Te Akau Racing, trainer Jamie Richards and jockey Opie Bosson have gone back-to-back in the world’s first Group One race of the year, stealing the show with a scintillating performance by Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. Last year’s Railway was the fifth of nine career Group One victories for Avantage (Fastnet Rock), but Entriviere is just getting started. The Ellerslie sprint showpiece was the first taste of Group One racing for the super-talented daughter of Tavistock, and only her 11th start…
Month: January 2022
Sunshine Coast tips, value bets & quaddie picks | Sunday, 02/01
What Sunshine Coast Races Where Corbould Park Racecourse – 170 Pierce Avenue, Caloundra QLD When Sunday, January 2, 2022 First Race 12:05pm AEST Watch Live Streaming Live at Sportsbet HorseBetting’s Queensland form analyst brings you his best bets, value bet and quaddie numbers for the Sunshine Coast’s nine-race program on Sunday, January 2. The track is rated a Soft 7, while the rail has been moved out 8m for the entire course. Runners for the first race of the day will face the starter at 12:05pm AEST. Sunshine Coast’s Best…
Grass track specialist to savour a return to the turf
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Grass track specialist Mac’s Tomado will appreciate a return to the turf when he lines-up in the Connie Stewart NZ Sotheby’s Int Realty Mobile Pace (2000m) at Tauherenikau on Sunday. The six-year-old gelding has won three of his four starts on the surface and he will be ably assisted by the ace draw on Sunday with the scratching of Lord Verde. “He certainly goes a few lengths better on the grass than he does on the all-weather,” trainer Doug Gale said. “He is quick…
Progressive stayer Tigertiger wins Bagot
Kiwi import Tigertiger (NZ) (Zed) landed the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, his biggest success to date as he soars through the grades. A maiden when he arrived in Australia after 11 starts in New Zealand, Tigertiger now has five wins to his credit in nine starts for Mornington trainer Rob Blacker. Ridden by Daniel Moor, Tigertiger, a son of outstanding staying influence Zed, came from last before the turn in the 2800m contest to register a neck win over Skelm (Animal Kingdom) with Long Arm (Rock…
Bosson masterclass lays path for Dionysus victory in Stayer’s final
A never say die effort from Dionysus (NZ) (Ocean Park) and rider Opie Bosson saw them take out a fabulous victory in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie. After a gritty second placing over 2200m on Boxing Day in a qualifying event for today’s final, the four-year-old son of Ocean Park looked to be a strong chance to go one better until he drew an outside barrier (11). With Bosson jumping aboard the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained stayer, punters rallied behind Dionysus who ended up starting…
Last-gasp Guineas win for Dark Destroyer
With back-to-back stakes wins including a last-gasp thriller in Saturday’s Gr.2 SKYCITY Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie, Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) is stepping up to fill a void for owners David Archer and Diane Wright. The couple’s distinctive grey and blue colours have had a quiet few months following the retirements of quality trans-Tasman performers Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) and Charles Road (Myboycharlie) during the winter. But it turned out that their next star galloper was just around the corner, as Dark Destroyer debuted with a third placing at Taupo…
Self Obsession takes Royal Stakes in desperate finish
In a thrilling finish to the Gr.2 Valachi Downs Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie, it was the Jamie Richards-trained Self Obsession (NZ) (Shocking) who got in the deciding stride to claim victory by a nose over Princess Lowry (NZ) (Roc de Cambes). Ridden by Michael McNab, who had lost a previous race in the enquiry room in a similarly close finish, the daughter of Shocking had sat outside pacemaker Set In Stone (NZ) (El Roca) before moving to the front on the home turn, as a wall of horses loomed…
Concert Hall delivers tonic for Egan
A recent injury prevented popular owner-breeder Joan Egan from attending the New Year’s Day races at Ellerslie on Saturday, but her pride and joy Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel) gave her a timely boost with a masterful performance in the Gr.3 Skycity City of Auckland Cup (2400m). The high-class daughter of Savabeel was backing up from the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day, where she made up good late ground from the back of the field in a race dominated by all-the-way winner Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly). Concert Hall stepped up…
Wolverine awarded Eclipse Stakes victory in enquiry room
The ominous sound of the protest siren sounding shortly after the runners crossed the line in the Gr.2 First Global Logistics Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie threw shudders through the supporters of first past the post Pacific Dragon (NZ) (Charm Spirit). The Tony Pike-trained daughter of Charm Spirit had shifted out significantly in the final 150m of the contest, hampering the finishing burst of the unbeaten Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci) who had ranged up alongside Pacific Dragon for rider Danielle Johnson halfway down the straight. The final margin to Pacific Dragon…
Ray ‘Biro’ Byron – a Sandown stalwart
Loyal and popular former Sandown GRC director Ray Bryon has died, aged 95. Byron, who was Sandown’s longest living life member, passed away on Monday, December 27. Incumbent Sandown GRC chairman Neil Brown said Byron “made an extraordinary contribution to our club right up until his death”. “I have many fond memories at Sandown horse track every Sunday morning slipping our dogs up the steeple track behind Ray’s battery lure,” he said. “John Reid, who these days is 88, would run up and back like he was 25 years old.…