By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Back-to-back grass feature wins beckon Corravally Star when he heads to Rangiora on Sunday. The Washington VC entire was victorious in the Green Mile (1609m) at Methven last Sunday and will back-up this weekend in the New World Rangiora Summer Cup (2600m). Trainer Regan Todd has been pleased with the way Corravally Star has come through the run but believes his 30m back mark will be his biggest hurdle this weekend. “It is going to be hard for him off 30m, but he is…
Year: 2022
Wow! Historic Phoenix repeat
Victorian champion Wow She’s Fast became the first greyhound in the world to surpass $2 million in prizemoney when going back-to-back in the $1.65 million The Phoenix (525m) on Saturday night. The Meadows erupted in a sea of blue (the colours of victorious slot holder Sportsbet) after Wow She’s Fast held favourite Amron Boy at bay in a thrilling finale to the inaugural $4.1 million Sportsbet Dream Chasers Festival. “I can’t believe it. That’s a million dollar race.That’s stupid money!” a delighted Jackie Greenough, who trains Wow She’s Fast in…
Well-travelled Tavistock mare salutes at Randwick
Six-year-old Tavistock mare Our Modena (NZ) broke through for the first time from the quarters of Scone trainer Scott Singleton when landing the Furphy Handicap (1400m) at Randwick. Sporting the colours of Tony Rider’s Milan Park, Our Modena has now won five races throughout her career which began with Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman for whom she was twice a winner. She then transferred to Patrick Payne in Victoria for whom Our Modena also won two races before venturing north to Scone. Placed at her two previous outings, both at…
Ucalledit thriving in Queensland
Like many Kiwis, five-year-old gelding Ucalledit (NZ) (Zacinto) is relishing life in Queensland. The former New Zealand-trained galloper has proved a handy addition to the Kris Lees stable and broke through for his maiden stakes success when comfortably accounting for his rivals in the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Originally prepared by Kevin Myers, for whom he won four of his 14 starts, Ucalledit was purchased by Australian Bloodstock after two Riccarton victories during last year’s New Zealand Cup Carnival. After striking heavy tracks in…
Kovalica demolishes Grand Prix rivals
Smart staying three-year-old Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park) gave favourite punters few concerns when he cruised to victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes (2100m) at Eagle Farm. Sent out $1.45 favourite, the Chris Waller-trained son of Ocean Park was allowed to find his feet by jockey James Orman, getting back to last in the eight-horse field before looping his rivals and proving a class above. Raced by Neville Morgan and David Devine, Kovalica has now won four of his five starts and the Kiwi bred shapes as an ideal Derby…
Impressive Lekvarte has more to offer
Four-year-old mare Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man) looks to have a bright future after coming from the rear of the field to claim the Yes Yes Yes First Yearlings Handicap (1400m) at Randwick, scoring comfortably in the hands of Chad Schofield. The daughter of Reliable Man is prepared by Joe Pride for B K Racing & Breeding and Ben Vassallo. Saturday’s success was a metropolitan breakthrough for the mare, who has now won three of her 13 starts, with a further four placings. “She has always promised a lot and it…
Polygon heads straight to podium top step at Te Rapa
Lightly raced three-year-old Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended) took the step up to stakes company in her stride as she dashed home to take out the feature race at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m). The Group Three contest was transferred to the Waikato venue after racing at Awapuni was abandoned last Saturday and that played into the hands of the Lance Noble-trained runner who was originally being aimed at the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. “We hadn’t really thought too much…
No doubting Darci at Trentham
Pocket rocket Darci La Bella (NZ) (Darci Brahma) added another present under the Christmas tree for her connections when she proved too strong in the closing stages when taking out the Gr.2 Bramco Granite and Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham. The Allan Sharrock-trained mare made it four wins in a row, three of them at stakes level, as she downed Group One winner Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) in a driving finish to the Group Two feature. Rider Jonathan Riddell had a few anxious moments as he tried to…
No catching Sagunto in Manawatu Cup
A day that started in perfect fashion for trainer Peter McKay when Purrfect Puss (NZ) (Sacred Falls) saluted in the second race got even better for the Matamata mentor as Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly) landed his biggest victory with an all-the-way win in the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m). Rated to perfection by Lisa Allpress, the seven-year-old son of O’Reilly never looked like flinching in the run home after setting up a solid speed throughout the 2300m of the contest. Allpress kept the pressure on as she had Sagunto pinging…
Australian campaign beckons for Midnight Dash
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Midnight Dash is set to join stablemate Muscle Mountain on an Australian campaign next month after his win at Addington Raceway on Friday. Things didn’t get off to the smoothest of starts in the Airpark Canterbury Handicap Trot (2600m), with the five-year-old gelding rearing over before the start. However, he took no ill effects from the incident and made light work of his 40m mark to easily account for his opposition to win by two lengths. It was just reward for the consistent square-gaiter…