Craig “The Whale” Thompson has his best for Saturday’s meeting at Addington – Dec 4.
Year: 2021
Titan’s Casino gamble pays off
After a victorious hit-and-run raid on the Group 3 Casino Cup, leading trainer Anthony Azzopardi is confident Aston Titan can make a winning return to Victoria at The Meadows on Saturday night. After celebrating his birthday on Thursday, Azzopardi is hoping the party will continue, boasting three excellent chances in Aston Titan (Race 5), comeback speedster McCooly’s Lad (Race 10) and Street Riot (Race 11), all favourites in their respective events at The Meadows. It was a case of third time lucky in a Group event for Aston Titan in…
Innes in search of winning reunion with Aegon
Aegon delivered three of last season’s biggest wins for leading jockey Leith Innes, and the unbeaten combination will team up again on Saturday for the first time in 10 months. Freshly crowned New Zealand’s champion three-year-old of 2020-21, the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Aegon will have his first New Zealand start since January when he comes up against a quality weight-for-age field in the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. Innes has had three raceday rides on the son of Sacred Falls for three superb victories,…
Waikato Stud named Breeder of the Year
Following a stellar season from horses carrying the iconic WS brand, Waikato Stud has been announced as the Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan Breeder of the Year for the 2020-21 season. It is the eighth time the Chittick family operation has received the prestigious award. “Obviously we are very proud to get the award again and we are honoured and very pleased,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick said. “To get four Group One winners in a season was amazing and to think our progeny have also been crowned the…
Marsh holds strong hand in Bonecrusher
Stephen Marsh will have a strong contingent in the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Matamata on Saturday. Initially set to have six runners, the Cambridge trainer will be represented by a quartet of three-year-olds. Dubai Diva bypassed last week’s Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) with a slight foot issue but has recovered well in time for another Group Three tilt this weekend. “She just had a little bit of a sore foot, she had some bruising in a heel. It wasn’t a major, but I just couldn’t put her…
McKay’s duo in fine fettle for Matamata assignments
In-form Matamata stablemates Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly) and Giacomo (NZ) (Puccini) have Group targets on their programs and will bid to add further momentum on their home track on Saturday to trainer and part-owner Peter McKay’s plans. The former’s short-term goal is the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m) at Awapuni on December 18 while the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 5 is the longer-term aim for his younger barnmate. Sagunto has won three of his last four starts and will attempt to continue his hot…
December / January Racing Calendar out now
GRV’s Racing Calendar for December/January is now available for download. Keep abreast of all the key upcoming races heading into the new year and beyond. Click HERE to download.
Hot Hennessey’s Ballarat ‘Gold’ rush
After a spectacular Group victory on TAB Melbourne Cup night, in-form speedster Hennessey will put his six-race winning streak on the line at Ballarat on Saturday morning in a sensational opening heat of the Goldfields Cup (450m). In an early start, greyhound racing fans and punters will want to be quick out of the boxes for what shapes as the clash of the weekend, Race 6 at 10.50am. Hennessey, last start winner of the G3 Provincial Plate at Sandown Park for Lara trainer Ashlee Terry, will clash with Ballarat 390m…
Western Empire Heads 2021 Kingston Town Classic Field & Betting
All the money is on Western Empire to keep the wins coming in Perth on Saturday with the last start Railway Stakes winner odds-on favourite to take out the Group 1 $1 million Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot Racecourse. WA’s premier hoop William Pike (pictured in Melbourne aboard Regal Power) rides odds-on favourite Western Empire in Saturday’s 2021 Kingston Town Classic. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. Ten hopeful horses line-up in this season’s Kingston Town Classic field, the weight-for-age classic bringing an end to Group 1 racing down under for…
Gollan pumps up Ashgrove ahead of Doomben test
Tony Gollan will saddle up three-year-old colt Ashgrove at Doomben this weekend. Queensland’s leading trainer, Tony Gollan, has labelled Ashgrove as his best winning chance at Doomben this Saturday as he follows up an impressive maiden win on November 15. The three-year-old son of Dundeel will step out to 2000m in the $125,000 Eagle Way, where he is the $2.40 favourite ahead of Caboche ($5) and Gypsy Goddess ($6). “My best winning chance I think at Doomben this Saturday on what will be a rain-affected track I think is Ashgrove,”…