Saturday’s Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) could be a swansong to New Zealand racing, at least for a while, for class Taranaki gelding Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed). The six-year-old has been one of the best wet-weather gallopers in the past 12 months and showed his adeptness in the conditions with a facile five-length victory in the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1600m) at Tauranga on November 13. With rain forecast for Trentham this week, Justaskme will clearly be in the reckoning for the weight-for-age Captain Cook Stakes if the…
Year: 2021
Cuneen opens winning training account
Racha Cuneen has added another string to his racing bow with the Group One-winning jockey posting his maiden success as a trainer. The Riccarton-based horseman prepared Stop Yelling (NZ) (Proisir) to dead-heat for first in Sunday’s Otago Farm Machinery Maiden (1400m) at Cromwell and, for good measure, was also in the saddle. “I’ve got four in work and it’s not easy, but I really enjoy it. It gives more insight into the horses and it was a good feeling to get my first winner,” he said. Cuneen enjoyed a successful…
Prestige Cup hopes for emerging stayer
Trainer Paul Harris is eyeing major staying targets this season with his promising mare Wannabe ‘N’ Paris (NZ) (Reliable Man) and longer-term would dearly love to travel further afield to Australia. The Rangiora-based horseman prepared the daughter of Reliable Man to claim top honours in Sunday’s Cromwell Cup (2030m) and confirm plans for a northern campaign. “She deserved that, she’s been a model of consistency and punched way above her weight in some really nice races,” Harris said. “It was a very, very good ride and I said to Kavish…
Team Pitman to tackle Trentham feature
Team Pitman have many fond memories of Trentham racecourse and they are hoping that will continue on Saturday when Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) tackles the Gr.1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m). “We have won three Group Ones there and it is track that is pretty special to us,” said Matthew Pitman, who trains in partnership with his father Michael. “Growing up it was always my favourite track to go to. Our family has had a lot of success there and hopefully it can continue.” The Pitmans have been…
Ararat betting tips, quaddie picks & value bets | 30/11/2021
What Ararat Races Where Ararat Racecourse – Cnr Western Hwy & Geelong Rd, Ararat VIC 3377 When Tuesday, November 30, 2021 First Race 1:30pm AEDT Watch Live Streaming Live at Sportsbet HorseBetting’s Victorian form analyst presents his best bets and top quaddie numbers for the eight-race card at Ararat on Tuesday afternoon. The track is rated a Good 4, the rail is in the true position, and the meeting is set to get underway at 1:30pm AEDT. Ararat Best Bet – Lily Allez Our best bet of the day comes…
Punt Drunk: No fairytale finish for Bossy, Pike salutes again
It was another big weekend of racing around Australia on Saturday despite the abandonment of Queensland’s metropolitan meeting due to wet weather. Punt Drunk has all the big headlines covered this Monday, including one farewell going south and another retiree bowing out in style. The skies are clearing for another huge week of thoroughbred action as we build to the final Group 1 of the 2021 calendar year on Saturday. PIKE PISSES IN WINTERBOTTOM STAKES Another Group 1 was run and won at Ascot on Saturday afternoon, and once again…
Another top draw for Majestic Man
By Adam Hamilton The barrier draw gods are being kind to classy Kiwi trotter Majestic Man in this NSW Inter Dominion so far. Renowned for his gate speed, Majestic Man drew perfectly in two and led throughout, albeit only narrowly, on opening night at Menangle over 2400m. He drops back to an even more suitable sprint trip of 1730m at Bathurst on Wednesday night and again looks an automatic leader from gate two. Local speedster Caligula will zip out from three, but driver Blake Fitzpatrick is more likely to go…
Boss bows out in style despite Zipping Classic letdown
Glen Boss celebrates with the crowd after his last race ride in the Zipping Classic at Caulfield Racecourse on November 27, 2021. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) It wasn’t the fairytale finish in the saddle Glen Boss had hoped for on Saturday, but the legendary jockey still bowed out in style at Caulfield. The 52-year-old hoop announced his retirement from competitive riding on Thursday and jumped aboard Spanish Mission in his final race ride in Saturday’s Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield. The Melbourne Cup third-placegetter was sent out as a…
Wil John takes out Jericho Cup for Maher & Eustace
Wil John ridden by Will Gordon (NZ) wins the Jericho Cup at Warrnambool Racecourse on November 28, 2021. (Alice Miles/Racing Photos) Ciaron Maher and David Eustace once again showed their training expertise as Wil John claimed the fourth running of Australia’s longest flat race, the Jericho Cup (4600m), on Sunday afternoon at Warrnambool. Restricted to gallopers bred in Australia and New Zealand, the $300,000 staying event is run in honour of the Light Horsemen and their steeds. Starting as a $2.80 favourite under Will Gordon, Wil John had to carry…
Pike on track for WA Group 1 treble after Winterbottom win
William Pike is one win closer to completing a clean sweep of the three Western Australian Group 1 races this year after claiming Saturday’s Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) aboard Graceful Girl. Having claimed his fourth-straight Railway Stakes win seven days earlier, Pike was up to his old tricks again at Ascot, steering the Grant & Alana Williams-trained mare to a dominant last-to-first win. Having to overcome barrier 16 in the $1 million sprint, Pike did not waste any time in looking for a position and opted to settle at the tail…