Month: March 2023

Hampson shines as Chadwick takes NARS lead in Darwin

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Jade Hampson was one of several NT hoops to feature in Saturday’s National Apprentice Race Series heats at Fannie Bay. (Picture: Caroline Camilleri – Darwin Photography Professionals) NT riders Jade Hampson and Ianish Luximon praised the opening heats of the 2023 National Apprentice Race Series at Darwin’s Fannie Bay on Saturday. Darwin’s Hampson and Alice Springs’ Luximon were joined by Top End apprentice Emma Lines and Red Centre pair Dakota-Lee Gillett and Lek Maloney for the two races scheduled. It was the first time NT apprentices had participated in the…

Group 1 Coolmore Classic attracts strong field

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Zougotcha is a $6.50 favourite for Saturday’s Group 1 Coolmore Classic. A strong field of 18 fillies and mares will duke it out for the $600,000 on offer in Saturday’s Group 1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. Amongst the field are four last-start winners and four Group 1 winners, and with 13 of the 18 runners having a handicap rating of +100, the 2023 edition of the Coolmore looks to be as good as any in previous years. Online bookmakers are struggling to find a decisive favourite for the 1500m event,…

Roch ‘N’ Horse eyes back-to-back Newmarket Handicap victories

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Roch ‘N’ Horse will look to go back-to-back in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on Saturday. There will be 16 runners doing battle down the famous Flemington straight in the $1.5 million Group 1 Newmarket Handicap this Saturday, with Roch ‘N’ Horse ($31) looking to become only the second horse ever to go back-to-back in the race. The online bookmakers‘ favourite going into this year’s edition of the 1200m feature is the star Peter Moody gelding I Wish I Win ($3.90), who flashed home at the end of…

Copy That and Akuta to front up in Friday’s Founders Cup

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Two of the returning stars of New Zealand pacing are going to need new drivers when they start their road to The $1million Race by Grins at Alexandra Park on Friday night. And that won’t be the only game of musicals chairs in pacing’s elite ranks as the battle for spots and horses for New Zealand’s only $1million harness race intensifies this week. Two-time New Zealand Cup winner Copy That and dual Derby winner Akuta return in the $27,500 Lincoln Farms The Founders Cup on Friday as…

Williamson heads north with two good chances at Oamaru

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  Nathan Williamson heads to his hometown with two quality pacers in Hurricane Hendrix and Ultimate Challenge. The trainer-driver heads to Oamaru with Hurricane Hendrix after the horse absolutely bolted in at Winton last week. Known as a talented type, Williamson feels the pacer is in the zone and can show his true worth at the moment. But just when things are going great, Hurricane Hendrix has been handed barrier 1 on the second row in race 9. “He has really turned the corner this horse, the last…

Thursday’s Newcastle racing tips & quaddie | March 9, 2023

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What Newcastle Races Where Newcastle Racecourse – 100 Darling St, Broadmeadow NSW 2292 When Thursday, March 9, 2023 First Race 1:15pm AEDT Visit Ladbrokes Racing heads to the Hunter this Thursday with a very competitive eight-race program out of Newcastle Racecourse, headlined by another leg of the Provincial-Midway Qualifiers over the 1400m in the penultimate race. We should have Good 4 conditions for race-day with minimal rain forecast in the lead-up. The rail is out +3m the entire circuit and the Newcastle track tends to play relatively fair when in…

Astrologer shoots for back-to-back wins at the Valley

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Astrologer is a four-time winner in Hong Kong from 14 starts. Following a smart victory last month, Astrologer will step back in distance as he looks for consecutive wins in the Class 2 Wong Nai Chung Handicap (1000m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night under Alexis Badel for trainer Pierre Ng. An impressive last-start winner at Happy Valley over 1200m, Astrologer (132lb) returns to the iconic city course tomorrow night, however, this time with an added 17lb assigned from gate 10 under the Frenchman Badel. “It was a great win…

Wellington prepares for Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup defence

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Wellington limbers up at Sha Tin under Alexis Badel. Wellington’s bid for a fifth Group 1 success is firmly on course after his effortless barrier trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning under Alexis Badel for trainer Richard Gibson. Gearing up to retain his title in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on Sunday, March 19, Wellington coasted through Tuesday morning’s hit-out as he readies to face California Spangle, Lucky Sweynesse, Beauty Joy, Waikuku and Courier Wonder – in what is shaping as a fiercely competitive renewal of…

Star Aussie trotter heading to NZ

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton Top trainer Brent Lilley is planning some time back home. The former Kiwi horseman, who has built a stellar career in Victoria, will chase some of NZ’s biggest trotting races with one of his stable stars, Aldebaran Zeus, in coming months. The five-year-old returned to his best form with a dominant win over Australia’s top trotter, Just Believe, in last Saturday night’s Group 1 Hammerhead at Menangle. “He’ll head to NZ soon,” Lilley said. “There is a mile race at Cambridge on April 14, the same night…

RIB release report into Rangiora races

NZHarnessNews

The Racing Integrity Board has released its report into why the races at Rangiora were abandoned yesterday. It’s being made public following a lot of comment, especially on-line, about why the meeting was cancelled and the procedures leading up to it. Harness Racing New Zealand considered a replacement meeting but decided that owing to the nature and make-up of this and the following week’s meetings that this was not the appropriate course of action. To read the report click here