Australia’s fastest greyhound Aston Rupee headlines the $25,000 winner-take-all Shootout this Thursday night at Sandown Park.
Year: 2021
CEO’s Monthly Update: November
Firstly, I’d like to pay my respects to Paul Wheeler who sadly passed away on 13 October.
Latest big bets ahead of NZ Cup meeting
As we look forward to tomorrow’s New Zealand Cup meeting at Addington here’s a rundown of some interesting betting activity from the TAB ahead of harness racing’s biggest day. Race 1American Pride ($3.3 – $2.7)$800 @ $2.9$400 @ $2.9$300 @ $2.9 x2$500 @ $2.7 Majestic Lavros ($10)$200 @ $13$200 @ $12$300 E/W @ $11/$3.5 Race 2Nick Of Time ($6.5 – $6)$1,000 @ $7 Love Lou Longtime ($11 – $9)$250 @ $11$200 @ $11 Tornado Banner ($6.5 – $7)$500 @ $7 Race 3Harold Smith ($2.1)$1,000 @ $2.1 Race 5Krug ($2.4…
House takes late treble at Palmy
For a while there it didn’t look like a typical Michael House day at Manawatu. At Monday’s 5 race mini meeting Marton trainer Rodney Dickson and Peter Davis combined to win with Thank You in the Outback Trading Handicap trot, and then Doug Gale produced a winner with Call Security in the Happy Birthday Zoe Simpson Mobile. The He’s Watching two-year-old improved on his debut fourth to win by a neck for driver Jonny Cox. And then it turned into the Michael House – Sam Ottley show. They won the…
Levante on-target for fruitful campaign
Top mare Levante is building towards her seasonal return. Photo: Trish Dunell Class mare Levante didn’t surprise anyone by winning a 1000m trial at Matamata last week, but the manner in which she won it suggests she’ll be an even tougher horse to beat this season. Group Two winner Levante has won seven of her 11 career starts and is known for her get-back run-on style, often brought about by a lack of early speed. However, in her trial last week Levante jumped well and took a trail just behind…
Rose set to bloom in Coupland’s
Four-year-old mare Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) is set to peak in Wednesday’s Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton, with the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained mare entering the feature following successive victories this campaign. Runner-up in last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) behind Kahma Lass, Miss Tycoon Rose has been sparingly raced for a combination of reasons, as the stable hope to have the mare peaking and on a winnable weight of 56kgs this week. “She had to have an operation on her knee to remove a…
Freebie set to add to stakes record at Riccarton
The Gift will contest Wednesday’s Group 3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton. Photo: Race Images CHCH Adhering to the maxim of never looking a gift horse in the mouth is serving Robert Dennis and partners well. The Southland trainer gladly took up the generous offer of a filly for no charge and the aptly-named The Gift now looms as a leading chance to land top honours in the Group 3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on Wednesday. The four-year-old daughter of Power has won…
Budget buy Rubisaki retires with over $1.2m prizemoney
Rubisaki won eight of her 20 races and accrued $1.26 million in prizemoney for her connections. (Racing Photos) Prime Thoroughbreds on Sunday night announced the retirement of their $1 million earner Rubisaki, who was purchased for $85,000 at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. The five-year-old daughter of Rubick took the racing world by storm early on in her career, winning eight of her first 10 starts and finishing runner-up on the other two occasions. The Patrick Payne-trained mare’s career highlight was a dominant 1.5-length victory in the $1 million…
Anamoe, Zaaki open as $8 favourites for Sydney autumn features
Anamoe wins the 2021 Caulfield Guineas in Melbourne, Australia. (Racing Photos) TAB this morning opened markets for two Group 1 races during the 2022 Sydney Autumn Carnival, with both the Doncaster Mile and Queen Elizabeth Stakes available for pre-nominations betting. The bookmaker has added 44 horses to the Doncaster market, installing Caulfield Guineas winner Anamoe as the $8 favourite for the April 2 feature, ahead of the highly promising Espiona ($11) and Golden Eagle winner I’m Thunderstruck ($11). Five horses sit on $15, including The Invitation winner Icebath, Epsom Handicap…
Michael Guerin’s take on New Zealand Cup day
By Michael Guerin The real battle for today’s $600,000 IRT New Zealand Cup isn’t just between 15 of our elite pacers. It will be a battle of tactics. And who ends up where in the running. In the blue corner stands Mark Purdon, training freak and six-time New Zealand Cup winning driver looking to equal Ricky May’s record of seven driving wins in the great race. Back from a staccato training sabbatical he has concentrated his efforts on his stable stars today, horses like defending Cup champion Self Assured and…