Month: November 2022

Homebush Lad speeds to Geraldine Cup win

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner Homebush Lad started what could be an epic summer when he zoomed up the inner to win the Geraldine Cup at Orari on Saturday. The Greg and Nina Hope trained pacer didn’t exactly make a flying beginning, but it worked in his favour when he slotted into a sweet spot three-back on the markers. Saturday saw the last scheduled running of the Geraldine Cup at Orari and Ben Hope was thrilled for his name to go into the history books. “It is nice to win a nice…

Delbridges’ Dream Cup victory

Editor BOAY

Mark and Lisa Delbridge celebrated their greatest moment in greyhound racing when powerhouse youngster Yachi Bale was a barnstorming winner of the $1 million Group 1 Sportsbet Melbourne Cup Final (515m) at Sandown Park on Saturday night. Yachi Bale, the ‘baby’ of the Melbourne Cup field, was the Delbridges’ first Cup finalist and he produced an unbelievable finishing burst to claim the $650,000 winner’s purse. Yachi Bale sprouted wings in the home straight to defeat Fernando Mick, denying David Geall a third Melbourne Cup victory in five years, and favourite…

‘Staggering’ Bold Trease win

Editor BOAY

Unrelenting NSW stayer Stagger Out Lee pulled off a ‘staggering’ last-to-first victory in the $165,500 Group 1 Sportsbet Bold Trease final (715m) at Sandown Park on Saturday night. Trained at Wagga by 24-year-old Jack Strutt – a final year law student at the University of Wollongong – Stagger Out Lee snared a $105,000 first prize in “amazing” fashion. Quite aptly, it was akin to the days of the immortal “Warrnambool Warrior” – Bold Trease – which won four successive Sandown Cups with whirlwind finishes in the late 1980s. “It’s a dream…

Dolan gets winning tune out of Bonny Ezra

NZRacingDesk

Seven-year-old Road To Rock gelding Bonny Ezra provided his Kiwi connections with a good pay day when charging home to land the Listed ATC Cup (2000m) for trainer Chris Waller under a masterful Robbie Dolan ride. Sent out a $31 chance, Bonny Ezra upset the applecart after coming from last under Dolan, who picked a path through runners closer to the rail to score from Dr Drill. The victory reaffirmed the riding skills of Dolan, who these days juggles being a jockey with his vocal career after making a name…

Crosshaven back on target with Caulfield Group Three

NZRacingDesk

Karaka graduate Crosshaven broke a 14-start drought when running out a ready winner of Saturday’s Gr.3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m), holding off game runner-up Norwegian Bliss by a comfortable three-quarters of a length. Prepared by Ben and JD Hayes, Crosshaven promised plenty as a three-year-old where victories in the Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) and Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) were split by a fourth placing in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) won by Ole Kirk. The now five-year-old has plenty still to offer. After sitting just behind the speed…

Milford eclipses rivals at Caulfield

NZRacingDesk

Improved underfoot conditions were the key to Milford returning to winning ways in the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The son of Savabeel was given an economical ride near the pace by Blake Shinn and the former New Zealand Derby runner-up pounced when presented. Successful in the Gr.3 Easter Cup (2000m) on the course earlier this year, Milford had been unplaced in his previous run in the A$2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill but trainer Michael Moroney said the five-year-old had legitimate excuses. “If you watch…

Gin Martini triumphs for father of the bride

NZRacingDesk

Trainer John Sargent had a good reason not to be trackside on Saturday to saddle smart staying mare Gin Martini. While the four-year-old mare notched her maiden stakes success with a hard-fought victory in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m), Sargent was walking daughter Lucy down the aisle. The flashy chestnut, who is raced by James Moss’ Tricolours Syndications, was placed in the Gr.1 ATC Oaks (2400m) back in autumn, to go with multiple Group Three placings. A daughter of Rip Van Winkle, Gin Martini sat handy to Good Idea and…

Paulele storms home to win Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes

AAP

Paulele winning the 2022 Winterbottom Stakes. Photo: Western Racepix Paulele and Ben Melham have taken out the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes, giving James Cummings and Godolphin their seventh Group 1 for the spring. Indian Pacific and Sniparoochy set up a brutal tempo, which set the race up for the swoopers to storm home down the outside, and storm down the outside is exactly what Kissonallfourcheeks and Paulele did. After having to scratch their second horse in the race, Vilana, after a freak accident a few days ago, getting this win…

Zethus bounces back to form with Starlight Stakes win

AAP

Zethus winning the 2022 Starlight Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart Zethus has got his mojo back for James Cummings and Godolphin to take out the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens and give Tim Clark his second winner for the day. Jumping from barrier nine at $9 odds with online bookmakers, Zethus was settled two-lengths second behind Sneaky Paige ($11) throughout before the four-year-old Exceed and Excel gelding was asked for the extra effort mid-way down the straight with a wall of horses looming behind him. Taking the lead with…