Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley had a spring in his step as he ventured to the races for the first time in several months on Thursday and was delighted to come home with a couple of classy winners. Tiley has been stuck within the confines of the Auckland boundary as the region has been locked down over the past three months but was buzzing after saddling a couple of winners at his home track meeting. “It’s amazing, it is so good to be back,” Tiley said. “I was genuinely excited to…
Year: 2021
Collett delighted to be back trackside
Local trainer Richard Collett was delighted to be back trackside for the first time in several months at Pukekohe Park on Thursday. It was the first race meeting held in the Auckland region since the COVID-19 enforced lockdown in August and Collett said the meeting was a tonic for many industry participants in the region. “It is hard to express how hard it is for northern people. We have been able to train our horses, but we haven’t been able to go to the races with them,” Collett said. “They…
Thurlow pleased with Guineas hope despite unorthodox campaign
One of the more intriguing runners in Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton is the Bill Thurlow-trained And We Danced. The daughter of Wrote will enter the classic at just her third raceday start, having broken maiden ranks as a juvenile back in May, before a set-back meant the filly has had just one further start, a second placing over 1400m at Hawera behind White Noise late last month. While admitting it has been a race against time to get And We Danced to the…
Richards bears down on 50th Group One win
Champion trainer Jamie Richards has weight of numbers on his side with a team of five fillies contesting Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. Richards needs just one win to bring up 50 Group One victories in a career barely six years in the making. But even with the talent of Imperatriz, The Perfect Pink, Belle En Rouge, Shepherd’s Delight and Irish Red heading into the fillies Classic, Richards felt he might need fortune on his side to emerge victorious. “They are all in good…
Captain Cook tilt in the offing for Vigor Winner
A Group One target is in the offing for Vigor Winner (Declaration of War) if he performs up to expectations in the Gr.2 Gartshore Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on Saturday. The six-year-old gelding finished third for the second year running in the Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings last month and trainer Lauren Brennan said that run has brought him along nicely for Saturday’s feature. “It was a good effort in the Red Badge,” Brennan said. “He is an older horse now and probably needs a couple of runs…
In the name of her father
Young Dennington trainer Aimee Drew, 33, will be riding an emotional rollercoaster at Warrnambool tonight. It’s difficult for Aimee to contain excitement about her first start as a trainer with Aston Malle (Dec ’19 Aston Kimetto x Aston Jadore), who is also making her debut. But she’ll also walk to the boxes with a heavy heart due to the loss of her father – and life mentor – Ray last month. The highly respected Warrnambool greyhound racing identity sadly passed away after a 10-month battle with liver cancer, aged 73.…
HRNZ Show Day Form Guide
After Copy That’s win in the IRT New Zealand Cup on Tuesday it’s the trotters who will hold centre stage on Show Day. The Group 1 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot will highlight Friday’s 12 race programme. Set to go at 5.02pm it should be a cracker of a race. To mark the occasion we have produced a Form Guide, complete with articles and bet selections. Download your copy here Enjoy what should be a huge day at Addington.
Hulbert backing Heroic Son to extend undefeated record
Training partners Will Hulbert (l) and father Peter (r) have a good chance with Heroic Son in the opener at Doomben. Will Hulbert believes Heroic Son can remain unbeaten when he steps out in Saturday’s 2YO Handicap at Doomben en route to the Magic Millions meeting on the Gold Coast in January. The son of Heroic Valour was a good winner on debut over 1050m at Doomben on October 2 and has since won a jumpout under his regular rider, Adin Thompson. Heroic Son was a $50,000 purchase at the…
Sokolski completes Cup trifecta with Spanish Mission purchase
Spanish Mission during trackwork at Werribee Racecourse on October 22, 2021 in Werribee, Australia. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Having owned the first two horses past the post in this year’s Melbourne Cup, Brae Sokolski has added another weapon to his arsenal with the purchase of the third-placed horse in that race, Spanish Mission. He will join Caulfield Cup winner and Melbourne Cup runner-up Incentivise in Peter Moody’s stable. “I am pleased to announce that following his outstanding performance in this year’s Melbourne Cup, Spanish Mission will remain in Australia to be…
Griffiths confident King Magnus can challenge in Cranbourne Cup
Cranbourne-based trainer Robbie Griffiths believes King Magnus has one more big run in him for the Listed Cranbourne Cup. (Racing Photos) Co-trainer Robbie Griffiths will be hoping that King Magnus can give his stable a hometown feature win in Saturday’s $500,000 Cranbourne Cup. The six-year-old gelding ran an eye-catching fifth in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes at Flemington on October 30 at his most recent start, going down by less than a length to Superstorm and Icebath, so he looks well placed in dropping back to Listed level and staying…