Month: April 2022

Neasham confirms Zaaki plans

AAP

Zaaki romps in to win the 2021 Doomben Cup Annabel Neasham has today confirmed that Zaaki will return to Queensland in the coming weeks in defence of his Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and Doomben Cup (2000m) victories. The star import has stamped himself as one of Australia’s best horses, with an emphatic All Star Mile (1600m) next to his name, as well as a heart-breaking second in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day 2 of The Championships at Royal Randwick. The seven-year-old is unbeaten in Queensland thanks to three dominant…

Prince Of Boom, Startantes flying ahead of Mick Dittman Plate

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Startantes at Eagle Farm Prince Of Boom and Startantes will look to give Rob Heathcote a win in one of the toughest editions of the Mick Dittman Plate (1110m) in recent history at Doomben on Saturday. The star three-year-olds both head into the $130,000 event in career best form, with Prince Of Boom looking to remain undefeated this preparation, while Startantes returns to Brisbane after a runner-up effort in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in February. The pair will line up in the Mick Dittman on the…

Lui holds strong hand on Champions Day

NZRacingDesk

Francis Lui is hoping high-class sprinter Lucky Patch can consign a nightmare outing in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) to a distant memory when the son of El Roca returns to action at Sha Tin on Sunday. The multiple Group One-winning conditioner has been pleased with his charge ahead of the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on Sunday. Lucky Patch had won both the Gr.2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) and the Gr.2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) ahead of International Day in December, but the short-course specialist parted company with…

Preview of Riccarton Polytrack

NZRacingDesk

With the first race meeting on the Riccarton Park Racecourse Polytrack to be held on Thursday May 5, the Canterbury Jockey Club has arranged an open day to have an up-close look at the new racing, trialling, and training surface. The open day will take place from 3pm to 5pm on Wednesday April 27 and all are welcome, with a free sausage-sizzle BBQ and refreshments at the 1600m start on the Polytrack.  This provides the opportunity to view the surface, find out how it was built and what and how…

Demonetization primed for Easter defence

NZRacingDesk

The Nigel Tiley-trained Demonetization will be out to defend his title in Saturday’s Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) and the seven-year-old gelding enters the race off a similar campaign to last year.  With Ellerslie out of action for at least the next 18 months, the time-honoured mile has been relocated to Demonetization’s home track of Pukekohe.  While the Easter Handicap has been downgraded in status in recent years from Group One to Group Two in 2017 and again to Group Three level for the first time this year, a deep,…

Star Pitman filly set to enhance her reputation

NZRacingDesk

Reputabelle is in prime order for her bid to become just the third filly to sweep the autumn legs of the South Island filly of the year series. That’s the word from Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman on the eve of the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) on their home track. Pins filly Reputabelle goes into the race having won her last four starts, including the previous two legs of the series, which for the past 22 years has been sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock. In that…

In-form 5YO ready for Anzac Mile challenge

NZRacingDesk

Amusez Moi made an immediate impact from his new quarters and will bid to remain unbeaten for Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard when he fronts up for the sternest test of his career at Awapuni on Sunday. The well-travelled five-year-old son of Dalghar has settled well into life at his Otaki base and will make his first black type appearance in the Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac Mile (1550m). Benner and Wynyard will also be chasing stakes success in the north this weekend with Titled to step out in Saturday’s Gr.2…

How new pandemic orders will affect Victorian greyhound racing

Editor BOAY

Following Tuesday’s COVID-19 announcement by the Premier of Victoria, there has been a significant shift in pandemic orders effective 11:59pm tonight (Friday 22 April). What it means for Victorian greyhound racing: Patrons and spectators won’t be required to have two doses or show their vaccination status before entering Club premises. The requirement for staff and patrons of venues to check-in using the Service Victoria app will end. Masks will no longer be required on course, including in hospitality sections however masks continue to be strongly recommended when you can’t physically…

Million Dollar ‘Wow’ factor

Editor BOAY

Potential megastar Wow She’s Fast will headline a star-studded Victorian representation in Saturday night’s TAB Million Dollar Chase city qualifiers, being held at Wentworth Park in Sydney. Trained by Kel and Jackie Greenough, Wow She’s Fast continued the sensational start to her career at Sandown Park last Thursday night when brilliantly winning the Group 3 Launching Pad final in a blistering 28.93sec. Once again living up to the most optimistic of names, Wow She’s Fast became the fastest female ever at Sandown, with the $150,000 winner’s purse boosting her prizemoney…

Hoysted ‘happy’ with both Canadian Dancer and Teranga

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Teranga is on a Queensland Oaks path. (Photo: Darren Winningham) Teranga and Canadian Dancer will lead a two-pronged attack for Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted in Saturday’s Listed Princess Stakes (1640m) at Doomben. The two three-year-old fillies are both coming off last-start victories, with online bookmakers installing Canadian Dancer ($4) as the second favourite behind Mokulua ($3.50), while Teranga ($7.50) is on the third line of betting. Canadian Dancer, a filly by Vancouver, was a brilliant winner of a 1350m Benchmark 65 at Ipswich on April 6, while Teranga proved…