Leith Innes is back into the swing of riding from a temporary new base and is looking forward to making up for lost time. He was robbed of opportunities as one of several jockeys unable to ride due to the Auckland region’s COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, but has been able to move out of the province and he is keen to make the most of his new-found freedom. “I’ve relocated to Cambridge and have been here a week. It’s been quite good and I rode Aegon in a quiet trial on…
Month: November 2021
Cunneen getting serious about summer features
Meg Cunneen is hoping Sunday’s open sprint at Cromwell can be the launching pad for Group One spoils for her surprise last-start Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) runner-up Seriously (NZ) (O’Reilly). The Christchurch trainer admitted she was still coming to terms with nearly causing a boil-over in one of New Zealand Cup week’s most prestigious races but said that performance had raised the bar for future assignments. O’Reilly six-year-old gelding Seriously rates as one of the horses to beat in Sunday’s Positive Signs + Print (1400m), a race that could…
Grenfells chase emotional G1 double
Young training star Correy Grenfell admits to shedding a tear when $22 outsider Knicks Bale defied the odds to win the Group 1 Hume Cup on November 1, the same day her legendary owner/breeder Paul Wheeler was laid to rest. Emotions are sure to be running high again for Correy and wife Samantha at Sandown Park tonight when they have Wheeler-bred-and-owned finalists in the G1 TAB Melbourne Cup (515m) and G1 Bold Trease (715m). Kinson Bale (Box 8) is a $13 chance in the Melbourne Cup, while Hume Cup heroine Knicks…
Daily Mail: Greatness is upon us
The world’s greatest greyhound race, the $500,000 to-the-winner G1 TAB Melbourne Cup final, is taking place at Sandown Park tonight. G1 Topgun champion Aston Rupee and G2 Cranbourne Cup winner Koblenz headline the field, with Aston Rupee looking to emulate Bombastic Shiraz in 2003 and win the Topgun, Shootout and Melbourne Cup in the same year. G3 Speed Star 725m winner Mepunga Ruby and G1 Topgun Stayers champion Gypsy Wyong clash in the G1 Bold Trease final with a first prize of $105,000. Dale Code’s Predicted Market FirmerBLACK AVENGERTAB fixed…
Missalyssa thriving after pleasing Cup Week
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Andrew Faulks wishes he had a barn full of horses like Missalyssa. Last year the daughter of Monarchy placed on Cup Day before winning on Show Day and she replicated the feat at this year’s carnival. The six-year-old mare was brave when just getting run down by I Dream of Jeannie over 3200m on Cup Day, while she dug deep three days later to get the better of Love N The Port by half a head after getting a dream trip in the trail.…
Bolt back at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin The Alexandra Park carnival for next month may be a watered down version of recent years but that won’t stop the north’s best trotter from turning up. In fact, champion horseman Tony Herlihy says it may be exactly what Bolt For Brilliance needs. The two-time Jewels winner is back in work at Herlihy’s stable after a brave but well-beaten third in Sundees Son’s record-smashing Dominion at Addington two weeks ago but without his usual December targets to aim at. With the harness racing calendar being restructured Alexandra…
Selections | Auckland – Friday
Trottech’s selections for Auckland on Friday night, November 26. Race Trottech Form Analyst Race 16.03pm 7 Ace Strike 1 Susie Reignmaker 2 Highview Justice 6 Mighty Monica Race 26.28pm 4 MM Sunshine7 Hill Of Peace 2 Rumour Has It 10 Sky High Flyer Race 36.59pm 5 Old Town Road6 Ideal Prince9 Arden Velocity 2 Mr Perfect Race 47.29pm 3 Four Kisses7 Twice Shy8 Ilovelucy 11 Forever A Dancer Race 58.00pm 7 KD Royalty8 Aldebaran Keepa 3 Special Effects2 American Muscle Race 68.26pm…
Metung Marvel hopes to strike in TAB Melbourne Cup
Family means everything to greyhound racing’s Whelan family, who are based in the Gippsland town of Metung. And on Friday night at Sandown Park the family unit – which is led by Peter and Monique, with help from two of their sons, Luke (21) and Harley (24) – will vie for their second Group 1 victory in the $762,500 TAB Melbourne Cup (515m). Lakeview Walter is their Cup contender, a greyhound which they bred, own and train themselves. “We couldn’t contain our excitement when he won his (Melbourne Cup) heat,”…
Exciting juvenile scores on debut
Cambridge trainer Lauren Brennan is excited about the prospects of juvenile Zaher (NZ) (Proisir) after his gutsy win on debut in the Levin TAB & Sports Bar (1000m) at Otaki on Thursday. The Proisir gelding was positive out of the gates for jockey Matthew Cameron to sit outside Lord Cosmos (Pierro), with the pair setting a solid tempo throughout. The Jamie Richards-trained runner looked to have the field beaten turning for home when he kicked clear by a length, however, Cameron asked his charge to improve and he duly responded,…
Double celebrations for Rose ‘N’ Power camp
Cambridge trainers Fred and Lindsay Cornege celebrated a personal milestone in style on Thursday when their game mare Rose ‘N’ Power (NZ) (Power) landed the Listed Courtesy Ford Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. The four-year-old mare has now won four races in succession and ticked the black-type box, giving further cause for celebration for the Corneges who were celebrating their 43rd wedding anniversary. Noted on-pacer Rose ‘N’ Power wasn’t as quickly away as usual but mustered to sit behind the leaders and dug deep under a vigorous Matt Cameron ride…