Eagle Farm trainer Lawrie Mayfield-Smith is confident his new addition Charmmebaby can again be in the thick of the action when contesting the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben on Sunday. Sent north by Taree trainer Bob Milligan, who shares in the ownership, the five-year-old daughter of Charm Spirit scored impressively in her first run for Mayfield-Smith when coming from last in the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1640m), a much needed black-type breakthrough. Mayfield-Smith said the two-race Queensland campaign had been planned after the mare landed the Taree Cup (2000m) in…
Month: December 2021
Kirwan’s Lane due change of luck
Trainer John O’Shea has found a suitable target for New Zealand-bred gelding Kirwan’s Lane. The Gr.2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) didn’t go to plan for Kirwan’s Lane, but John O’Shea is hoping he can come away with a consolation prize at Randwick. The son of Charm Spirit enjoyed a good trail behind the speed from an inside draw in the Villiers, but it was once he straightened for home that things began to unravel. “He followed a horse that took him nowhere and then he had to go back to the…
Richards can’t fault Group One hope Prise De Fer
Richards-trained representative is in top order for Ellerslie where he will attempt to breakthrough at the highest level on Boxing Day. The genuine son of Savabeel will take aim at the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m), in which the gelding will again be partnered by Te Akau’s retained rider Opie Bosson. Prise De Fer’s three previous appearances have been in top company and last time out finished runner-up in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) after he had been third in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and second in…
Galleon to join Lindsay Park team
Impressive Otaki three-year-old Galleon will do his future racing in Australia. The Not A Single Doubt colt created a big impression when winning on debut in a Wanganui maiden over 1200m on November 27. He blew the start and had to loop the field on the tight track but had enough raw ability to win by a long neck. Johno Benner, who trained Galleon along with his partner Hollie Wynyard, said the performance was enough to impress clients of the Ben and JD Hayes stable, and he has headed across…
Group One rehearsal for Sindacato
Central Districts raider Sindacato is on trial for a Group One assignment when he heads to Ellerslie on Sunday to contest the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final (1500m). The Per Incanto gelding holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham next month, and a tilt at that race will be dictated by his performance this weekend. It will be the first trip away from home for the six-year-old but that doesn’t hold any concerns for Bergerson. “He’ll go up to Richard Collett’s (Pukekohe) at 6am in the…
Pareanui Bay heads Pike’s Boxing Day charge
Undefeated three-year-old Pareanui Bay will be one of the major drawcards at Ellerslie on Boxing Day where he contests a strong edition of the Listed Shaw’s Wire Ropes Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). The gelded son of Lonhro will clash with Group One winner On The Bubbles, while Pareanui Bay’s Guineas-placed stablemate Field Of Gold is also no slouch, not to mention a trio of progressive fillies also adding further intrigue to the race. It will be a month between runs for Pareanui Bay, who burst on the scene when winning…
South Waikato couple hoping for winning roll to continue
South Waikato couple Ross and Corrine Kearney are hoping the recent run of form by members of their racing team continues into the festive season. Under their Okaharau Station entity, the Kearneys’ blue and green with gold star colours have lately been a regular sight in the winner’s stall on northern racetracks. The Carl Henderson-trained Swiss Ace mare Jodelin Gal has won two of her last three starts in Rating 74 grade, the first at Rotorua in mid-November and again at Tauranga three weeks later. Jodelin Gal’s year younger half-brother…
New Zealand option for Excelida
The Ben & JD Hayes-trained Excelida is racing for a potential trip to New Zealand when she lines up at Caulfield on Boxing Day. The well-bred daughter of Exceed And Excel runs in the Allan Wicks Handicap (1400m) on Sunday and her performance will determine her immediate future. Excelida is owned by Cambridge Stud proprietors Brendan and Jo Lindsay and there is consideration of the mare heading to New Zealand for a Group One race in February. But if that fails to eventuate there are other black-type options in Melbourne…
Daily Mail: ‘Frank’ and ‘Rick’ clash at Cranbourne
A battle of Group finalists is the highlight event at Cranbourne this afternoon with Fernando Frank and Riccarton Rick contesting a Mixed 4/5 520m race. At Bendigo, The Horizon finalist Whistling Bullet is the standout chaser in a Grade 5 500m final, while Starlight Tyson is expected to bolster his strike rate in a Mixed 4/5 500m race. Promising chasers Forrest Elbow and Compton Blazer should prevail in their respective races. Dale Code’s Predicted Market FirmerSCORCHING SUNTAB fixed odds at 9am: $3.40 Win Bendigo Race 7 Box 1 4:15pm Form…
Faithful’s pair on song
By Jonny Turner Chelsea Faithful can pick up a couple of early Christmas presents with the two runners she starts at her home track on Christmas Eve. The trainer heads to Winton on Friday with last start winner Tartan Raider and her stable star Pay Me Speedy who steps out in the meeting’s feature mares event. After a strong recent trial effort Pay Me Speedy looks ready to make an impact in her return following a good third in the South Of The Waitaki event at the New Zealand Cup…