Emerging young stallions were again to the fore at Matamata on Wednesday, with debut three-year-old winners by Turn Me Loose and Vadamos in consecutive 1200m maidens, while earlier on the card Enraptured (NZ), a two-year-old by Preferment was an impressive debut winner. The progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Turn Me Loose can do no wrong at present and the Jamie Richards-trained Victoria Roc (NZ) lived up to market expectations when cruising to victory by nearly four lengths. Sent out a $1.40 favourite on the back of three trial wins,…
Month: March 2022
Ritchie Enraptured with promising filly
Adrian Clark may have found his next Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle). The bloodstock agent bought the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner and Champion New Zealand Three-Year-Old Filly of her year for just $5,000 as a weanling, and he outlaid a similar price for her heir apparent, Enraptured (NZ) (Preferment). The juvenile filly won on debut in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1050m) at Matamata on Wednesday, impressing trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray. “We will probably have one more go now based on the fact that…
Australian campaign for Mali Ston
Rising Matamata miler Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca) will get a crack at a good Australian target next month – mainly because his best mate is making the journey with him. Mali Ston has become one of the better milers in New Zealand this season, putting together a winning streak of four that culminated in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, followed by finishing third in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on January 29. Trainer Darryn Weatherley is taking Mali Ston to…
Launching Pad 2022 Heats Preview
After many weeks of anticipation the heats of the $460,000 Launching Pad series have arrived, and they are hot.
‘King Ferdinand’ defending Ballarat Cup crown
‘Country king’ Ferdinand Boy commences his quest for back-to-back Group 2 Ballarat Cup crowns on Friday night. Trained at Lara by David Geall, the flying machine headlines a stately set of speedsters contesting six heats of the Cup – sponsored by SJC Concreting – which is the second leg of the Western Festival of Racing. A triple G2 country cups winner, Ferdinand Boy won the 2021 Ballarat Cup, over 450 metres, in a sizzling 24.84sec. Last year, he also won the Shepparton Cup (450m) – in a then track record of…
So far so good for Enghien
Comeback trotter Enghien has passed another important test. The Love You eight-year-old has finished third in his trial at Rangiora on Wednesday for driver Ricky May. Starting off 30 metres he finished two lengths from fellow back-marker Majestic Lavros and Eurokash. “We went super,” says co-trainer and co-owner Greg Hope, “Ricky said he wanted to win and had to hold him back” A 15 race winner from just 29 starts, Enghien has not raced for nearly two and a half years. He’s been sidelined with a leg injury ever since,…
Addington Weekly : March 30
Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the Addington News – March 30 .
Change of plan in lead-up to The Race
By Michael Guerin Champion trainer Mark Purdon says he will have to settle for a unofficial workout in place of a race after what was to have been the final lead-up to The Race was canned at Alexandra Park this Friday. Purdon and training partner Hayden Cullen were hoping to start Self Assured, Spankem and Mach Dan in the proposed open class pace but when the only other entry was Hot And Treacherous the race was scrapped. Purdon was disappointed by the decision, believing a one-off exception should have been…
News Briefs – March 30
Village Jasper dies aged 28 Two-time champion Australian stallion Village Jasper has been euthanized, after suffering a twisted bowel. The 28-year-old won 14 races and over $1m before embarking on a stud career that sired 874 winners who won over $42m in Australia and New Zealand. He stood at Alabar with owner Alan Galloway saying “he was the most beautiful horse…everyone who saw him fell in love with him. He had an amazing physique and an even better temperament.” Racing returns to Albion Park Albion Park, Brisbane’s home of harness…
House, O’Reilly and Butt star in Palmy
by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It was the Michael House- Sarah O’Reilly – Bob Butt show at Manawatu Raceway yesterday. With Sarah O’Reilly driving a treble on the day, including two at double figure odds, House’s team won four races. The Red Army landed the trifecta twice, and the quinella in the remaining two. O’Reilly’s wins were in the last three races with Tasman Tempest ($6.30), Glitz And Glam ($15.20) and Piiki Whara ($14.20). In race 2 the recently-acquired and well-travelled Taliesin made it win number one at…