Saturday’s meeting at Riverton was abandoned after just two races due to high winds. Inclement weather in the region had seen the meeting put back over an hour as the winds caused electricity supply issues for oncourse services. With the wind strength climbing, the decision was taken to abandon the meeting before the running of race three. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing have elongated the card at Riverton on Monday to 12 races, which now consists of the eight races that were abandoned today, including the Listed Carriers Arms Hotel Riverton…
Month: April 2022
Kiwi acquisition scores in Frank Packer
New Zealand filly Verona has quickly repaid her new owners when landing the Gr.3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday. The daughter of Belardo had performed well in five starts in New Zealand for former trainer Jenna Mahoney, winning on debut before running fifth in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), and fourth in both the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). Her connections were aiming her towards the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), however, an offer from clients of trainers Ciaron Maher and…
Swords Drawn takes out Hawke’s Bay Cup
A decision to bypass a start in an open 2100m event at Te Rapa on Saturday with enigmatic stayer Swords Drawn paid a handsome dividend when the six-year-old stormed home from near last to capture the Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m) at Hastings. The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained son of Camelot had finished a meritorious fifth behind Uareastar in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at his last start and relished a steady pace set up by local mare Mohaka throughout Saturday’s contest. Apprentice Joe Kamaruddin settled his…
Star filly too good for older rivals in Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes
Outstanding three-year-old filly Imperatriz blew her older rivals off the track at Te Rapa on Saturday when she bolted clear to win the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). The Mark Walker-trained daughter of I Am Invincible was given a gun ride by Opie Bosson as he made use of her inside barrier to trail leader One Dream One Soul before moving off the rail to issue a challenge three wide on the home corner. Allowed to balance up and find her feet, the filly blazed to…
Johny Johny too slick in Hastings sprint
Speedy Cambridge sprinter Johny Johny ran his rivals off their feet to take out the Listed Power Turf Sprint (1200m) at Hastings on Saturday. The Tim and Margaret Carter-trained four-year-old looked to be one of the many speed influences in the race and so it panned out as rider Darryl Bradley set him alight from barrier three as he dictated proceedings throughout. Bradley had the son of Charm Spirit travelling comfortably approaching the home bend and shot him three lengths clear early in the run home. Darryl Bradely brings Johny…
Daily Mail: Boy, what a clash at Bendigo
Exciting prospect Amron Boy – victorious in his first five races and a Launching Pad semi-finalist – lines up against Panama Canal – triumphant in his last seven starts – in a Mixed 4/5 525m race at Bendigo this evening. Premier Racing at The Meadows tonight is highlighted by the appearance of G1 Rookie Rebel runner-up Aston Ulysses in a Grade 5 525m event after racing over 650m at Shepparton last Monday night. Nifty Nangar – the conqueror of Aston Ulysses last Monday night – faces G1 Fanta Bale Super…
Kementari storms home to claim Hall Mark Stakes
Kementari has resumed from a spell with a win in the Hall Mark Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart Nash Rawiller had gone to the far extreme of his outside fence run in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes last weekend, instead scraping the inside rail in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) to get Kementari over the line for James Cummings. Jumping from barrier 4, Kementari settled back fifth on the fence in the seven-horse field with race favourite Big Parade rolling in front controlling the race. Rawiller, determined to stay on…
Espiona back to her best at Randwick
Espiona is back to her best following a smart win in the James H.B Carr Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart Espiona has proved her doubters wrong and shown she is a filly on the rise when blowing them away in the Group 3 James H.B. Carr Stakes at Randwick. Winner of the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in November, the Chris Waller-trained Extreme Choice filly finished second and third respectively in the Group 2 Lightfinger Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) in February before a last start eighth…
She’s Extreme denies Fireburn of the Triple Crown in Champagne upset
She’s Extreme has caused a massive upset in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart She’s Extreme has caused the upset of all upsets, defying Fireburn success in the Triple Crown, with a front-running victory in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. The Anthony Cummings-trained filly turned the tables on her arch nemesis, with Fireburn not able to reel in the margin in the straight. The two-year-old filly was the second favourite in the race at $4.60 with online bookmakers, but her half-length win caused plenty of…
Verona causes upset in Frank Packer Plate
Verona, ridden by William Pike has taken out the Frank Packer Plate. Photo: Steve Hart Verona had caused an upset in the first Group 3 of the afternoon at Royal Randwick, winning the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) in fine fashion. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained three-year-old was given a lovely steer under William Pike, beating Maurice’s Medad and a disappointing Straight Arron. The former Kiwi had started just once in Australia, running fifth at Warwick Farm in a 1600m Benchmark 78, but he relished the conditions and the step…