The Government has today approved a strategic arrangement between the TAB and leading British betting agency Entain. The 25-year strategic partnering arrangement will benefit the three New Zealand Racing Codes and 38 National Sporting Organisations, while bringing world class products, services and gambling harm minimisation tools to TAB NZ’s 250,000 customers. The deal has been described as “a monumental step in shoring up the future of New Zealand racing.” The deal means the minimum racing code distribution will be at least $150m annually for the next five years. TAB NZ…
Month: May 2023
Shum confident ahead of Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup
Romantic Warrior is chasing a fourth Group 1 victory. Danny Shum is optimistic Romantic Warrior can enhance an already spectacular career in the $12 million Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday despite queries over the brilliant stayer’s ability to cope with the extended trip. With 10 wins and two second placings from 13 starts and $81,725,400 in prizemoney, Romantic Warrior will step to 2400m for the first time against a potential line-up featuring fellow Group 1 winners Russian Emperor and Panfield as…
The Follow Files: European import unlucky as big favourite
This week’s edition of The Follow Files features three unlucky runners that raced at Doomben on Saturday afternoon. We will look ahead to the continuation of the Queensland Racing Carnival as it moves across the road to Eagle Farm for the next few weeks. Doomben – Doomben 10,000 Day Track rating: Good 4Rail position: True entire circuit Race 1: Class 6 Handicap (1600m) | Time: 1:36.08 Horse to follow: Manbehindthemoney (3rd) The opening race of the day at Doomben saw one of the biggest betting crunches go to the wayside,…
Dee kicks off Hong Kong contract with three at Happy Valley
Lean Hero is one of Michael Dee’s pairings this week. Michael Dee will commence his short-term riding stint in Hong Kong with three mounts at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Starry Night, Lean Hero and Sight Hero are Dee’s first rides in the city – all for trainer David Hayes – and come fresh following his Group 1 success on Saturday (20 May) at Morphettville in Adelaide, Australia aboard Royal Merchant in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m). Hailing from a racing tradition in New Zealand, Dee is the son…
Pakenham best bets & quaddie tips | Thursday, May 25
What Pakenham Races Where Pakenham Racing Club – 420 Nar Nar Goon–Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3813 When Thursday, May 18, 2023 First Race 5:15pm AEST Visit Ladbrokes For the final time in the 2022/23 night racing season, we head to Pakenham on Thursday with a small but competitive seven-race program set down for decision. Despite the amount of traffic on the surface, the rail is out just 3m from the 1600m-400m and then true the remainder. With a typical late-autumn day forecast, we expect to be racing on a Soft…
The Chosen One to stand at The Oaks Stud
The Chosen One will join the rejuvenated stallion roster at The Oaks Stud this breeding season. The Chosen One joins Champion European Two-year-old and Champion Sprinter U S Navy Flag and proven Classic sire Roc de Cambes at the Cambridge farm, with stalwart Darci Brahma retired from stud duties last month. “We’re really excited to be standing The Chosen One this season,” The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams said. “He has all the credentials to be a success at stud, he’s a Group One winner over a mile and…
‘Britton blitz’
The friendly – albeit competitive – greyhound racing rivalry between the Britton brothers is well documented. But add another chapter to the ‘never-ending story’ when the siblings, Robert and Jeff, face-off in the $270,500 Group 1 Sportsbet Sandown Cup final (715m) at Sandown Park on Friday night. Elder statesman Rob will rug fastest qualifier First Picked (Box 5), while Jeff will rely on Korda (Box 4) to ‘ace’ the $175,000 first prize. Only a ‘pimple’ separated them on respective heat wins last week – First Picked (41.74sec) and Korda (41.75sec)…
Thursday’s Gosford best bets & quaddie tips | May 25, 2023
What Gosford Races Where The Entertainment Grounds – 4 Racecourse Rd, West Gosford NSW 2250 When Thursday, May 25, 2023 First Race 12pm AEST Visit Ladbrokes Racing heads to the Central Coast of New South Wales with the Gosford Race Club hosting an eight-race program this Thursday afternoon. The Gosford track is currently rated a Soft 5, but with no rain forecast for the area in the lead-up to the meeting, we expect to be racing on a perfect Good 4 surface. The rail will be in the true position…
Bluto latest Sweet Lou colt to shine
What a run of success Sweet Lou is having of late. On Friday his progeny took out a treble at Addington (Watermelon Sugar, Bluto and Raklou), doubles at Gloucester Park, Launceston and Ballarat as well as the quinella in the Wagga Wagga Regional Championship Final. As Rob Courtney reports Bluto is continuing a winning run for one of Sweet Lou’s biggest fans, Otago trainer Graeme Anderson. Graeme Anderson has a saying – “Jed Clampett (of the Beverly Hillbillies) found oil, I found the Sweet Lous” – and it looks…
Elliot amped for Brisbane feature
Ryan Elliot will partner Solidify in Saturday’s Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm. Photo: Trish Dunell Ryan Elliot concedes he’s a mix of excitement and nerves ahead of his first foray into Australian racing this weekend but he says he’s determined to justify the faith placed in him. The nine-time Group One-winning jockey will partner the Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained Solidify in the $1 million Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm. Elliot has ridden the Redwood gelding in all three of his…