Month: May 2023

‘Promise’ of ‘magic’ in GOTBA Cup

Editor BOAY

Little River greyhound training stalwart Paul Bartolo has fond memories of his incredible 2006 Group 1 Melbourne Cup quinella with litter sisters Betty’s Angel and Miss Mini Mouse. “My heart starts beating faster every time I think about it,” he said. “It’s just a feeling that’s still difficult to describe – it always seems so surreal.” Betty’s Angel (20 from 43) went on to claim the 2006 Victorian GOTY-Australian GOTY double. She was a six-time G1 finalist – also claiming the 2006 Sapphire Crown Classic and 2007 Perth Cup – and…

The Queen is back ahead of Saturday’s Group 1

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton Star former Kiwi mare Queen Elida is giving driver Chris Alford that “magical” feeling again. And that’s a stark warning to her rivals heading into Saturday night’s $100,000 Group 1 Macarthur Mile – a race she won last year – at Menangle. Punters have launched on the Brent Lilley-trained mare, backing her from $2.20 into $1.75 despite a back row (gate 10) draw. “She felt so good winning last start,” Alford said. “That’s the mare I got so excited about through the middle of last year. “Her…

Two Royal Ascot entries for Go Racing

NZRacingDesk

New Zealand-based syndicators Go Racing are delighted to have two horses entered for the iconic Royal Ascot race meeting in England in June. Exciting three-year-old colts Up and Under and Etna Rosso, who race in Go Racing’s familiar blue, white and red colours, are entered in the £250,000 Gr.2 King Edward VII Stakes (1m4f) which takes place on the fourth day of the carnival, Friday June 23.   Established by Albert Bosma and Patrick Vinaccia in 2003, Go Racing have enjoyed top level success across Australasia and their recent expansion…

TAB/Entain update – May 4

NZHarnessNews

TAB NZ and the Government continue to work constructively on the approval process for the strategic partnering arrangement with Entain. It’s expected that by the end of May it will be known if the arrangement will receive Ministerial approval. The TAB Chairman and Chief Executive will meet with Racing Minister Kieran McAnulty again on May 17 and will update the codes on progress then. In March the TAB selected Entain as its preferred partner for a 25-year strategic arrangement. The deal needs Ministerial approval for it to go ahead.

Rolls relishes quick back-up to claim Warrnambool Cup

AAP

Rolls ridden by Harry Grace wins the Warrnambool Cup. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Maddie Raymond and Harry Grace have combined to take out their maiden Listed Warrnambool Cup victory, with Rolls getting the better of Not Usual Glorious and Swords Drawn in the 2350m event. The win gave Raymond a double on the final day of the Warrnambool Racing Carnival after Home Rule won earlier in the day, and gave Grace his maiden win at the ‘Bool. Rolls, a son of Anacheeva, who jumped at $11 with online bookmakers,…

Rockstar Ronnie claims Grand Annual Steeplechase

AAP

Rockstar Ronnie ridden by Chris McCarthy clears a steeple on the way to winning the Grand Annual Steeplechase at. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) All eyes were on Stern Idol in the 2023 Grand Annual Steeplechase, but it was the stablemate to the favourite Rockstar Ronnie who reigned supreme in the 5500m event at Warrnambool. Chris McCarthy took Rockstar Ronnie ($6.50) straight to the front of the field and the sic-year-old gelding made every post (or steeple) a winner, with hardly a challenge in the world on his way to…

Maher’s Ruthless Sangster assault

NZRacingDesk

Ruthless Dame will chase a maiden win at the highest level when she contests Saturday’s Gr.1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville. The three-year-old was well beaten last start in the Gr.1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) but was nosed out in the Surround Stakes (1400m) despite a torrid run the start prior, having been a close-up third in the Gr.3 Manfred Stakes (1300m) won by Jacquinot at her first start this campaign. “She arguably should have beaten Jacquinot at Sandown and backed it up with a huge run in the Surround,”…

Sargent tickled Pink with Cup contender

NZRacingDesk

John Sargent will head to the Listed Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) on Friday with talented mare Pink Ivory hoping to settle some unfinished business. Sargent captured the race in 2020 with House Of Cartier, only to have her subsequently disqualified when she returned a positive post-race swab. It was the clean skin trainer’s first such penalty in almost 40 years of training and investigations failed to reveal how the drug, a sedative used for horses undergoing surgery, came to be in her system. “I had one runner, one winner and…

Youngsters ready for stakes challenges

NZRacingDesk

Te Akau Head Trainer Mark Walker will have leading two-year-old black-type prospects at both venues on Saturday. Viva Vienna appeals as a top chance in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa while Cu Chulainn also has strong claims in the Listed Berkley Stud Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton. All Too Hard filly Viva Vienna beat subsequent Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m) and Listed Karaka Million (1200m) runner-up Ethereal Star during her first preparation and, following a break, successfully resumed at Te Rapa last month. “She was super…