Month: August 2022

Hosier booked a spot in The Big Dance with his win in the 2022 Coffs Harbour Cup. Lloyd Williams has won a remarkable seven Melbourne Cups, but this year on the first Tuesday in November his eyes may also be looking further north after Hosier carried the prolific owner’s well-known colours to victory in the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) on Thursday. That win ensured a place in the inaugural running of The Big Dance – the $2 million feature taking place at Royal Randwick on November 1.

 Having his first start for…

English Riviera ridden by Damien Thornton wins the Brandt 3YO Maiden Plate at Ballarat Racecourse on August 5, 2022. (Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Horses don’t win much easier than what English Riviera did in the opening race at Ballarat on Friday. The three-year-old filly started a very short $1.04 on the Victorian tote in her first run for the preparation, and she never once looked like getting beaten. Ridden by Damien Thornton, English Riviera jumped well from barrier two, controlled the race and scooted clear upon straightening, putting up a margin…

Grant Cullen (left) and Guy Lowry have decided to branch out on their own and end their training partnership. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North Trainers Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen have decided to go their separate ways after a successful 13-year partnership that yielded 235 wins, including three Group One victories. The split is an amicable one, with Lowry carrying on operating his Game Lodge Stables in Hastings while Cullen will concentrate on the training and thoroughbred rehabilitation property he and his partner Nikki Lourie operate just north of Dannevirke.…

Trainer Trevor Da Cruz. Photo: Trish Dunell Brontes Gold will be given his opportunity to carry his encouraging trial form over to race day when he makes his debut at Ruakaka on Saturday. The covers will finally come off the Zacinto four-year-old in the Alibaba’s Flying Carpets Stretch and Trim Maiden (1550m) with apprentice Elen Nicholas to aid his cause with her 2kg claim. Trainer Trevor Da Cruz has been pleased with Brontes Gold’s work and condition leading into the gelding’s first serious test, although a factor out of his…

Chevron will contest the Harcourts Series at Ruakaka (1600m) on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell The in-form Chevron is expected to give another bold home track showing on Saturday, despite an unplanned drop back in distance. The Ruakaka five-year-old has been in fine touch over ground in his most recent outings and circumstances have forced local trainer Chris Gibbs to change tack with the gelding. “He’s a promising staying horse and they didn’t get enough nominations for the 2100m race so they dumped it and that’s why he’s had to come…

Dal Kilchoan will contest the Avon City Ford Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Race Images The cancellation of meetings in the Central Districts of late has hampered the preparations of Mark Oulaghan’s jumpers, but he is still hopeful of bold showings from his trio of southern raiders this weekend. The Awapuni trainer has ventured to Riccarton where he will line-up three runners on Saturday, including West Coast in the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m). “I thought he was a bit unlucky in the Hawke’s…