Trainer Chris Waller has a stranglehold on Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) with a two-pronged attack, headed by $1.70 favourite Kovalica and impressive last-start winner Special Swey ($9.50). A son of Ocean Park, Kovalica has long been set for the A$1 million feature. The winner of five of his eight starts, Kovalica won the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) two starts back but missed his intended target of the Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) a fortnight ago due to a foot abscess. Raced by proud Queenslander Neville Morgan and David…
Month: May 2023
Fannin “pumped” for first big jumps day of the year
There aren’t too many jumps jockeys as chill as Shaun Fannin but even he can’t hide his excitement for the first feature jumps meeting of the year. The three-time jumps jockey of the year heads to Trentham on Saturday with five leading chances in the jumps races, headed by Grand National Hurdles (4200m) winner Happy Star in the Manawatu ITM Awapuni Hurdle (2800m) and Interllectus in the LJ Hooker Manawatu Steeples (4000m). “Looking at my book, it does look strong so hopefully I can do my part and we have…
Darwin racing preview & free quaddie tips | May 27, 2023
What Darwin Races Where Fannie Bay Racecourse – Dick Ward Dr, Fannie Bay NT 0820 When Saturday, May 27, 2023 First Race 2:34pm ACST Visit Ladbrokes The Darwin Turf Club will host a six-race card on Saturday and although only 41 horses have accepted there will be no shortage of quality. Numbers will intensify come June when the NT’s best start returning and interstate raiders begin to arrive en masse for the start of the Darwin Cup Carnival in July. Next weekend is the $30,000 Adelaide River Cup (1600m), but…
Cassar Family Recovery Fund
It’s time for the generous greyhound community to throw their collective arms around the Cassar family as they commence the long road to recovery from a fire at their Creswick property. Stefano and Pasqalia Cassar are members of the Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club and along with their children, are regulars at Ballarat racing and trial sessions. They are also much-loved members of the strong Maltese community in Ballarat. As a result of the fire, Pasqalia is in the Royal Melbourne Hospital with burns, meaning Stefano is commuting between his young…
Best ‘Poppy’ in the world!
The tight-knit Gippsland greyhound racing fraternity is mourning the passing of popular hobby trainer James (Jim) Harrington. Harrington, 64, suffered a medical incident at the Warragul race meeting on May 18. A father of five, Harrington combined greyhound racing with a role as a farm manager in Madayla after moving to Alberton (7km from Yarram) around 20 years ago. He trained his first-ever winner, Slade Runner (pictured), at Healesville on December 19, 2009. “Dad owned a general store/post office in Mitta Mitta, an hour from Wodonga, when we were kids,”…
Debattista’s fertile Shepparton ‘Oasis’
Aaron Debattista and Mission Oasis were the big winners at the 2022 Shepparton GRC awards function held last Saturday night. Debattista was crowned Trainer of the Year, while his track specialist Mission Oasis was anointed Greyhound of the Year. Debattista, who’s based at Toolleen, prepared 51 winners at Shepparton last year, along with 50 second placegetters and 33 thirds, to claim the award for the second time, having previously been successful in 2019, with the late Tony Duncan securing the 2020-21 titles. “I had a good year at Shepp; I…
Boy! What a Showdown
A heavyweight duel between superstars Amron Boy and Kelsey Bale in the $14,250 Group 3 Bill Collins Showdown (515m) will provide a mouth-watering entrée to Friday night’s G1 Sportsbet Sandown Cup main course. Amron Boy (box 3) is a clear-cut $1.40 favourite over Kelsey Bale (box 1) at $2.90 in Sportsbet’s market on the Showdown (race 7, 9.08pm). Trained by Jamie and Brooke Ennis, Amron Boy was a brilliant 29.13sec winner of the G1 Harrison-Dawson at Sandown Park last Thursday, while country cups ‘Queen’ Kelsey Bale, prepared by Danny Gibbons,…
Randwick racing tips, best odds & quaddie | Saturday 27/5/23
What Randwick Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Saturday, May 27, 2023 First Race 11am AEST Visit Ladbrokes Racing heads back to Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday for a tremendous 10-race program lined up for punters. The course proper hasn’t been utilized in over a month, meaning the rail will be in the true position the entire circuit. The ground should be fresh and with a light forecast of rain leading into Saturday, we’ve done the form for a track in the Good 4…
Eagle Farm full racing preview & best bets | Saturday, May 27
What Queensland Derby Day Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Road, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, May 27, 2023 First Race 11:43am AEST Visit Ladbrokes The Queensland Racing Carnival will move across the road to Eagle Farm after two weeks off racing at Doomben over the last fornight, as the Brisbane Racing Club will host its annual Queensland Derby Day this Saturday afternoon. Of the nine race on the program, seven of them will be either Group or Listed, with Derby Day considered one of the best race days…
Trentham races preview & best bets | May 27, 2023
What Trentham Races Where Wellington Racing Club – Racecourse Rd, Trentham, New Zealand When Saturday, May 27, 2023 First Race 11:22am NZST Visit Ladbrokes Jump racing gets into full swing at the Trentham meeting in New Zealand on Saturday with five of the nine races carded being over obstacles. The track is currently Heavy with not much chance of improving by the weekend. The first race begins at 11.22am (NZST) Best Bet at Trentham – Happy Star Happy Star is the best bet of the day in one of the…