Cambridge trainer Ben Foote is pleased with his Group Three winning three-year-old filly Sakura Girl (NZ) (Iffraaj), who will have her first start in Brisbane on Saturday when she contests the Gr.2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben. The daughter of Iffraaj finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) last start when taking on older horses, beaten by late-season bloomer Aromatic (NZ) (Sacred Falls). Sakura Girl had been one of the favourites for the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) but set an over-zealous tempo and clung on bravely to finish…
Month: May 2023
Bergerson joins Walker in partnership
Te Akau Racing has announced that Sam Bergerson will join Mark Walker in a training partnership in New Zealand, commencing August 1. The Matamata-based stable is the dominant force in New Zealand racing at present, with Mark Walker leading the premiership with 180 wins, nearly 100 clear of nearest rival Stephen Marsh (82). “Sam is currently our Assistant Trainer – he’s an outstanding individual, from a family with a strong racing history, and he is a fine example of the very best talent in our industry,” Te Akau Principal David…
Pakenham best bets & quaddie tips | Thursday, May 18
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 second-last time in the 2022/23 racing season, Pakenham is set to hold an eight-race program on a Thursday evening. We kick off the week with the track coming up a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, and that should stay put with minimal rain forecast in the lead-up to the meeting. The rail returns to the true position, with racing…
‘Ariarne’ set for Sandown Cup splash!
Four heats of the Group 1 Sportsbet Sandown Cup (715m) – featuring Australia’s best stayers – complement a G1 final double-header (Sapphire Crown / Harrison-Dawson) at Sandown Park on Thursday night. One of the distance dynamos headlining the heats, which have also attracted a strong interstate contingent, is Victorian ‘staying sweetheart’ Ariarne Bale – named after Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus (reigning Olympic champion in the women’s 200m and 400m freestyle). Trained by Daniel Gibbons, Ariarne Bale provided Gibbons with his first G1 success – and justifiably laid claim to Australia’s No.…
The Follow Files: John O’Shea runner unlucky in Ortensia Stakes
This week’s edition of The Follow Files features three unlucky runners that all finished second on Saturday afternoon at the key meetings in Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales. Here they are. Scone – Dark Jewel Classic Day Track rating: Good 4Rail position: +3m entire circuit Race 5: Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) | Time: 1:02.71 Horse to follow: Quantico (2nd) Anyone that backed Quantico when first-up at Scone in the Listed Ortensia Stakes won’t want to relive the race or watch the replay, as he was held up on…
Hawkesbury racing preview & best bets | Thursday, May 18
What Hawkesbury Races Where Hawkesbury Race Club – 1 Racecourse Rd, Clarendon NSW 2756 When Thursday, May 18, 2023 First Race 12:15pm AEST Visit Ladbrokes Racing heads to the Hawkesbury on Thursday afternoon for an ultra-competitive eight-race program. At the time of writing, the track is listed as a Soft 5 for race-day; however, with a favourable forecast for racegoers, we’re expecting an upgrade into the Good range prior to the opening race. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, meaning we’ll be looking for gallopers prominent…
Ulanova in Melbourne to target early age group sprints
Leading filly Ulanova (NZ) (Santos) has temporarily relocated to Australia to prepare for the early part of her upcoming three-year-old season. The precocious daughter of Santos is in Melbourne to take advantage of lucrative opportunities within her specialist distance range. “She has gone over to join Anthony and Sam Freedman, basically it’s due to the racing pattern in New Zealand from August to Christmas for a filly like her,” part-owner and expatriate Kiwi bloodstock agent Michael Wallace said. “She is a 1000m to 1200m filly and sadly her options are…
Ribchester to return to Haunui Farm in 2023
Haunui Farm will once again welcome four-time Group One winner and two-time Champion Miler Ribchester back in 2023 for his fourth season at stud in New Zealand. Ribchester has created a solid impression in Australia to date with two small crops of racing age progeny, headlined by last Saturday’s Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) winning three-year-old filly Red Card and two-year-old colt Krakarib, winner of the Gr.3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) on Melbourne Cup Day. In addition Ribchester has been represented by black-type performing three-year-old fillies Plymstock and Portray. Ribchester’s first…
Big Dance to get bigger and boost to Championships
Rustic Steel reigned supreme in the inaugural edition of The Big Dance. Photo: Racing NSW Racing NSW today announced that prizemoney will be increased for the Big Dance and both the Country Championships and Provincial-Midway Championships Finals. The Big Dance, to be run at Royal Randwick on November 7, 2023 will now carry prizemoney of $3 million, an increase of $1 million. Qualifying for the Big Dance is through a series of Country Cups and the Wild Card race at Royal Randwick in October. Racing NSW Chairman Mr Russell Balding…
Green Light On | Deep Dive with Paul Westerveld
In this special edition of Green Light On, James Van de Maat conducted a Deep Dive with esteemed breeder Paul Westerveld. Westerveld talked about his start in greyhound racing, his early days as a trainer, and his breeding operation headlined by the champion FERNANDO BALE. greyhoundracingvic · Deep Dive – Paul Westerveld Don’t forget, you can listen to Green Light On every Thursday and Saturday on your favourite podcast app.