Month: March 2022

Bidding for a third BMW Hong Kong Derby, Caspar Fownes laid down a positive sighter for the HK$24 million Classic at Sha Tin on Sunday (20 March) as the reigning champion trainer edged closer to 1,000 Hong Kong wins with Kokushi Musou’s (NZ) (Bullbars) victory in the first section of the Class 4 Hereford Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Posting his 995th career victory after Kokushi Musou benefited from a heady Alexis Badel ride from barrier 1, Fownes is eagerly anticipating Sunday’s 2000m feature with former kiwi-trained…

Chris Waller’s hopes for an eighth Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) success hinge on the state of the Rosehill track. The premier trainer’s two runners, Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Hungry Heart (Frankel), are both more effective on top of the ground and Waller is hoping the surface can improve from its heavy 8 rating on Thursday. “Her and Kolding, the better the track the better they will run,” Waller said. “I’m hoping it’s the better side of soft for both of them because they both showed signs of improvement…

Unbeaten in five starts to date, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Yonce (NZ) (Proisir) will attempt to extend her winning sequence when she steps out at Flemington. Yonce will line up in the G H Mumm Mystic Journey (2000m) on Saturday following her most recent victory over 1600m at Flemington on March 5. Following that latest victory, the Maher and Eustace stable were considering a stakes race for the mare, but with A$200,000 in prize money on offer on Saturday elected to keep the mare in Melbourne for another…

Last Sunday’s Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) marked the final public outings for high-class gallopers Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel) and Sound (Lando), who signed off by finishing second and third respectively behind Central Districts visitor Uareastar (NZ) (Jakkalberry). Retirement had been earmarked for both seven-year-old mare Concert Hall and nine-year-old entire Sound, and stud careers beckon the pair who ran their usual game races. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Concert Hall retires as the winner of 11 races between the distances of 1400m and 2400m and went within a head…

A solidly run contest will give Glory Bound (NZ) (Tavistock) her best opportunity to live up to her name when she steps out in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham. That’s the belief of Stephen Autridge and Kris Shailer, who prepare the filly for Valachi Downs principal Kevin Hickman, who bred and races the daughter of Tavistock. The Oaks has long been the end goal for Glory Bound while her homebred stablemate and travelling partner Perfectly Suited (NZ) (Savile Row) can earn herself a…

Trent Busuttin has found it difficult to put a positive spin on Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma) drawing barrier 13 in the A$5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. While pleased with the last start Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) winner ahead of Saturday, he said the draw took the wind well and truly out of his sails. “It’s a bad draw and it will make things extremely difficult for her to win,” Busuttin told RSN. “We needed to draw in the first six or eight to get good…

Jamie Richards has already forged a successful association with a major Hong Kong thoroughbred identity and that combination could go to the highest level at Trentham on Saturday. The Richards-prepared Self Obsession promises to be a staying force to be reckoned with in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and victory might bring further long-term benefits for the Matamata horseman. Richards is due to take up the next challenge of his training career when he leaves in May for Hong Kong where the filly’s owner David…