The combination of a confidence-boosting trip to Queensland and getting to her right distance range has proven to be a winning formula for improving stayer Shameless Miss (NZ) (Shamexpress). The mare had been competing at provincial and midweek level in Sydney before trainer Chris Waller opted to take her north where she posted an Ipswich victory in April. She returned home to land a brace of midweek metropolitan wins over staying journeys and continued on that trajectory on Saturday with a determined performance in the Stayer’s Cup (2600m) at Randwick.…
Month: June 2022
Sanibel upsets in Tauranga feature
Underrated mare Sanibel (NZ) (Shamexpress) upset the applecart when she took out the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m) at Tauranga on Saturday. The Shane Brown-trained Woodville visitor went into the fillies and mares feature as a last start winner at Trentham over the same distance and produced a similar effort to secure her first black type victory and biggest career win. Ridden patiently by Kate Hercock, the five-year-old daughter of Shamexpress settled well back in the early stages and was a clear last with 600m to run. Hercock sent…
Banker cashes in on Tattersall’s Cup
Smart stayer London Banker (NZ) (Tavistock) was back in the winner’s circle at Eagle Farm on Saturday when proving too slick for his rivals in the Gr.3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m). The Kelly Schweida-trained six-year-old strung together four wins in his first campaign for the Queensland horseman last spring and has been building to a winning performance this term. Luckless when ninth after getting back in a sedately-run Gr.2 Q22 (2200m) at his most recent outing, jockey William Pike ensured the Tavistock gelding was more prominently positioned when camped behind a…
Rhonda Wood impresses on debut at Riccarton
Two-year-old filly Rhonda Wood (NZ) (Redwood) overcame some unplanned travel and a rush to get her barrier certificate in the last seven days to run out a gritty winner on debut over 1000m at Riccarton. Bred and raced by co-trainer Bruce Tapper and his wife Karen, the daughter of Redwood only gained her barrier certificate a week ago so that she could be nominated for Saturday’s contest. Tapper and training partner Varma Ramhit then had to truck her north to Ashburton from their Timaru base on Thursday to get her…
Musigny Lass narrowly avoids disaster in Tauranga victory
Trainer Ben Foote was blissfully unaware that his impressive Tauranga winner Musigny Lass (NZ) (Iffraaj) had nearly blown her chances at the start of Saturday’s 1300m three-year-old contest. The daughter of Iffraaj had overcome some buffeting at the top of the Tauranga straight to charge home and down $1.30 race favourite Turn The Ace (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), however it was a hairy moment for apprentice rider Ace Lawson-Carroll as the barrier opened that went close to ruining her chances. Lawson-Carroll was turned sideways in the saddle shortly after the…
Baggy Green top scorer at Valachi Downs broodmare dispersal
The Valachi Downs unreserved broodmare and stallion shares dispersal sale concluded on Gavelhouse Plus on Friday night and as expected blue-hen mare Baggy Green proved the highlight lot, selling for $1.75 million to Yulong’s Written Tycoon Syndicate. Grossing over $6.6 million, the 57-lot online sale is the highest grossing broodmare sale in New Zealand history, with a strong international buying bench keen to gain access to well-credentialed stock amassed by Kevin and Joanna Hickman, who have recently sold their pristine Matamata nursery. Having stretched to A$3.1 million to purchase four-time…
Queen Kasemi
The NCAV Coursing season moves into full swing with the Victoria Derby and Victoria Oaks preliminaries at Lang Lang on Sunday. The Dozus Two syndicate – comprising father-and-son team Brendan and Matthew Dewan – have six members of a Nov ’20 Fernando Bale x Dewana Dimie litter contesting the heats: four in the Derby and two in the Oaks. Winners of next week’s Derby and Oaks will each take home a $4000 first prize. CLICK HERE FOR LANG LANG COURSING PROGRAM But the star attraction on tomorrow’s program is ‘coursing…
Gibbons’ Classic Floodfawn breakthrough
Daniel and Rebecca Gibbons broke their frustrating feature race curse in style at Traralgon on Friday night, training the quinella in the $15,750 Floodfawn Classic (500m). Even-money favourite McKeon Bale defeated kennelmate Gracie Bale in 27.99sec to claim the $10,000 winner’s purse. It was McKeon Bale’s ninth win from 20 starts, with the daughter of Feral Franky having previously finished third in the G3 Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park, while runner-up Gracie Bale had been placed in both the G2 Laurels and G3 Provincial Plate. WATCH: Favourite MCKEON BALE (3)…
Phelan wins heat in first Addington drive
By Jonny Turner Frank Phelan has a two point lead after two races in the New Zealand Amateur Drivers Championship. Phelan took the lead in the five-race series when Tommysonaroll bolted in when Phelan was having his first drive at Addington on Friday night. The North Island reinsman had heat two of the championship parcelled up before the home turn as his charge skipped clear of the field. Though he clearly had the situation in control, Phelan admitted he did wonder if he had gone too soon. “I thought I…
Karis Teetan upbeat over Buzzinga
Buzzinga has enjoyed a fine debut season. In the midst of another excellent season, Karis Teetan is confident Buzzinga can lay the foundations for a strong 2022/23 campaign when he jousts with some of Hong Kong’s most promising young horses in the Class 2 Pok Fu Lam Country Park Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin today (Saturday June 25). Pitted against Fantastic Treasure (135lb), Buddies (131lb), The Golden Scenery (130lb), Good Luck Friend (128lb), Master Delight (123lb), Navas Two (123lb), Winner Method (123lb), Beauty Live (121lb), Toronado Phantom (121lb) and Beauty…