Australasia’s darling of the turf Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) is edging closer to making her European debut. Her new trainer Francis-Henri Graffard is eyeing the Gr.1 Prix Rothschild (1600m) at Deauville at the start of next month to kick-off her European career. Part-owner Brae Sokolski said that Graffard had confirmed Verry Elleegant was progressing well in her preparation following her first gallop on the grass at Chantilly over the weekend. “She’s going great and she seems to be ahead of her program after talking to Francis yesterday in terms of…
Month: June 2022
Case scores first NZ win
English jumps jockey Charlie Case hadn’t even considered the possibility of riding in New Zealand two months ago. But he hasn’t taken long to take advantage of his surprise opportunity. Case arrived less than two weeks ago after leading trainer Paul Nelson started looking for a jockey to boost New Zealand’s somewhat thin jumping rider ranks. He made his mark quickly, scoring his first victory at his eighth New Zealand ride when guiding Leitrim Lad (NZ) (Tavistock) to victory in a maiden hurdle over 3000m at Rotorua on Sunday. “People…
Bellatrix Black to lead spring charge
Catherine Cameron’s main spring hopes will rest on the shoulders of the lightly raced Group winner Bellatrix Black (NZ) (Redwood) following the retirement of the highest-rated horse in her stable. The Cambridge trainer has called time on talented import Cheval Prometteur, an English-bred son of Declaration Of War who had graduated to stakes company with honours last preparation. “He has been retired, he tweaked a tendon just before the Easter Handicap (Gr.3, 1600m) and we decided he deserved a happy retirement,” Cameron said. “Emma Wilson, one of the girls that…
Patterson enjoying being home
Taranaki trainer Robbie Patterson is enjoying being back in his homeland after campaigning a trio of his team in Queensland. It was Patterson’s second trip across the Tasman to compete at the Queensland Winter Carnival and he was met by a wet reception in the Sunshine State. “It was wet for the first couple of weeks and then it fined up. It was a bit of an indifferent season for Brisbane that’s for sure,” Patterson said. It wasn’t smooth sailing for the New Plymouth horseman who ran into a few…
Queensland apprentice rides five-timer at Warwick
Apprentice jockey Emily Lang rode five winners from as many rides on just her second day in the saddle. (Photo: Warwick Turf Club) It isn’t too often an apprentice jockey outrides a 4kg claim in their first weekend of professional race riding, but that is exactly what 21-year-old Emily Lang did on the weekend. Apprenticed to Brisbane’s Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted, Lang participated in her first race meeting at Nanango on Saturday, riding one winner from her six rides. She backed it up on Sunday at Warwick, taking five…
Butler using assault as motivation ahead of NQ Carnival
Jockey Ash Butler will return to the saddle at Townsville on Tuesday for the first time since his win in The Archer on May 7. (Photo: Rocky Amateurs) Rockhampton jockey Ashley Butler will make his much-anticipated return to the saddle at Townsville on Thursday following a fractured jaw, which side-lined him for two months. The last time Butler rode a horse in a race was when he was standing high in the irons celebrating his win in the inaugural The Archer (1300m) at Rockhampton on May 7 aboard Emerald Kingdom,…
The Golden Scenery shines for Cruz
Luke Ferraris drives The Golden Scenery to victory. Tony Cruz believes The Golden Scenery is destined for Group level after the Australian import’s win in the Class 2 Pok Fu Lam Country Park Handicap (1400m) under Luke Ferraris at Sha Tin on Saturday (June 25). Notching his third victory in Hong Kong after winning twice in Australia when known as Dominant King for Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted, The Golden Scenery has risen from a mark of 69 to the cusp of a triple-digit mark since joining Cruz’s stable. With…
Father-son milestones across the Tasman
By Adam Hamilton There are not many bigger names in Australian harness racing history than the Turnbulls. The late great Tony “AD” Turnbull, of Hondo Grattan (aka the Bathurst Bulldog) fame, started it all from his family base near Bathurst and a seemingly endless stream of Turnbulls have followed since. At last count, there were 13 of Tony’s kids or grandchildren competing in harness racing right now. “AD” passed away at the age of 91 in May last year, but he would have been looking down with pride as one…
Daily Mail: ‘Kepal’ looks great at Shepparton
Kepal – triumphant in six successive races before finishing third in the Pink Diamond Champion Short Course Final on June 17 – lines up in a Great Eight 385m event at Shepparton tonight. Prolific winners Handsome Jack and Body Hack, plus Masked Avenger – racing for the first time since May 6 – are considered the biggest threats to Kepal claiming his 20th victory at start 32. Group finalists Zigzag Cabang (won 19 from 40) and Ultimate Avenger face Whiskey Road, Conroy (top-two in his past five starts) and Kraken…
Ballarat Synthetic racing preview & best bets | Tuesday, June 28
What Ballarat Races Where Ballarat Turf Club – 240 Kennedys Rd, Miners Rest VIC 3352 When Tuesday, June 28, 2022 First Race 1pm AEST Visit Ladbrokes An eight-part card is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at Ballarat Turf Club and HorseBetting’s Victorian betting expert presents his best bets, top odds and free quaddie selections. The meeting is set to be run on the club’s Synthetic track with the first race set to go at 1pm AEST. Best Bet at Ballarat – Rose Tycoon Patience will be important on Tuesday as our…