Reflections in the wake of the death last Sunday of Lester Piggott have been many, but in this part of the world few hold a greater first-hand insight to the famous jockey than New Zealand Hall of Famer Noel Harris. After claiming apprentice and national jockey titles in the early to mid-1970s, Harris rode for three years in Singapore-Malaysia and in that time became well acquainted with Piggott and fellow European jockeys during their stints that coincided with the Northern Hemisphere winter. Harris had been invited to Singapore by the…
Month: June 2022
Kiwi superstar McDonald not resting on his laurels
With a fourth straight Sydney metropolitan century and seemingly a sixth Sydney jockeys’ premiership in the bag, Kiwi jockey James McDonald could be forgiven for taking his foot off the throttle. But that’s the last thing on McDonald’s mind as he sets his sights on Brisbane Group One targets before jetting off to England for a seventh appearance at the Royal Ascot meeting later this month. McDonald guided the Chris Waller-trained Pretty Wild to success at Warwick Farm on Wednesday to bring up 100 wins for the season and a…
Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | June 3, 2022
Horse Racing on Friday, June 3 will feature five meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meetings at Pakenham & Sunshine Coast. Friday Racing Tips – June 3, 2022 Pakenham Synthetic Racing Tips Sunshine Coast Racing Tips As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking…
Mayameen and Highly Decorated on Darwin collision course
The Chris Nash-trained Mayameen holds out Niewand to win the 2021 Palmerston Sprint in Darwin. (Photo: Darwin Racing) It’s not very often that the reigning Darwin Cup winner squares off with the reigning Palmerston Sprint winner. That will be the case on Saturday when the Nicole Irwin-trained Highly Decorated and the Chris Nash-trained Mayameen clash at Fannie Bay. Highly Decorated was nothing short of spectacular in the Top End last year when he arrived from South Australia. Before heading north, he had only posted one win in 14 starts in…
About Turn making his return
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Six-win pacer About Turn will continue his comeback at Cambridge Raceway on Friday when he contests the Waikato Principals Association Handicap Pace (2700m). Retirement beckoned the son of Changeover after a tendon injury last year, but a series of events has resulted in his return to the track. “He had a little bit of a hole in a tendon. We were going to rehome him but he was a stallion,” trainer Mike Berger said. “We spent three or four months trying to rehome him,…
Change of pace and venue for Donnelly
By Michael Guerin Just because trainer Arna Donnelly has arrived in harness racing’s big time doesn’t mean she is turning her back on the smaller fare on offer at Cambridge tonight. The first half of the pacing open class season reached its zenith with the Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park last Friday and that meant a new career high for Donnelly as Kango stormed into third in the $400,000 feature. It capped a great campaign for the big pacer and gives Donnelly a serious open class player for the second…
O’Sullivan calling time on Hong Kong training career
Expat New Zealand trainer Paul O’Sullivan has signalled to the Hong Kong Jockey Club that season 2021/22 will be his last. A Hong Kong Jockey Club circular read: Trainer Paul O’Sullivan has notified the Club that he does not wish to be considered for a Trainer’s licence for the 2022/2023 racing season. The Licensing Committee will meet on 10 June 2022 to consider all licensing matters for the commencement of the 2022/2023 racing season. The veteran of almost two decades among Hong Kong’s training ranks, O’Sullivan has now sent out…
Vale Nadeem
Little Avondale Stud’s Group One-winning sire Nadeem has passed away. Bred by John Foote, Nadeem was bought for A$700,000 as a yearling in Australia by Angus Gold for Sheik Hamdan and Shadwell. Trained by David Hayes, the colt was a brilliant winner of the 2006 Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on his way to being crowned Champion two-year-old colt of his year. “It is with a heavy heart that Little Avondale announce the passing of Nadeem,” Little Avondale Stud said in a statement. “The Group One-winning son of Redoute’s Choice…
Wanganui meeting transferred to Waverley
The Wanganui meeting scheduled for Saturday has been moved to Waverley racecourse due to an issue with the Wanganui track. The meeting will remain a Wanganui licence with fields, barrier draws and times unchanged. By necessity the 2040m race will become 2200m, the 1340m races will now be 1400m and the 1600m races will now be 1650m. The 1650m races are restricted to 12 starters. NZTR will look at what options are available in terms of the 9 June meeting, currently scheduled for Waverley.
Pink Diamonds are Kate’s ‘best friend’
The second staging of the lucrative $1.175m Vic Breeders Pink Diamond series kicks off with Maiden and Challenger heats at Shepparton later this afternoon and at Warragul tonight. Last year’s inaugural Pink Diamond event unveiled a host of terrific tyros with ‘bred in the purple’ bloodlines. And, even at first glance, this year looks no exception! Tanjil South’s Kate Gorman’s ‘triumvirate’ are a perfect illustration. Recalibrate (R3 B7) and Starlit Fantasy (R4 B1) – a younger half-brother and half-sister of Kuro Kismet – and Whizbang Betty (R9 B6) – a…