By Michael Guerin Superstar three-year-old Akuta will be nominated for the New Zealand Cup but trainer Mark Purdon warns he could be in Australia by the time the great race is run. Akuta has been heavily backed with the New Zealand TAB, shortening from $15 to $7 second favouritism for the Cup at Addington on November 10. Purdon confirms the Northern Derby and Jewels winner will be in the initial nominations for the Cup but a start in the 3200m thriller is anything but guaranteed. “Coming back on the rating…
Month: July 2022
Amore Vita “potentially” better than Amazing Dream
By Adam Hamilton Nathan Purdon thinks Amore Vita is potentially the best horse he has driven. It is a huge call, but one we will see tested in a busy back half of 2022. The obvious question is how Purdon compares Amore Vita with champion mare Amazing Dream, who left his barn in February to continue her career in the US? “I think Amore Vita is potentially better,” he said. “Amazing Dream was such a great racehorse and so strong, but Amore Vita has that point-to-point speed that only really…
All options open for Bolt For Brilliance
By Michael Guerin All of trotting’s major targets are now back in play for Rowe Cup winner Bolt For Brilliance and that could include leading the Kiwi charge at the Inter Dominions later this year. The two-time Jewels winner went to a new level when he thrashed his opponents in the Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park in May, suggesting he may have closed the gap most of the way on champion trotter Sundees Son. With that crushing win coming at the end of a busy series of campaigns dating back…
Yesberg bags three – “it was a big thrill”
by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Driving or training three winners in a day is not unusual but a breeding hat-trick provided a career first for North Canterbury breeder Paul Yesberg at Addington on Sunday. “It was a big thrill,” said Yesberg, “I certainly can’t recall another day when it’s happened.” Trained by Paul’s son Trent, No Gee Ess Tee kicked off the treble, followed by King Arthur, trained by Joseph Gray, and then the Bob Butt trained and driven Khal Drogo. “What’s particularly pleasing is that these days…
Muniandy set sights on Oamaru return
Shankar Muniandy is hoping his ankle mends in time for Sunday week’s Oamaru Cup day. The Otago jockey was worst affected by a three-horse fall at Ashburton last Thursday, needing assistance to get into an ambulance with his ankle heavily strapped after he was dislodged from Devil In Disguise. X-rays cleared Muniandy of any breaks but he said he was still needing to walk with the aid of crutches. “The horse in front of me went down pretty quickly and my horse had nowhere to go and then the horses…
A Shaw thing…
While enjoying another stunning day on Sunday, the Longwood Coursing Club was thrilled to welcome the ‘James Shaw show’ to town. With one-year-old daughter and ‘lucky charm’ Harriet by his side, everything turned to gold for “Team Shaw” with James’ dogs winning three of the 10 events. The feature of the day was the heats of the Slips to Boxes, with Shaw winning Event 1 with Nine Nine in a physical final with Paint Peeler (Nicole Lummas). He also had Crabby Yabby, which won Event 6 from Super Sparkle (Murray…
SA feature in Emily’s ‘Keeping’
Successful young trainer Emily Azzopardi isn’t afraid to head interstate in pursuit of feature race success and the 23-year-old’s next target is Thursday night’s heats of the Champion Puppy series (530m) at Angle Park. Emily, mother to Noah, who turns two in September, and a former jockey, and her partner, Group 1-winning trainer Matt Lanigan, will have ‘Keeping’ runners engaged in each of the three Champion Puppy heats. While Emily is yet to taste Group success, she came within a “whisker” of winning the G1 National Derby in Sydney earlier…
Warrnambool given green light
GRV Stewards have given the ‘all clear’ for Warrnambool to host its scheduled night race meeting this Thursday 14 July. The necessity for Stewards to inspect the track came about following the abandonment of Races 11 and 12 at Warrnambool on Monday due to damage to the rail. Prize money for the abandoned races will be divided equally among greyhounds who were set to compete. GRV apologises for any inconvenience caused.
Wednesday’s Darwin racing tips & value bets | July 13, 2022
What Bridge Toyota Ladies’ Day Where Darwin Turf Club – Buntine Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 When Wednesday, July 13, 2022 First Race ?pm Visit Ladbrokes The Bridge Toyota Cup is the featured race on Ladies’ Day as the 2022 Darwin Cup Carnival continues this Wednesday. HorseBetting’s NT racing analyst has gone through every event on the card on picked out his best bets for the day. Race 1 (2.24pm) – $24,000 Silk Laser Clinics Handicap (1100m) Ideas Man is in terrific form and is aiming for three straight wins.…
Sandown Hillside tips, odds & quaddie | Wednesday, July 13
What Sandown Hillside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, July 13, 2022 First Race 12:25pm AEST Visit Ladbrokes The Hillside circuit at Sandown Racecourse is the venue for Victorian midweek racing this Wednesday with an eight-race program scheduled. The track is predicted to play at a Soft 7, with the rail out six metres the entire circuit. Race one for the three-year-olds gets us underway at 12:25pm AEST, with the last race of the afternoon, a 1400m Benchmark 78, at 4:30pm. SANDOWN BEST…