-old filly Stars ‘N’ Cream (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), but even he wasn’t prepared for what unfolded in the first race at Tauranga on Saturday. After failing to secure the services of apprentice Erin Leighton and several senior riders, Liefting threw the colours to another apprentice in Taiki Yanagida, with the instructions not to dig the filly up after the start as she was liable to over-race. An impressive jumpout winner at Ellerslie earlier in the month,…
2021 Empire Rose Stakes Results: Colette Claims Well-Deserved Group 1
Saturday’s Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes shaped as one of the most wide-open races at Flemington, and it certainly lived up to the hype as Godolphin’s classy mare Colette got the job done at double figures. The mare by Hallowed Crown was shooting for a double after winning the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield two weeks ago over 1400m, while she was also a winner on Derby Day last year, only in Sydney. The five-year-old won the second edition of the Golden Eagle on a very wet track at…
2021 Kennedy Oaks: Wakeful Stakes Winner Willowy Firms into Single Figures
Godolphin appear to have a serious chance in next Thursday’s $1 million Kennedy Oaks with Saturday’s Wakeful winner Willowy. The three-year-old filly saw a late firm the Ladbrokes market, but still went around at $13.00 odds despite winning her maiden by nearly five lengths at Newcastle three weeks ago. The in-form Jye McNeil was in the saddle on Saturday and no doubt proved the difference with a well-timed run. With an even tempo set early, the pair got back before swooping in late, pipping the well-supported Daisies right on the…
Hotham Stakes Winner Great House Firms in 2021 Melbourne Cup Betting
James McDonald and Chris Waller found themselves with an early double on Derby Day as short-priced favourite Great House won the Group 3 Lexus Hotham Stakes at Flemington. The son of Galileo defied the late drift in the market and will now line up in next Tuesday’s $7.75 million Melbourne Cup on the quick backup. Great House was tested after settling a long way back, a tactic that proved to be the difference as McDonald got clear out wide down the straight to eventually wear down Mankayan. The five-year-old will…
2021 Melbourne Cup: Likely Field
The countdown is on to tonight’s 2021 Melbourne Cup barrier draw, scheduled to air at 6pm AEDT immediately following the last race at Flemington on Derby Day. The final field is yet to be locked in, but the 161st edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’ looks set to feature a typically strong field of 24, potentially headlined by up to 12 internationals. Peter Moody’s sensational stayer Incentivise remains at the top of Ladbrokes’ All-In market following his dominant win in the Caulfield Cup a fortnight ago. The Shamus…
Mates enjoy success with Love Rose
By Jonny Turner A group of mates are living the harness racing dream with Tom Bagrie and Love Rose. The trotter broke through for her first win for driver John Dunn at Methven on Friday, suggesting she could be in for a fruitful summer. The victory continued a winning ride that started with the trainer being supported by a group of his friends. “A few years ago, knowing that I didn’t have a heap of money to spend at the sales, Philip Iggo told me about a horse I could…
Daily Mail: Classy field for Cranbourne Cup final
The Watchdog believes Pink Diamond (500m) winner Koblenz (22 from 35 – 4 from 6 Box 4) has the opportunity to break through at Group level in his third attempt after two placings in tonight’s $50,000 to-the-winner G2 Cranbourne Cup final (520m). Shepparton is also staging a feature race this evening with the $25,000 to-the-winner G3 Northern Districts Cup final containing G3 Great Chase finalists Reloaded and True Collinda plus Mania (2 of last 3), Aston Flame (9 from 18 – 3 from 3 Trk/Dst) and My Name’s Stacey (won…
Alexis Badel hoping to extend strong seasonal start
Alexis Badel resumes his partnership with Everyone’s Delight. Alexis Badel hopes to capitalise on a positive start to the 2021/22 season when the Frenchman reunites with in-form Everyone’s Delight in the Class 3 Shantou Handicap (1650m) at Happy Valley on Sunday (31 October). Occupying third place in the jockeys’ championship with 10 wins to trail only Zac Purton (26) and Joao Moreira (17), Badel has nine rides on the 10-race programme and is optimistic Frankie Lor-trained Everyone’s Delight can make it three wins on the trot, despite rising 10 pounds…