Five-year-old gelding No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) ran out a game winner of the Gr.3 Queen’s Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday as the former Kiwi gears up for a tilt at the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m). The son of Pins, who began his career with Waverley trainer Bill Thurlow before transferring to Chris Waller, was ridden a lot handier to the speed than usual by jockey Jay Ford and kicked gamely to defeat stablemates Surefire (Fastnet Rock) and Chalk Stream (Sea The Stars) by half a length. It was a…
Month: March 2022
Southern bonds to the fore in Oaks triumph
With three premierships, countless big-race triumphs, more than $30 million in prize-money and Hong Kong beckoning, Jamie Richards has come a long way since taking out his training licence in 2015 – but it was a nod to his southern roots that played a big part in landing Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham with Belle En Rouge (NZ) (Burgundy). The least-fancied of three runners in the prestigious classic for Richards and the all-conquering Te Akau Racing team, Belle En Rouge was ridden by…
Dazzling Imperatriz heads Levin Classic sweep for Richards
Jamie Richards’ relentless dominance of New Zealand racing keeps rolling on into his final few weeks on these shores, saddling all of the first four placegetters in Saturday’s Gr.1 Wellington Seamarket Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham – the second time he has achieved that remarkable feat this season alone. Richards – who will head to Hong Kong later in the autumn as just the second New Zealander (after Paul O’Sullivan) invited to join their red-hot training ranks – had five runners in Saturday’s three-year-old feature and dominated the finish with…
Substantial surprise in Shepparton Cup
Most of the pre-race talk leading into Saturday night’s Group 2 CKH Painting Shepparton Cup final (450m) centred on new track record holder, boom youngster Mr. Audacious, and defending champion Ferdinand Boy. And understandably so. But Anthony Azzopardi and his regally bred outsider Substantial were reading from a different script. While Substantial qualified for his first Group event with an upset heat win over superstar Bendigo Cup winner Paua Of Buddy, he was a $15 roughie from Box 7 in the $47,000 to-the-winner Cup final. At just his sixth start,…
2022 Golden Slipper Results: Fireburn Wins Second for Portelli
Gary Portelli is now a dual Golden Slipper winning trainer thanks to a brilliant upset in the $5 million two-years-old classic on Saturday by his progressive filly Fireburn. Fireburn was brilliant winning the 2022 Golden Slipper Stakes for Gary Portelli in Sydney. Photo: Steve Hart. Last seen winning the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes over subsequent Magic Night winner She’s Extreme in late February, the progressive daughter of Rebel Dane was too good for her rivals fresh in this year’s Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens. “You…
Shelby Sixtysix takes out The Galaxy
The Danny Williams-trained Shelby Sixtysix is now a Group 1 winner. (Photo: Steve Hart) Shelby Sixtysix affirmed his cult hero status, taking out The Galaxy at Group 1 level at Rosehill Gardens. In what is a story for the ages, the Goulburn-based sprinter has had 16 starts this preparation, winning a Class 2 Highway four starts back, before beating home Nature Strip and then winning the Group 2 Challenge Stakes last weekend. Now a Group 1 winner, the heavy track specialist took his prizemoney to beyond $1 million. “Wow! From…
Fireburn scorches the turf to win the Golden Slipper
Fireburn has claimed the 2022 Golden Slipper. (Photo: Lisa Grimm) Gary Portelli has bought up his second win in the Golden Slipper, as Fireburn proved far too strong for her rivals in the $5 million two-year-old classic race. The filly by Rebel Dane made it four wins in a row with a dominant display in the Rosehill Gardens feature, defeating Best Of Bordeaux and race favourite Coolangatta by two and a half lengths. Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, the filly was under hard riding on the bend, but she saved all…
Forbidden Love bolts in the George Ryder Stakes
The Richard & Michael Freedman-trained Forbidden Love claimed the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes. (Photo: Steve Hart) Forbidden Love recorded consecutive Group 1 victories, claiming the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill Gardens. Now a three-time Group 1-winning mare, the daughter of All Too Hard did enough to fend of a last-stride effort from Colette and a game Laws Of Indices. A mare in form and a force to be reckoned with, FORBIDDEN LOVE takes out the George Ryder! @Freedman_bros @HugeBowman @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/gFA2zWYhS7 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 19, 2022 Trained…
Zaaki show his class in the All Star Mile
Zaaki (GB) ridden by Jamie Kah wins the The Seppelt Wines All-Star Mile at Flemington. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) From the lowest of lows to the sky-high feeling of winning the 2022 The Seppelt Wines All Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. That was the prevailing emotion for ecstatic and victorious assistant trainer Todd Pollard, after overseeing Zaaki’s commanding 1.5 length win in the lucrative $5 million race over 1600m. It was just October 23 last year when Annabel Neasham’s stable staff and connections felt the bitter disappointment of having…
Glassey Miss takes out the Country Mile Series Final
Glassey Miss ridden by Harry Coffey wins the Furphy Country Mile Series Final at Flemington Racecourse. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) It was a relatively slow $250,000 Furphy Country Mile Series Final (1600m) at Flemington, but that suited winning jockey Harry Coffey just fine. Coffey guided five-year-old mare Glassey Miss (at generous odds of $16 for Ladbrokes for trainer Symon Wilde) to a half-length triumph over Grahame Begg’s Gracias Amigo in what was judged a “slow” time of 1:37.96. What a finish from Glassey Miss! The 5yo mare wins the Country Mile…