Wexford juvenile times Karaka Million run to perfection

Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have timed their run to the DoubleTree By Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie next week to perfection with promising juvenile Time Ruler. The gelding ran away to a comfortable 5-1/2 length victory in the Ray White Mount Maunganui Juvenile (1200m) at Tauranga on Friday, with his $17,250 earnings from the race booking his spot in next week’s two-year-old feature. It was also a good result for his sire Time Test, who recorded his first southern hemisphere victory as a sire with the…

Acting on ‘Impulse’

Fabulous femmes Impulse Buy and Valeska Bale have set the scene for an enthralling battle in the $7500 to-the-winner Mepunga Oaks final (450m) at Warrnambool on Wednesday night. Both were the star performers from last night’s two heats, with only ‘inches’ separating Impulse Buy (25.28sec) and Valeska Bale (25.30sec) on winning times. Impulse Buy is prepared at Rowsley by former jockey Emily Azzopardi, 23, while Valeska Bale is trained at Avalon by Rebecca Gibbons, 33, who is enjoying a great run of success with husband Daniel – a former pro…

‘Here Comes’ Douch’s young stars

Maffra trainer Des Douch could well be unveiling two future stars at The Meadows on Saturday night in Three Wishes and Here Comes Pie. Douch will produce the lightly-raced duo in Grade 5 heats, with Three Wishes ideally drawn in Box 1 in the second heat (Race 4 at 7.42pm), while Here Comes Pie has to contend with Box 6 in heat three (Race 9 at 9.28pm). Both were last seen in action at Sandown Park on January 6, where they continued the similarly impressive starts to their careers, scoring…

Schofer excited for Tavi Mac opportunity

Hazel Schofer can’t wait for her dream ride at Trentham on Saturday, partnering her favourite horse Tavi Mac in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m). The reigning champion apprentice rode Tavi Mac to her first raceday win and seldom misses riding him in trackwork. “He’s a horse that means a huge amount to me and this is really exciting to get this opportunity,” Schofer said. “He’s like a pet to me. He’s such an intelligent horse and I get to ride him in trackwork everyday and he was…

Patterson’s in-form stable set to star again

Robbie Patterson will head to Trentham buoyed by a winning midweek double and even a hefty impost for his star performer Coventina Bay on Saturday hasn’t dimmed his confidence in the mare’s prospects. The New Plymouth trainer was successful with Bold Bette and Eddie Wood at Otaki on Thursday and runner-up finishes from Barney Rubble and Whaea Meri completed a top day out for the stable. Patterson is bullish about Coventina Bay’s chances in the Gr.3 Dixon & Dunlop Anniversary Handicap (1600m), despite her being saddled with 60kg and giving…

Zaher putting in the miles ahead of Wellesley

Two-year-old gelding Zaher may only be having his second start at Trentham on Saturday but he is already becoming a seasoned traveller. The Cambridge juvenile made the long trek down to Otaki in November to score on debut and he will add on another couple of hours to that journey on Saturday when he contests the Listed IRT Wellesley Stakes (1100m). Trainer Lauren Brennan said the son of Proisir has a great constitution and she doesn’t think the travel fazes the youngster. “He will have two runs with two big…

Rupee’s ‘Thunder’ storm warning

A scintillating Wentworth Park trial has Victorian superstar Aston Rupee primed for his NSW debut in Saturday night’s ‘sudden death’ heats of the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder at Wentworth Park. Trainer Glenn Rounds took Aston Rupee to Sydney for a preparatory trial last Wednesday (January 5) and the ‘world’s fastest greyhound’ lived up to his reputation, covering the 520m in a blistering 29.40sec. “He trialled beautifully,” said Rounds. “What he trialled was super. You couldn’t ask for any more. He finished it off strongly – his last section was…

Daily Mail: Hennessey eyeing Warragul Cup success

G3 Provincial Plate winner Hennessey is favoured to claim his 10th victory from his last 11 starts in tonight’s $47,000 to-the-winner G2 SEN Track Warragul Cup final, but there are plenty of contenders including G2 Laurels placegetter Gypsy Bun, G1 Melbourne Cup placegetter Kinson Bale and G1 Silver Chief placegetter Titan Blazer. Brother Bearing (won five of his last six) and G1 Silver Chief finalist Xavien Bale clash in the $10,000 winner-take-all Cup Night Match Race, while Sir Harley v Gunai Rebel and Kanji Giant v Pink Diamond finalist Gypsy…

Aussie star good to go

Champion pacer Lochinvar Art’s comeback is ahead of schedule. That’s the word from trainer-driver David Moran heading into his first race in almost a year in the Group 2 Shepparton Gold Cup on Saturday night. “A couple of weeks ago, I wasn’t sure where he was at, but the two trials have really brought him on. He’s a lot closer to his top than I expected he would be after so long out,” he said. “That first trial at Melton last week woke him up and he was great at…