By Michael Guerin The man who made The Race happen knows he is witnessing a miracle. Not because the $900,000 slot race at Cambridge tonight has actually got off the ground even when several leading industry officials doubted it but because of the remarkable series of events that have unfolded since. Cambridge chief executive David Branch was given the full support of his board and created the new race which will likely be worth $1 million next season. When Branch first sought slot holders in December he hoped he would…
Month: April 2022
Self Assured primed for huge run in The Race
By Michael Guerin Champion trainer Mark Purdon thinks he has solved the problem that has robbed Self Assured of champion status in time for tonight’s $900,000 The Race at Cambridge. The best pacer in the new slot race has got the worst draw but the greatest trainer, making for some interesting mental calculations for punters wanting to back him. Harness racing is being dominated like never before by horses racing on the marker pegs, with the speeds the elite horses run and their increased fitness levels meaning those back or…
Colette retired as Godolphin Australia’s highest money earner
Colette will be Godolphin’s only Group 1 runner on day two of The Championships. James Cummings and the team at Godolphin Australia have made the decision to retire star mare, Colette. The five-year-old mare will embark on a career as a broodmare, after a successful racing career, which saw her amass over $7 million in prizemoney. After claiming the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) in 2020, Colette went on to claim the $7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) later that year, before winning the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) in…
Point Napean a ‘proper stayer’ says Williams
Point Napean can develop into a high-class stayer. (Photo: Racing Photos) After a dominant last-start Benchmark 84 win at Bendigo, Point Napean will be looking to win a second Australian start when he lines up at Caulfield on Saturday in the Jack Elliot Handicap (2400m). The four-year-old son of Camelot was ultra-impressive in his third Australian start when leading all of the way at Bendigo, recording a five-length victory in the 2400m staying contest on April 2. Dominant staying performance Point Nepean takes out R1 at Bendigo for Robert Hickmott.@_BendigoJC…
Sale Turf Club to host Victoria’s first Good Friday horse racing meeting
Sale Racecourse, Australia. (Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) The Sale Turf Club is set to go down in history, hosting Victoria’s first Good Friday thoroughbred raceday, backed by a funding package from the Victorian Government. Minister for Racing Martin Pakula today announced the government is allocating over $25,000 from the Victorian Racing Industry Fund (VRIF) – Raceday Attraction Program to support the event on Friday 15 April. Martin Pakula said, “We’re pleased to support Good Friday racing, which will deliver a great day for racing fans and families alike. “We back events…
Rescheduled date for Laurie Laxon memorial
A rescheduled date for family and friends to gather and celebrate the life of New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame trainer Laurie Laxon has been set for next month. The Melbourne Cup-winning trainer passed away last July, however due to COVID restrictions there has been no opportunity to mark his passing appropriately. The commemoration at 2pm on Thursday May 19 will take place fittingly at Takapoto Estate, 90 Finlay Rd, Karapiro, adjacent to the unique training grounds established by Laxon in the late 1980s. Laxon’s career began from stables on…
Ayrton all set for Victoria Handicap return
In many ways, it doesn’t really matter how Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj) goes in Saturday’s Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m), merely getting back to the races is a triumph. The New Zealand-bred gelding’s racing was in doubt after he was hospitalised following a spider bite last year. But after an extensive rehabilitation process, the four-year-old is ready to resume and co-trainer Mick Kent Jnr is confident he can again become a feature-race force. Mick Price’s training partner is not sure the son of Iffraaj will add to his record of five wins…
Waikato Stud announces 2022 stallion roster
Waikato Stud have announced their stallion roster for the 2022 breeding season. The roster is headed by the seven-time New Zealand Champion and leading Australasian sire of stakes winners, Savabeel, and he is now joined by his abundantly talented Group One-winning son, Noverre. Continuing on from last year’s extremely successful racing season where Waikato Stud was crowned top breeder and leading vendor at Karaka, the current season has been one of the very best in the farm’s history. The WS brand has been proudly carried to victory on the shoulder…
First winner for U S Navy Flag
Shuttle stallion U S Navy Flag has registered his first winner in the northern hemisphere when Ocean Vision won the Irish EBF median sires series maiden (1000m) at Dundalk on debut yesterday. Prepared by Kieran Cotter and ridden by Jake Coen, Ocean Vision raced greenly throughout but defeated favourite Lady Tilbury by three-quarters of a length. “He actually needs six furlongs (1200m), he was all over the place early on in the race but came home strong,” Cotter said. “There was a lot of talk about a lot of horses…
Australian spring campaign calling Wolverine
Roydon Bergerson has resisted the urge to head to Australia this autumn with exciting juvenile Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci). The Awapuni trainer was contemplating a tilt at the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick this weekend with the daughter of Tivaci, but elected to send her to the spelling paddock instead. “She has gone for a spell at Chris Rutten’s,” Bergerson said. “We thought about the Champagne Stakes on Saturday but it was just a bit too close. Maybe she will head to Australia in the spring.” Wolverine had an impressive…