Month: March 2022

Promising stayer Through Irish Eyes (NZ) (Tavistock) returns to the scene of his biggest win which in turn could lead to a Melbourne Cup qualifier in early winter. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Through Irish Eyes runs in the Kennedy Grand Handicap Classic (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, his first test back at the track since May last year. Through Irish Eyes won the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington before returning to the track for the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington. After looming large in…

Victorian trainer Danny O’Brien will have a pair of runners in Saturday’s A$5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington headed by last-star Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) winner Inspirational Girl, while fellow Kiwi-bred Callsign Mav landed a late place in the field. The Bob Peters-owned Inspirational Girl, a daughter of Reliable Man, is the $5.50 second favourite for the feature mile behind Zaaki ($2.90), who she narrowly defeated under set weight and penalties in the Blamey. “I think she has improved, obviously she hadn’t done a lot of racing in the…

Darlington County (NZ) (So You Think) has got Waverley trainer Bill Thurlow daring to dream of another Auckland Cup triumph. Thurlow produced Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant) to win the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie in 2019 before she went on to place in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick at her next start. So You Think four-year-old mare Darlington County is only two starts out of maiden grade but Thurlow revealed that he believed she was actually ahead of Glory Days on some counts as he prepared…

Kelvin Tyler is preparing to escape the Southland cold this winter for the warmer climes of Queensland. The Riverton trainer said a lack of racing opportunities over winter in the south has forced his hand and he will head across the Tasman for at least three months with a small team. “We are going to take half a dozen over there and we are just trying to sort that out at the moment,” said Tyler, who trains in partnership with his daughter Aimee. “We will go over for three months…

Talented staying filly Achieve will be the sole runner for Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood this weekend when she contests the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on Saturday.  The daughter of Pierro has won once from six starts but has been around the mark in all of her races, boasting placings in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m), Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m) and the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m). A $13 chance in Saturday’s Oaks in a market headed by…