Cambridge horseman Ben Foote was left disappointed following Babylon Berlin’s head defeat to glamour mare Imperatriz in this year’s Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) and he is hoping she can go one better in the sprinting feature at Pukekohe on Monday. The six-year-old mare has been a perennial bridesmaid at elite-level, finishing runner-up in her last three Group One outings, and has placed in the last two editions of the Railway. Foote, who now trains in partnership with his son Ryan, is hoping for redemption in the 2024 edition of the…
Year: 2023
Weatherleys have lightweight chances in New Years features
Matamata trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley will head to Pukekohe on New Year’s Day with three live lightweight chances in Group races. Dual stakes winner Maria Farina will carry 54kg under the set weights and penalties conditions of the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m), Ess Vee Are has the equal bottom weight of 53kg in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m), while his half-brother Arby will carry just 52kg in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m). Maria Farina (NZ) (Contributer) has won twice at black-type level within the last nine…
Autridge pair ready for Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes
Stephen Autridge will head to Pukekohe Park on New Year’s Day with two of the fancied runners for the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2050m), but the wet weather has the Matamata trainer concerned. “I just don’t want that rain to hang around for too much longer. The experts said we were going to have a drought (this summer), so I don’t know when that is arriving,” he said. Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) heads into Monday as a $2.50 favourite for the fillies feature off the back of her…
Wexford Stables hoping for a good start to the new year
A steady stream of winners in the past few months has the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott training partnership sitting in fourth on the National Trainer’s premiership table and they look to have a number of top chances to add to their season’s 22-win tally at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day. Central amongst their stable chances are two of the well-favoured runners lining up in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) with topweight Dragon Leap (57kgs) and one of last season’s better three-year-olds in Waitak ready to provide their race rivals…
Stella Splendida to target stakes after Taupo win
Stella Splendida (NZ) (Zoustar) continued her winning ways at Taupo on Saturday, recording her fourth win from eight career starts in the Cosana NZ – Charge Of The Light Brigade (1200m). The daughter of Zoustar jumped well for Opie Bosson and settled in just behind the speed for the leading hoop. He asked her to improve to sit outside leader Kakadu at the 600m mark and the pair entered a dogfight down the home straight, with Stella Splendida just getting the better of her foe in the final strides to…
Emanon wins Kurow Cup
Already assured a valuable career at stud as a half-sister to dual Group One winner Legarto, talented mare Emanon (NZ) (Burgundy) has herself spent some time in the racetrack spotlight during the holiday period. The five-year-old daughter of Burgundy earned all-important black type with a third placing in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) at Wingatui on Boxing Day, and then she backed up four days later to win Saturday’s West Coast Steeplechaser Kurow Cup (1400m). Ridden by Sanu Toolooa in the $35,000 Kurow showpiece, Emanon settled in second as last-start…
Homebush Lad makes history
Woodend beach trainers Greg and Nina Hope created history yesterday when Homebush Lad won the Rosco Contractors Reefton Cup. He is the first horse to have won 3 consecutive Reefton cups. Driver Ben Hope was thrilled with the 9 year old Mach Three geldings performance. “He’s a really cool horse. When he’s on song he’s a lovely horse to drive. To get 3 Reefton Cups is really cool.” Homebush Lad began well from his 20m handicap. Settling 5th on the markers early in a strung out field, Hope waited patiently…
Sha Tin racing preview & betting tips | New Year’s Day, 1/1/24
What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Monday, January 1, 2024 First Race 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing heads to Sha Tin for a massive 10-race program on New Year’s Day, headlined by the Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1600m). The rail is in the A position throughout for the meeting, and with pristine conditions expected in the lead-up, it should be a perfect day for all participants as the opening event is scheduled…
Emma Lines claims riding double at Darwin, brings up 50th winner
Darwin apprentice Emma Lines celebrates a winning double at Fannie Bay on Saturday – which saw the 17-year-old exceed 50 career wins after making her debut 12 months ago. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals) After a debut win 12 months ago, Darwin apprentice Emma Lines made it 50 career wins at Fannie Bay on Saturday. The 17-year-old now has 51 wins in the bank after booting stablemates Cielo D’Oro ($2.30 fav) and Whitten ($14) home for trainer Phil Cole. Lines, also a regular rider in Alice Springs, has been…
McNab lifts Mehzebeen to Taupo Cup triumph
Mehzebeen (outside) beating Town Cryer in the Taupo Cup (2000m) on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) The feature event on the programme at Taupo on Saturday came down to a battle between two of the best riders in the country with victory in the Taupo Cup (2000m) going the way of Michael McNab on Mehzebeen ahead of Town Cryer and Opie Bosson. Bosson, who recently became only the eighth local jockey to register 2000 career wins, was at his brilliant best aboard the front-running topweight Town Cryer…