Month: October 2022

Private Eye flies home to claim the 2022 Nature Strip Stakes

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Private Eye has flown home from the rear of the field with a huge run to take out the $3million Nature Strip Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens for Joe Pride. A first up win this preparation in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) before his last start second to Giga Kick in The Everest two weeks ago had the five-year-old son of Al Maher primed for a good showing today and stepped out at $5.50 with online bookmakers. Once again under the guidance of Brenton Avdulla, Private Eye was settled…

Beautiful finishing burst by Manzoice to win the Victoria Derby

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Manzoice ridden by Michael Dee wins the Penfolds Victoria Derby at Flemington Racecourse on October 29, 2022 in Flemington, Australia. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Manzoice’s finishing burst to win the Victoria Derby at Flemington was so good, jockey Michael Dee compared it to Durston’s triumph in the Caulfield Cup two weeks ago. Once again and just like the Caulfield Cup, master trainer Chris Waller had his $21 outsider expertly prepared for Saturday’s triumph in the Group 1 staying race over 2500m and worth $2 million. “Somewhat (similar to Durston’s…

2022 Victoria Derby Winner: Waller Claims Second Derby in Manzoice Boil-Over

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Punters were treated to a good old-fashioned boil-over on Saturday with Chris Waller’s $18 roughie Manzoice taking out the Group 1 Victoria Derby. The time-honoured staying feature attracted a quality field of three-year-olds over 2500m, but it was the son of Almanzor, a three-time Group 1 winner in France, who greeted the judge first. With rain falling, all eyes were on the favourite Sharp N Smart, who appeared to be home for all money along the fence until Michael Dee and Manzoice wore him down out wide. Like a few…

In Secret shows her toughness as she wins the Coolmore Stakes

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In Secret ridden by James McDonald wins the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington Racecourse on October 29, 2022 in Flemington, Australia. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) The sentiment from both James McDonald and James Cummings was clear after In Secret’s comfortable two-length win in the Coolmore Stakes at Flemington – she showed her toughness early. And this was the foundation for a brilliant performance which had champion hoop McDonald punching the sky in jubilation after crossing the finishing post. “There was some mucking around at the start where Economics had…

Sassy Merlot dominant in campaign opener

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Progressive mare Sassy Merlot (NZ) (Burgundy) made a winning start to her four-year-old season as she dominated proceedings from in front over 1200m on her home track at Matamata. The Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained daughter of Burgundy had raced against some of the best three-year-olds last season, including finishing second to La Crique in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham before rounding out her campaign with another runner-up finish against the older mares in the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) in May. A winning performance over 850m at…

Veteran galloper does all the talking at Awapuni

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Hardy nine-year-old Pep Torque (NZ) (Nadeem) finally got the big win he deserved after producing a gritty performance that saw him dominate the finish to the Listed Mode Technology Feilding Gold Cup (2100m) at Awapuni. The Kirsty Lawrence-trained runner had been off the winner’s list since February 2021 before scoring a fresh-up victory over 1650m at Waverley earlier in the month, although he had managed four runner-up finishes between victories including being narrowly beaten in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata. Handled confidently by rider Kate Hercock, who had…

Providenceprovides on target for Riccarton feature

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A trip to Riccarton to contest the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) on the middle day of Christchurch Cup & Show Week on November 9 is the next target for the Tony Pike-trained Providenceprovides (Real Impact) after she delivered a hard-fought victory in the Courtesy Ford Red Craze Bowl (1400m) at Awapuni. The five-year-old daughter of Real Impact was sent out a short-priced ($2.30) favourite for the open class contest and looked to have the victory well in hand when she loomed into contention for rider Kozzi Asano at the…

2022 Coolmore Stud Stakes Results: In Secret Salutes Comfortably as Favourite

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James McDonald has added to an already huge day at Flemington with an emphatic victory aboard the short-priced favourite In Secret in the $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes. The 1200m sprint feature attracted a quality field of three-year-olds down the famous straight at Headquarters, but it was the lightly-raced Godolphin filly who prevailed thanks to yet another brilliant steer from the country’s best hoop. After drawing barrier 9, McDonald chose to settle five lengths off the pace, stalking the leaders with 200m to spare before pushing the button once a…

Old Flame to look at Champions Mile after Linlithgow Stakes win

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Old Flame (GB) ridden by James McDonald wins the TAB Linlithgow Stakes at Flemington Racecourse on October 29, 2022 in Flemington, Australia. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Paul Snowden is considering a Champions Mile shot with his “exciting horse” Old Flame – who is “pretty to watch” – after his comfortable 1 ½-length victory in the Linlithgow Stakes at Flemington. The five-year-old – under the expert guidance of champion jockey James McDonald – was always going to be tough for frontrunner Poland to hold off after he made his move…

Argentia proves too good for rivals in Rising Fast Stakes

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Argentia ridden by Damien Oliver wins the Paramount+ Rising Fast Stakes at Flemington Racecourse on October 29, 2022 in Flemington, Australia. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Damien Oliver and Anthony & Sam Freedman have combined to win the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes over 1200m with Argentia proving too good down the Flemington straight. Argentia held a nomination in the Empire Rose Stakes and the Rising Fast Stakes and the team chose to the 1200m event over 1600m event and it has paid dividends with their classy four-year-old mare winning…