By Michael Guerin Trainer Phil Williamson thought Majestic Man’s travelling days were over but now he hopes they last a couple of months. Williamson and his $700,000-plus earner will return to Victoria this week for what could be a six-week campaign starting with the $50,000 Dullard Cup at Melton on Saturday night. Majestic Man sealed his trip with an all the way win at Cambridge in January 12 but just as big a factor was who was not going to be there. “The last couple of seasons Sundees Son, Bolt…
Month: January 2023
Tiger Fire thriving on the quiet life
A move to a quieter environment has done the world of good for Tiger Fire (American Pharoah), who is emerging as one of the most exciting stayers in the South Island this summer. Since his move to the stable of Winton trainer John Phillips, Tiger Fire has won four of his eight starts, including his last three in a row, and he’s now being targeted at the time-honoured Invercargill Gold Cup (2600m) on February 18. Tiger Fire began his racing career with Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman in Cambridge but…
Little Avondale buzzing ahead of Karaka
Little Avondale Stud principals Sam and Catriona Williams are already buzzing ahead of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales, which kick-off at Karaka at 11am this Sunday. The Wairarapa farm are busy with pre-sale parades and are excited to see plenty of international faces that have been absent from the world-renowned South Auckland sales complex for the last few years as a result of COVID-19 enforced border restrictions. While the couple have been pleased with their farm’s sale results over that time, they can’t help but be buoyed by the…
Addington’s quest to conquer the Coast to Coast
by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Addington Raceway has come up with a novel way to raise funds for the New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust, and it’s going to hurt. Next month three of the raceway’s senior managers, including chief executive Brian Thompson, will put on the lycra and tackle the country’s most iconic and long-standing multi-sport event. On February 10 and 11, Thompson (far right in photo), and colleagues Facilities and Property manager John Denton (centre) and Andy Ross (IT Manager) will run, bike and kayak the two-day…
South Coast Arden is Sydney-bound
By Michael Guerin Open class star South Coast Arden is off to Sydney and will join the Paul Fitzpatrick stable. The two-time Group 1 winner has not raced since finishing last in the New Zealand Cup won by Copy That on November 8 and has been spelling most of that time before spending a few weeks in treadmill training. Co-owner Phil Kennard confirmed the move to HRNZ and says he and the other owners see it as more likely to be permanent than solely a NSW campaign. “We had a…
Wy Fi heading south with high hopes for new owners
As a winner of three of his last four races, Wy Fi looks to have a good future, and his new co-owner John Preston hopes he’s picked up a bargain. The Love You four-year-old was sold for $21,000 on Gavelhouse last week, with the horse due to arrive at his new home in Southland this week. “He’s a big and exciting horse,” says Preston, “and I was impressed with the way he bolted in at Motukarara.” Trained by the powerful All Stars barn, Wy Fi was three wide in the…
Sandown full racing preview & quaddie tips | Thursday, January 26
What Australia Day Races 2023 Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Thursday, January 26, 2023 First Race 1:20pm AEDT Visit Ladbrokes Melbourne’s traditional Australia Day meeting heads to Sandown on Thursday afternoon for a highly competitive eight-race program kicking off at 1:20pm AEDT. The two Blue Diamond Preview races headline the program, while the Listed W.J. Adams Stakes, Group 3 Manfred Stakes and Listed John Dillon Stakes will bring to a close what looks to be an exciting day of racing. Perfect conditions will greet…
Thursday’s Warwick Park tips & quaddie | Australia Day Cup 2023
What Australia Day Races Where Warwick Farm Racecourse – Governor Macquarie Dr, Warwick Farm NSW 2170 When Thursday, January 26, 2023 First Race 1:05pm AEDT Visit Ladbrokes This Thursday is January 26, which means racing heads to Warwick Farm for a very competitive eight-part program headlined by the $160,000 Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m). The track is rated as a Soft 7 heading into the meeting, which looks to be a fair prediction with light showers expected to hit the track on Thursday. The rail moves back into the true…
Thorndon history not lost on Alexanders
Katrina and Simon Alexander will be following a tried and true approach with their stable star La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) when she resumes in Saturday’s Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham. The Matamata training duo will run the high-class daughter of Vadamos first-up in the Harcourts-sponsored feature ahead of another domestic target before thoughts turn to Australia. La Crique hasn’t raced since she finished fourth in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) during the Melbourne spring carnival and will be chasing an identical Thorndon result to that achieved 12 months…
‘Happy little Vegemite’ has a ‘rose in every cheek’
Just prior to Aston Profit’s 105th race outing, RSN (Racing & Sport 927AM) racecaller Victoria Shaw had the good fortune to interview Liam Sharp of Avalon’s ‘Team Sharp’. And, as luck, or more factually, good race preparation would have it, Aston Profit went on to win her 105th start at Geelong on January 20. Further evidence of how greyhounds just love to run! No matter their age. I hope you enjoy the attached interview (the first of a two-part series) with the Sharp family, who simply have come from nowhere…