Group Two winner Dragon Queen (NZ) (Sweynesse) put her hand up for Australian assignments after winning the Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m) at Matamata on Saturday. Prepared by Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard, the five-year-old mare has been a model of consistency through her 27-start career. Saturday’s victory was just her third, adding to a maiden win at Pukekohe in 2020 and her Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) triumph last season. But she also boasts a further 14 placings, including three at Group Two level in addition to a Group Three placing.…
Month: February 2023
Flying Fernando!
“Evergreen warrior” Fernando Mick turned back the clock – joining exalted company – courtesy of his brilliant victory in the $458,500 Group 1 Sportsbet Australian Cup (525m) at The Meadows on Saturday night. The ageless star, which turned four on February 5 and was the oldest runner in the final, notched his second G1 success in exhilarating frontrunning fashion. Prepared by champion Lara trainer David Geall, Fernando Mick became only the fourth greyhound to complete the Australian Cup-Hobart Thousand double. He joined an illustrious list comprising Rookie Rebel, Benjamin John…
Field confirmed for next weekend’s Miracle Mile
By Adam Hamilton Historians have some work to do after champion trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin snared half the field in the Miracle Mile. Mach Dan, Captain Ravishing, Honolua Bay and Hurricane Harley will all fly the flag in next Saturday night’s $1 million, eight-horse race at Menangle. It is believed to be a training record. Belinda McCarthy has had three runners in the past two Miracle Miles, having landed the quinella both times, with King Of Swing and Spirit Of St Louis last year and King Of Swing…
Frustrating week for Gillett stable ends on positive note
Alice Springs trainer Leanne Gillett and daughter Dakota-Lee, a first-year apprentice, are all smiles after they combined to get Esashi home at Pioneer Park on Saturday. Picture: Nikki Westover Photography Last Saturday the Gillett stable in Alice Springs was feeling pretty low, but it’s amazing how things can turn around in a week. Unbeaten four-year-old mare Dakota Lee, trained by Terry Gillett, was due to make her long-awaited return last weekend at Pioneer Park, but was scratched when she refused to enter the barriers. The same situation applied when the…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 26 February 2023
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Gibbons grabs Super Stayers gold
Young Victorian training star and former pro wrestler Daniel Gibbons celebrated a Group 1 breakthrough when Ariarne Bale blitzed her rivals in the $160,500 Sportsbet Fanta Bale Super Stayers Final (730m) at The Meadows on Saturday night. After switching their sporting allegiances from wrestling to the racetrack, Gibbons, 34, and wife Rebecca endured a frustrating wait to claim their first Group trophy. The Avalon duo broke a well-documented hoodoo when Yahiro Bale, a Feral Franky x Dyna Zesty litter sister to Ariarne Bale, won the G3 SA Oaks last September.…
Benalla best bets & quaddie tips | Monday, February 27
What Benalla Races Where Benalla Racing Club – Midland Hwy, Benalla VIC 3672 When Monday, February 27, 2023 First Race 1:30pm AEDT Visit Ladbrokes Victorian horse racing heads to Benalla on Monday afternoon where a competitive nine-race program is set down for decision. Close to perfect conditions are set to greet punters and competitors and despite the track coming up a Soft 5, we expect to be racing on a Good 4 at some point on raceday. We kick off the day of racing at 1:30pm AEDT, where the rail…
Sentiment surrounds Cambridge debutant
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk There will be plenty of sentiment surrounding Kourtney Kardash when she makes her debut in the Judith Wrigley Memorial Mobile Pace (2200m) at Cambridge Raceway on Sunday. The Bettor’s Delight filly is raced by junior driver Monika Ranger, who will wear a black armband to mark the recent passing of Judith Wrigley, the late wife of her sponsor Malcolm Wrigley. “I met them at the Franklin Club, which is our local in Pukekohe, and we always had a drink with them there,” Ranger said.…
Diamond Racing quinella Ashburton Cup
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk The Country Cups Final is firmly on the radar for Diamond Racing duo Sam’s Town and Heisenberg after they secured a stable quinella in the Ashburton Cup (2400m) on Saturday. Sam’s Town had to overcome his back mark of 20m, but he made light work of his handicap to tack onto the back of the field, while Heisenberg did it tough throughout sitting parked outside leader Wheels of Fortune. Driver Blair Orange sent Sam’s Town three-wide turning for home and he was able to…
Sand Wave to take on Franco Norton in Cromwell’s Fruit Bowl Handicap
by Jonny Turner Contrasting formlines will collide when speedsters Sand Wave and Franco Norton go head-to-head in the Fruit Bowl Handicap at Cromwell on Sunday. Nathan Williamson brings Sand Wave to Cromwell for just his second start on grass in a clash with the Steven McRae trained Franco Norton, who was a big winner on the first day of the two-day Cromwell meeting. Two months ago, both pacers won on the Gore grass with Franco Norton taking out the Gore Cup while Sand Wave dealt to a lesser field of…