An inch-perfect ride from Ben Melham has aided Thought Provoking (NZ) (So You Think) to land the Listed Thomas Farms Centaurea Stakes (2028m) at Morphettville on Saturday for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent jnr. The New Zealand-bred daughter of So You Think had finished runner-up in her three previous starts and under an expertly-rated front running ride from Melham, the five-year-old mare edged out the fast-finishing Agreeable (Sebring). “It is good to have the black-type on her CV, being a mare, and an unlucky one at that,” Melham said.…
Month: May 2023
Two down, one to go for Tony Barron
By Jonny Turner Tony Barron has the chance to complete a rare feat following the win of Lifes A Beach at Addington on Friday night. Lifes A Beach bounced back to her best form when pouncing late in the Second Autumn Mares Autumn Fillies & Mares Sprint for driver John Morrison. The mare hadn’t been in the form of her life leading into her win, but she had been running creditable races through the autumn in strong company. When Lifes A Beach took her opportunity to show she hadn’t lost…
The Goodwood 2023 Winning Filly Royal Merchant Beats Older Rivals
The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Royal Merchant was tough again backing-up from a lead-up Group 2 win at the track to beat home her older rivals with a fighting victory in the Group 1 $502,250 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville. Royal Merchant (pictured winning the Tobin Bronze Stakes) was strong late to salute in the 2023 The Goodwood results at Morphettville. Photo: Jenny Barnes. Following her victory over the boys in the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m) at the start of the month the three-year-old daughter of Merchant…
Eurokash gets it right in the end at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin Eurokash proved the perfect replacement for champion stablemate Muscle Mountain in the $45,000 Fiskens and Son Anzac Cup at Alexandra Park on Friday but the result could have been vastly different. Trainers Greg and Nina Hope decided to bypass the trotting feature with their champion and Eurokash was asked to step into the huge shoes as their Anzac Cup horse and at the first attempt he didn’t do a very good job. Eurokash stunned the Hopes by galloping badly at the start but to their relief it…
Kango just too good in Roy Purdon Memorial
By Michael Guerin Kango may no longer be a one-trick pony, even if it is a pretty good trick. The mammoth Cambridge pacer used that trick, leading and outstaying his rivals, to down hot favourite Self Assured in the $45,000 Roy Purdon Memorial at Alexandra Park on Friday night, with Heza Sport a close up third on his track debut. Those same tactics have won Kango a Franklin Cup and Kaikoura Cup, those valuable races just below the absolute best races like next Friday’s Auckland Cup. Kango has of course…
Daytona Bay gets important bob
A ‘Goldilocks’ track has helped Daytona Bay (American Pharoah) find his way back to the winner’s circle when he nosed out the previously unbeaten Altivo (Wootton Bassett) in a photo finish at Flemington on Saturday in the In Memory of Dean Holland (1800m). Prepared by Peter Moody, Daytona Bay won four of his first five starts, with the consistent galloper returning a winner for the first time since August. Bred by Rangiora’s Geoff Taylor, the son of American Pharoah sat second throughout under Tom Stockdale before digging deep to narrowly get…
Dwyer hopes to be Riding High again
Henry Dwyer assesses the best run of his fencer Riding High’s (NZ) (Raise The Flag) career was two years ago when he won the Australian Steeplechase by seven lengths. Riding High hasn’t returned to the course and distance since then, until now anyway, as he will run in the Australian Steeplechase on Sunday at Ladbrokes Park Sandown Lakeside. “The Sandown 3900m is his absolute wheelhouse. He loves being on top of the ground which he should have on Sunday, he’s a nice, big horse who has won the race previously…
Parkes caps red-letter day aboard Justaskme
Leading Central Districts rider Johnathan Parkes capped a magnificent day at the office when he rode four winners at Awapuni, including the main event on the card, the Listed Happy 90th Birthday Edith Bull Rangitikei Cup (1550m) aboard Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed). After taking the first race aboard the Mike Breslin-trained Papa Surf (Dalghar), Parkes brought up career win number 1000 when taking race two on the Mark Walker-trained Fellini (NZ) (Belardo). Parkes wasn’t finished there, winning race six on the Peter Didham-prepared Fabian Hawk (NZ) (Turn Me Loose)…
Group One option for Le Zebra
Smart two-year-old Le Zebra (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) will be considered for a tilt at the Gr.1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 10 after another strong on-speed metropolitan victory when scoring over 1400m at Flemington on Saturday. Prepared by Emma-Lee and David Browne, the son of Rip Van Winkle had previously prevailed over 1300m at Sandown on May 6 and the Brownes will now consider a trip north. “We’ll possibly put him away, possibly, but we might look at going to Queensland,” David Browne said. “I think…
Gospodin on top again at Te Rapa
Classy winter performer Gospodin (NZ) (Proisir) extended his impressive record on the Te Rapa track when he made it back-to-back victories at the venue on Saturday. Successful there over 1200m a fortnight ago when having the second run of his current campaign, the Jim Pender-prepared five-year-old once again relished the Heavy10 surface in the hands of apprentice Kelsey Hannan. Hannan made good use of her 2kg claim, that saw the son of Proisir carry 59kgs in the open 1300m handicap event, as she positioned Gospodin beyond midfield before setting out…