Month: April 2023

Dean Holland passes away after horror fall at Donald

AAP

Group 1-winning hoop Dean Holland was involved in a nasty fall at Donald on Monday. Monday’s eight-race meeting at Donald has been abandoned following a nasty fall in the opening race of the sole Victorian meeting of the day. Both Dean Holland and Alana Kelly were dislodged from their mounts in the only race to have been run, with Kelly reportedly escaping serious injury when able to walk back to the jockey’s room. Upon entering the home straight, the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Headingley darted back towards the running rail…

Des Baynes’ Diamonds Day quinella – “good grief”

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It’s been nearly 30 years in the making but trainer Des Baynes produced a rare quinella on one of Southland’s biggest race days on Sunday. Storyteller and Repetitive, both sporting Baynes’ distinctive gold and brown hoops, went 1-2 in the Betavet Mobile pace on Diamonds Day at Invercargill. Records show it was his first quinella since Out All Knight and Toss The Dice delivered at Invercargill on Jan 14, 1994. His response : “Good grief – it’s worse than I thought … it’s…

Waikato Stud announces 2023 stallion roster

NZRacingDesk

Leading New Zealand thoroughbred nursery Waikato Stud are looking forward to the 2023 breeding season where their stallion roster will once again be headed by eight-time New Zealand Champion Sire Savabeel. Prudent selection and long-term investment in both mares and stallions has led Waikato Stud to the position it enjoys today, including a golden run over the Sydney Autumn Carnival. Waikato Stud-bred and owned I Wish I Win scorch up the Randwick straight to bring home the Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), shortly followed by Major Beel’s tough Gr.1 Australian…

Contributer headlines Mapperley Stud’s 2023 stallion roster

NZRacingDesk

Mapperley Stud has announced their service fees for the 2023 season with their Dual Group One-winning son of High Chaparral, Contributer, headlining their roster at a fee of $18,000+GST. A proven Group One producing sire, Contributer has had a marvellous season on the racetrack emphasised by his exceptional stakes winners and stakes performers to runners strike rate. From only 38 runners to the track this season, he has produced five individual stakes winners and nine stakes horses. A stallion building a reputation for upgrading mares, one out of five runners…

Milford on trial for Queensland

NZRacingDesk

Milford (NZ) (Savabeel) is set to join a strong crop of his stablemates from Mike Moroney’s yard with a trip to Queensland, if he performs up to expectation at Flemington on Tuesday. Moroney’s only runner at Flemington for the VRC ANZAC Day race day, Milford will contest the Les Carlyon Handicap (1700m). “We are, we’d like to think that we could get there and we’ll go well,” Moroney said. “They’ve got the 2200-metre race up there (the Q22), which would be nice for him.” If Milford does head north for…

Gunstock set for Flemington return

NZRacingDesk

Dual Group Three winner Gunstock has recovered well from a second knee operation and is set to again resume his promising racing career over 1700 metres at Flemington on Tuesday. Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr said the son of Tavistock has been working and trialing strongly in preparation for his first run since his Coongy Cup romp by three lengths at Caulfield last October. “His trials have been sharp for him,” reported Kent Jnr, who trains in partnership with Mick Price. “No doubt he’ll be a bit rusty off a long…

Parkes takes aim at 1000-win mark

NZRacingDesk

Johnathan Parkes has wasted no time getting back in the groove after a much-needed break from riding, as he works his way closer to a significant milestone. Parkes resumed riding at Otaki last Thursday after a six-month break and was back in the winner’s circle on Sunday when guiding Kabugee home for Te Akau Racing in a three-year-old 1200m event at Awapuni. It pushed the 34-year-old a little bit closer to one of his major career goals. “My first goal is to get to 1000 career wins. I’m six away…

Ballarat best bets & quaddie tips | April 26, 2023

AAP

What Ballarat Races Where Ballarat Turf Club – 240 Kennedys Rd, Miners Rest VIC 3352 When Wednesday, April 26, 2023 First Race 1:35pm AEST Visit Ladbrokes The lone Victorian meeting this Wednesday will be held at Ballarat Turf Club, where we have a competitive seven-race card to be run. The track is currently rated a Soft 5, but with no rain on the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, we expect to be racing on a perfect Good surface for the entire program. The rail will be in the +5m position…

Trial winner set to add performance to pedigree

AAP

Just A Floozie will make her debut at Avondale on Tuesday. Photo: Trish Dunell The well-bred Just A Floozie’s trial performances have provided ample evidence that she has inherited a good share of the family ability. Prepared at Byerley Park by Peter and Dawn Williams, the two-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible was a runaway winner in her lead-up outing ahead of a much-awaited race day debut in the Avondale Classic (1200m) on Tuesday. The stable also has another strong winning chance at Avondale with the in-form Pour The Wine…

Darwin’s ANZAC Day meeting draws strong fields

AAP

Fannie Bay will hosts five races this Tuesday for Darwin’s annual ANZAC Day meeting. While the Alice Springs Cup Carnival dominates the NT racing scene at this time of year, the Darwin Turf Club will host its annual ANZAC Day meeting at Fannie Bay with a five-race card set down for Tuesday. It’s a far cry from the Pioneer Sprint, but the $26,300 ANZAC Day BMNT69 Handicap (1100m) has assembled a competitive seven-horse field with all runners bringing respectable form to the table. The Gary Clarke-trained Bel’s Banner (Jarrod Todd)…