An aggressive display of front running riding by Lisa Allpress paved the way for lightly raced three-year-old Press Charges to upset the applecart when taking the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1600m) at odds of better than $21. Betting in the race was dominated by last start Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) winner Specialty ($1.90) and he looked the goods when he was hustled to the early lead by rider Brandon May. Allpress found herself shunted out three-wide at the 800m mark and pressed forward as her saddle appeared…
Month: February 2023
Aquacade issues powerful Cup statement at Pukekohe
In-form staying mare Aquacade declared she is the horse to beat in the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) with an emphatic statement as she powered home to take out the Gr.2 ATR Avondale Cup (2400m) at Pukekohe. The Lance Noble-trained four-year-old started a warm favourite ($2.90) in the race off the back of victories in three of her last four starts and fully justified that support with an authoritative performance. Regular pilot Warren Kennedy slotted the mare beautifully into a one-off position in midfield after jumping from a…
Lightning strikes in Avondale Guineas
Classy three-year-old Desert Lightning thrust himself to the forefront of discussions surrounding the Gr.1 Auckland Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand Derby (2400m) when he narrowly defeated Waitak to claim victory in the Gr.2 AJC Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Pukekohe. The Peter and Dawn Williams-trained runner has been highly competitive throughout his Classic season with a half head runner-up finish to Pier in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in the spring preceding an eye-catching late run for third behind Prowess and Wild Night in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m)…
Electric Girl wins Millie Fox Stakes to begin her autumn campaign
Electric Girl arrived in time to take out the Millie Fox Stakes. Zac Lloyd and Team Hawkes have combined with Electric Girl to take out the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill, running over the top of last year’s winner Expat in the final 100m. With Expat setting up a very hot tempo, Lloyd settled Electric Girl in the box seat, albeit two to three lengths off the leader, which gave the daughter of Declaration Of War every chance to get off the fence and with 300m to go…
Darwin doubles for Hunter and Cole, mixed day for Lines
Casey Hunter (left) was the leading jockey at the Darwin meeting held at Fannie Bay on Friday after landing a winning double, which included success on former Victorian galloper Del Viento for trainer Chloe Baxter. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Darwin Photography Professionals) It was a winning double for jockey Casey Hunter and trainer Phil Cole during the five-event card at Darwin on Friday. Hunter won the opening two races aboard Del Viento and Saccharo, while Cole had success with Saccharo and Brazenpine. Cole had four of the six runners in the…
Cylinder defeats Golden Slipper fancies in Silver Slipper Stakes
Cylinder impressed when claiming the Silver Slipper Stakes. Brenton Avdulla and James Cummings have combined to take out the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes defeating two Golden Slipper fancies Kings Gambit and Platinum Jubilee. With King’s Gambit dominating the market as a $2.50 favourite with online betting sites, Cylinder was backed in from $6 to $4.40 before the jump in the two-year-old Group 2 event, with the latter showing that he has more improvement to come, going into the Golden Slipper in four weeks time. Platinum Jubilee led the field…
Maharba dominates rivals in Talindert triumph
Maharba ridden by Damian Lane wins the Talindert Stakes at Flemington. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Recently acquired by the Grahame Begg stable, Maharba started a $3.20 favourite in the Talindert Stakes and aptly put away his rivals in style to secure a strong victory first-up. The two-year-old out of Pride Of Dubai produced an electric turn-of-foot to go straight past the leader Princess Duhallow who crossed them all to lead on the inside running rail. Hell Queen stayed on well late into second while Tacito ran solidly into third…
Sydney raider Wollombi takes out The Vanity
Wollombi ridden by Damien Oliver wins the The Vanity at Flemington. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Champion jockey Damien Oliver managed to take out his third edition of The Vanity when claiming the 2023 edition aboard the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly Wollombi. She was able to make the impressive leap from benchmark company in Sydney and make her way down south of the boarder to produce a career best in the Group 3 for the three-year-old fillies. It was a patient ride from Oliver as he let a hectic…
Breakthrough Group victory for Stevens and Ferguson
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk There was no hiding the sheer joy that Jo Stevens and partner Dylan Ferguson were feeling about claiming their first Group victory at Cambridge last night. Thanks to an aggressive drive from Ferguson, the Stevens-trained Rosie led from start to finish in the Group 3 HR Fisken and Sons Northern Trotting Breeders Stakes. It was Stevens’ first Group win as a trainer, and Ferguson’s first as a driver. “I’m a small-time trainer and for us to get our first Group win together –…
No joy for Kiwis in Newcastle
By Adam Hamilton What looked great on paper turned into a horror story for Team Telfer’s pair in last night’s Newcastle Mile. While hot favourite B D Joe didn’t look to handle the track at all and Alta Wiseguy kept running into backsides, Mach Dan grabbed a guaranteed Miracle Mile berth by going back-to-back in the $100,000 feature. Both are trained by Steve and Amanda Telfer and Hayden Cullen. And it was some win, probably a career-best, after Mach Dan was buzzed off the gate from a wide draw, sat…