Leading trainer joins HRNZ Board

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Harness Racing New Zealand has welcomed one of the country’s leading trainers to their board this week. Robert Dunn has been appointed the Auckland Trotting Club’s representative following the departure of Shaun Brooks, who leaves after a change in work circumstances. Dunn has had a lifelong involvement in harness racing and feels it is the right time to step back into racing administration, a facet of the industry he was heavily involved in earlier in his life. “I have had a lifelong experience to…

Pogacar storms home to clinch debut win at Doomben

High-priced colt Pogacar (Pierro x Lasqueti Spirit) showed plenty in his debut win at Doomben. (Photo: Coolmore) The shock win of Lasqueti Spirit and Brenton Avdulla in the 2016 Group 1 VRC Oaks is one that will always be remembered in Australian racing history. Although that was the only win in her 22-start career, the daughter of ill-fated sire Beneteau also ran second to Winx in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes, was third in the Group 1 Australian Oaks and placed third in the Listed Fernhill Handicap as a two-year-old,…

Sharrock pair heading to Trentham

Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock will head south on Saturday to Trentham with in-form duo Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) and Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed). Runner-up last start in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1650m) at Waverley, six-year-old Justaskme will make a drop in class to tackle the Courtesy Ford Manawatu 1600 with Sharrock saying he was running out of options with the son of No Excuse Needed and has engaged apprentice jockey Jeetesh Mudhoo for the ride. “There was nowhere else to go,” Sharrock said. “Once you get to that…

Randwick best bets, quaddie tips & odds | Saturday, June 11

What Royal Randwick Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Saturday, June 1, 2022 First Race 11am AEST Visit Ladbrokes HorseBetting’s New South Wales racing analyst provides you with his best bets and quaddie numbers for Bob Charley AO Stakes Day at Royal Randwick. That Listed race is the feature event on a 10-part program, while a competitive two-year-old race will be run earlier in the day. The track is rated a Soft 6 – a rarity in Sydney these days – and the rail…

Hyperion Stakes Day betting tips & best odds | June 11, 2022

What Hyperion Stakes Day 2022 Where Belmont Park Racecourse – Saintly Entrance, Burswood WA 6100 When Saturday, June 11, 2022 First Race 11:59am AWST Visit Ladbrokes The Group 3 Hyperion Stakes is the feature event this Saturday at Belmont, where nine races are scheduled to be run and won. The meeting is set to be run on a Soft 5, with the rail out 4m for the entire circuit. The first race is set to go at 11:59am AWST. Hyperion Stakes Best Bet – God Has Chosen The Group 3…

Soulmate crowns progressive stint with Happy Valley triumph

Lyle Hewitson coaxes Soulmate (orange cap) to narrow victory. Soulmate capped a season crammed with improvement and success with dramatic victory in the Class 2 Bellflower Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (June 8) to justify Ricky Yiu’s faith in the talented former Kiwi galloper. Winless in 2020/21, Soulmate has strung together four wins this term – two at Happy Valley and two at Sha Tin – to rise from 61 in the handicap at the start of the season to the cusp of a triple-figure mark after…

Grylls adds another Brisbane trip to busy schedule

Craig Grylls will ride The Fearless One in the AUD$400,000 Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Leading jockey Craig Grylls has been collecting plenty of frequent-flyer points over the last few weeks, and he will return to Brisbane again on Saturday to ride two key Kiwi runners at Eagle Farm. Grylls, who rode at Matamata on Wednesday and sits in fourth place on the New Zealand premiership with 84 wins, will partner the Robbie Patterson-trained Coventina Bay in the AUD$1.2 million Group 2 Sky Racing Q22…

Winter Championships high on Gibbs radar

Cakebytheocean will line-up at Ruakaka on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Chris Gibbs is looking forward to racing on his home Ruakaka track on Saturday, and not just for the chance to pick up a few wins. Gibbs has seven runners entered for the card, six of which are in races which earn qualifying points for the five ITM/GIB Northern Region Winter Championships finals back at Ruakaka on July 16. “It’s a great idea, and the fact that it was free nominations has been really helpful,” Gibbs said. “Also, I really…

SA Derby winner Jungle Magnate to join Cruz stable in Hong Kong

Can Jungle Magnate be the latest horse to successfully transition from Australian to Hong Kong racing? South Australian Derby winner Jungle Magnate will be aimed towards the coveted Hong Kong Derby next season with prominent bloodstock agent George Moore confirming the purchase of the gelding on behalf of Patrick Kwok, who also raced champion horse Beauty Generation. The three-year-old son of Tarzino is set to join the respected stable of Tony Cruz in Hong Kong racing. “I had dinner with Tony last night, he’s quite excited to train the horse,”…

Morphettville best bets, top odds & quaddie | Saturday, June 11

What Morphettville Parks Races Where Morphettville Racecourse – 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville SA 5043 When Saturday, June 11, 2022 First Race 11:32am ACST Visit Ladbrokes For a second week in a row, nine races are set to be run and won on the Morphettville Parks track as part of metropolitan racing in Adelaide. As always with these winter meetings in the South Australian capital, finding value can be tricky, but we think we’ve found a few good ones to get behind this weekend. The track has come up a Heavy…