Harness Racing New Zealand is looking for someone who can write snappy, interesting and topical stories. The opportunity is for a content writer who will predominantly write about race meetings right around the country, producing both previews and reviews for the HRNZ website and/or its social media channels. A knowledge of racing is desirable but consideration will be given to anyone who knows a good story, can write accurately and to deadline, and is willing to learn. It is envisaged the writer will contribute approximately five 300-word stories a week,…
Month: March 2023
NZ Derby hero still Sharp ‘N’ Smart
Triple Group One winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) is ready to put his best foot forward when he contests Saturday’s A$2 million Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick for trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson. The son of Redwood has continued to thrive since his Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) victory earlier in the month but will need to be at the top of his game after drawing barrier 17 in the three-year-old staying feature. Sharp ‘N’ Smart will again clash with a host of his fellow Kiwis, with Andalus…
Tapildoodledo is cookadoodledo for Derby
The Taplins have a piece of paper at home that could prove invaluable after day one of The Championships. He was bred to be a miler before showing early promise as a sprinter, but Tapildoodledo (NZ) (Proisir) might just turn out to be a classic winner. The unheralded Queenslander confirmed his spot in Saturday’s A$2 million Gr.1 ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick with a sweeping come-from-behind victory in last weekend’s Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m), upsetting his more fancied rivals. For Kerry Taplin, a former jockey in New Zealand before turning her hand to training, Tapildoodledo will…
Vic ‘sextet’ in Golden Easter Egg semis
Victoria has a ‘gang of six’ still in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg hunt. Four semi-finals (520m) will be held at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, with the first and second placegetters in each progressing to the $300,000 to-the-winner final on April 8. Balliang’s Mark Delbridge has four semi-finalists flying the ‘Big V’ flag – Landyn Bale (Race 5, Box 7 – 7.30pm), Yachi Bale (Race 7, Box 2 – 8.14pm) and Elite Alex (Race 8, Box 1 – 8.33pm). NB. Reserve Kaheem Bale has obtained a start in…
The Stir Up featuring Zara Marnie, Ferdinand Boy and Lektra Heckler
GRV’s Peter Quilty and Trent Langskaill provide their thoughts on some of the star greyhounds racing in Victoria. Keep an eye on these, they are worth saving in your WatchDog Blackbook! Quilts Trent, it’s just the two of us with Gerard enjoying a break, and we’ve got plenty to cover starting with tonight’s semi-finals of the Group 3 Launching Pad at Sandown Park. Trent The first semi-final is a ripper, Quilts. Zara Marnie was the quickest heat winner, Starline Express has explosive early pace, and Dragon Inn has Box 1…
Saturday’s Ascot best bets & quaddie tips | April 1, 2023
What Roma Cup Day Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, April 1, 2023 First Race 12:23pm AWST Visit Ladbrokes The Western Australian Turf Club will hold its annual Roma Cup Day at Ascot Racecourse this Saturday, featuring the Group 3 Roma Cup, Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes and Listed Perth Stakes. There is some rain forecast for Thursday and Friday, but none for Saturday, so we should be starting on something like the current Good 4 surface. From the 1600m to the 700m marks, the…
Morphettvile racing preview & best bets | Saturday, April 1
What Clare Lindop Stakes Day 2023 Where Morphettville Racecourse – 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville SA 5043 When Saturday, April 1, 2023 First Race 11:32am ACDT Visit Ladbrokes Racing returns to the course proper at Morphettville on Saturday afternoon for Clare Lindop Stakes Day, also featuring the Listed Manihi Classic. We kick off the meeting on a Good 4, while the rail comes out 5m the entire circuit. The action from Morphettville gets underway at 12:02pm ACDT. Clare Lindop Stakes Top Tip: Zennzella Despite being a touch disappointing first-up in the…
Lightning poised to strike in Classic
Desert Lightning will start favourite in Saturday’s Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) at Awapuni Photo: Trish Dunell South Auckland trainers Peter and Dawn Williams have all but ruled out a hit-and-run Sydney finale to end Desert Lightning’s three-year-old season. But they have left the door slightly ajar pending what the Pride Of Dubai gelding does in Saturday’s Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) at Awapuni. A bevy of consistent performances in quality three-year-old races this season has seen online bookmakers install Desert Lightning a +140 favourite for the weekend’s set-weights feature.…
Human error responsible for Tokyo Tycoon positive
Tokyo Tycoon returned a positive post-race result to meloxicam after his Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) victory. Photo: Kirstin Ledington Te Akau Racing have confirmed that human error was responsible for the post-race positive result to meloxicam returned by top two-year-old Tokyo Tycoon following his victory in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Pukekohe on March 11. Trainer Mark Walker was notified of the positive result by the Racing Integrity Board earlier in the week and after an investigation, Te Akau Racing have released the following statement: “Te Akau…
Buyers circling Avondale-bound Hero
Promising two-year-old There Goes My Hero steps out at Avondale on Saturday for trainer Steven Cole. Photo: Trish Dunell Steven Cole isn’t sure how long he will have promising youngster There Goes My Hero in his care, but plans for a delayed step up to black-type company remain in place. Following due consideration, the Byerley Park trainer has opted to run the colt in Saturday’s Westbrook Wines 2YO (1300m) at Avondale in preference to a crack at the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni. There Goes My…