Smart stayer Highland Jakk scored a deserved victory in the Gr.3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphetville on Saturday under jockey Teo Nugent. It was the sixth career victory and first at Group level for the son of Jakkalberry who is prepared by Robert Hickmott at Ballarat. The six-year-old travelled sweetly throughout and was well positioned in third by Nugent, blending into the race at the top of the straight. He went on to prevail by half a length from Stars of Carrum and Grand Promenade. Sent out the $4.60…
Month: February 2023
Per Incanto colt wins Blue Diamond
The Ben and JD Hayes-trained Little Brose ran out a ready winner of the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on Saturday, the tenth time the Hayes surname has claimed Victoria’s premier two-year-old race. Ridden by Michael Dee, the son of popular New Zealand sire Per Incanto settled just forward of midfield one off the fence and enjoyed an unimpeded run in the home straight, striding clear for a comfortable length win over Don Corleone and Arkansaw Kid. The Hayes brothers celebrated their second Group One success together, following…
Walker tops 2YO podium at Matamata
Local mentor Mark Walker was on top of the podium at Matamata on Saturday when he claimed the two juvenile feature races on the day. Walker and Te Akau Racing produced the quinella in the Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m) with the unbeaten Tokyo Tycoon making it four straight wins as he romped home from stablemate Trobriand, while just three races later it was blue-blood filly Zourion, who showed she could have untapped potential, with a strong performance to win the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Ltd Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).…
Uncommon James takes out his first Group 1 in Oakleigh Plate
Uncommon James ridden by Ben Thompson wins the Oakleigh Plate at Sandown. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Ben Thompson and Uncommon James have recorded their first Group 1 victory together in the Oakleigh Plate at Sandown, with the Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted-trained gelding defeating the fast finishing Lofty Strike and Asfoora. Zoustyle took off from the barriers and led at a breakneck tempo, clearing about at least six lengths by the home corner, but he couldn’t sustain that tempo and he started to slow and fall in a whole,…
Think About It continues stunning rise in Liverpool City Cup romp
Think About It was a class above in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup. Trainer Joseph Pride may have unearthed a very impressive type this preparation, as Think About It continues blistering through the grades with a Group 3 win in the Liverpool City Cup on Saturday afternoon. It was a dominant front-running effort from Sam Clipperton to pinch some cheap sectionals mid-race and utilising the low weight for the lightly raced four-year-old out of So You Think. It’s been an impressive rise this preparation when starting his campaign in…
Alligator Blood prevails in Group 1 Futurity Stakes
Alligator Blood ridden by Blake Shinn wins the Futurity Stakes at Sandown. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Alligator Blood take out the Group 1 Futurity Stakes on his racetrack return over 1400m at Sandown, defeating the fast finishing Mr Brightside and I’m Thunderstruck by just over a length. With Nugget taking up the lead, Blake Shinn chose to sit on his girth and settle in second in front of I’m Thunderstruck, who raced further forward today with the change of tactics. As the field rounded the home turn Shinn and…
Anamoe makes a mess of them in Chipping Norton Stakes
Anamoe was jaw-dropping in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes. The superstar colt Anamoe has made it eight career Group 1 wins after destroying his rivals in the Chipping Norton Stakes on Saturday afternoon. He was a little bit slower away today after box seating in the Apollo Stakes first-up but it simply didn’t matter as James McDonald pulled him out with 400m to go and rounded them up in dominant fashion. Fangirl cut the corner again just like in her first-up performance and gave her customary turn-of-foot to run…
Sunshine In Paris wins Surround Stakes in Blanket finish
It was a blanket finish to say the least in the Group 1 Surround Stakes. In what might go down as one of the better finishes on the 2023 racing calendar, it was Sunshine In Paris for Annabel Neasham and Ryan Maloney taking out the Surround Stakes on Saturday. Punters didn’t know where to look as the three-year-old fillies turned for home and at one stage you could’ve announced any of the top four as the winner with 50m to go. The favourite In Secret cut up the inside rail…
Little Brose gives Hayes family their 10th Blue Diamond win
Little Brose ridden by Michael Dee wins the Blue Diamond Stakes at Sandown Racecourse on February 25, 2023 in Springvale, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Ben & JD Hayes have taken out the Hayes family’s 10th Blue Diamond Stakes with Little Brose taking out the Group 1 feature for the two-year-olds, defeating the fast finishing Don Corleone and stablemate Arkansaw Kid who filled the placings. With The Instructor and Zulfiqar taking up the lead, one of the race favourites, Steel City, settled in the box seat but didn’t see…
Big raps on Kahlua Flybye in Sydney
By Adam Hamilton Champion driver Luke McCarthy expects Kiwi raider Kahlua Flybye to win tonight’s NSW Oaks. Nobody knows the Menangle track and form better than McCarthy and he’s convinced Kahlua Flybye will make light of her wide draw (she will start from eight) in Saturday night’s $200,000 feature. The race is go to go at 11.06pm. “I think she’s just better than them,” he said. “Her form back home is outstanding and she had a perfect run to win her heat easily. “We know she’s versatile from what she’s…