Game filly Affaire A Suivre has overcome a horror draw to take out the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on Saturday for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. After drawing the widest barrier in a final field of 16, the New Zealand-bred daughter of Astern was made to earn it the hard way but was still too strong on the line for Western Australian visitor She’s Fit ($8) with stablemate to the winner Jennilala ($8.50) a further length back in third place. Maher has had an opinion of his…
Month: April 2023
Gallant Dunwoody lands St Leger
Three-year-old gelding Dunwoody called upon all his staying reserves as he lead from barrier to box under in-form rider Jordan Childs to land the Listed VRC St Leger (3000m) at Sandown on Saturday as the $61 outsider of the field. Trainer Matt Cumani agreed the win in the $300,000 race came as something of a shock, but said he went into the race with a plan to be in front shortly after the start with the son of Preferment and hopefully still be there at the finish. “It was of…
Blinkers an unknown for Aegon
Andrew Forsman was hoping to snare a better barrier for his galloper Aegon in the HK$20 million Gr.1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, but the Kiwi is fatalistic ahead of Sunday’s feature at Sha Tin on 30 April. The Cambridge horseman believes there is no point worrying about things you can’t control and, on reflection, concedes drawing barrier five in the eight-horse field could have been worse. “At the end of the day he is probably going to settle back any way, but it would have…
Affaire A Suivre proves too strong in Group 1 Australasian Oaks
Affaire A Suivre lands the Group 1 Australasian Oaks. Photo: Atkins Photography Ciaron Maher & David Eustace and John Allen have combined with Affaire A Suivre to take out the Group 1 Australasian Oaks atMorphettville over the fast finishing She’s Fit and Jennilala. After taking out the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas last start over 1800m, this three-year-old filly was one of the favoured runners, jumping as the second favourite at $8 with online bookmakers, and she proved it with a very strong finish over the top of the leaders in…
Kovalica shows his class in Queensland Guineas win
Kovalica arrived in time to claim the Group 2 Queensland Guineas. Photo: Michael McInally Kovalica has taken out the Group 2 Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm, giving Chris Waller the current number one seed in the Group 1 Queensland Derby in four weeks’ time. Nash Rawiller finished Queensland Guineas Day with a race-to-race double after winning the Victory Stakes on Rothfire the race before, while recording both wins with a great strong ride in the final 200m of each race. This three-year-old gelding returned last start at Randwick with an…
Rothfire staves off his rivals in gutsy Victory Stakes win
Nash Rawiller lifted Rothfire to victory in the Group 2 Victory Stakes. Photo: Michael McInally Robert Heathcote and Nash Rawiller have combined with Rothfire to take out the Group 2 Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm in fine style and return to winning form with a very tough win over the fast-finishing King Of Sparta. The five-year-old gelding entered the Victory Stakes as the second favourite with online bookmakers, with the race-favourite Private Eye producing another ordinary run, presenting more questions about how well he is going this preparation. There was…
Vale Jeff Crouth
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk After a harness racing career that spanned nearly 40 years, former Pukekohe-based trainer Jeff Crouth has died in Northland. From 1977 to 2014, Crouth had 232 wins and accrued nearly $3m in stakes, before making a big lifestyle change. “He retired to head up north and go fishing,” says Trish, his wife of 53 years. They settled in the Northland coastal community of One Tree Point. Throughout his decades of training one of Crouth’s main drivers was champion reinsman Maurice McKendry. “Jeff was…
Aromatic dominant in Travis Stakes
Opie Bosson eases Aromatic to the finish line as they complete a comprehensive victory at Te Rapa. Photo: Trish Dunell Progressive mare Aromatic rounded out her current campaign with another impressive victory when she cruised home in the Group 2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa. The grey six-year-old has gone to a new level in her performance lately with little luck when running sixth at Group One level in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) two starts back followed by a comprehensive win in the Group 3 Manawatu…
Denby Road delivers in Breeders’ Stakes
Denby Road bursts through a gap to take out the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m). Photo: Trish Dunell Commentator George Simon will be the first to admit he didn’t cover himself in glory in the final stages of his call on the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), but he had good reason as Denby Road, the horse that he and wife Maryanne bred and race, saluted in the Group Three feature. The giant three-year-old son of Shamexpress, who stands over 17 hands high, was having his first start…
Butterfly floats to seventh victory
Irish Butterfly, with apprentice Celine Gaudray aboard, leads throughout at Sandown. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli A quick back-up could be on the cards for talented stayer Irish Butterfly, who landed the seventh victory of his career when leading throughout at Sandown on Saturday. The Henry Dwyer-trained son of O’Reilly was challenged mid-race by former Kiwi Milford Sound but skipped clear of his rivals soon after straightening to race away to win by just over four lengths from Mimi’s Award and Sing For Peace. Dwyer is now considering a tilt at Thursday’s…