Month: May 2023

Saunter Boy goes back-to-back in the Galleywood Hurdle

AAP

Saunter Boy ridden by Steven Pateman wins the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool. (Photo by Alice Miles/Racing Photos) Class rose to the top in Wednesday’s Galleywood Hurdle as Saunter Boy went on to claim a second straight win in the Galleywood Hurdle. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained grey was forced to lug 71kg in the Heavy 10 going at Warrnambool, but did so in fine style when going on to beat Fabalot by 2.5 lengths. The eventual runner-up Fabalot ($14) ensured that the race was run at a genuine clip…

Jason Collett’s horror run continues after Canterbury fall

AAP

Jason Collett is believed to be okay after his fall at Canterbury. (Photo: Darren Winningham) Group 1 winning jockey Jason Collett was taken to hospital for scans following a nasty fall in the third race at Canterbury on Wednesday. The 31-year-old was mounting a charge at the top of the straight in the Darley Handicap (1250m) when he got into trouble and fell off $18 shot Magnatear. Medical staff assessed Collett on-course and many breathed a sigh of relief when the popular hoop was walking minutes later. Racing NSW then…

Kiwi enjoying her first trip stateside

NZHarnessNews

By Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink Nicole Thomas, a long-time harness racing enthusiast and industry breeding manager, is having the time of her life at Diamond Creek Farm in Kentucky. The 29-year-old was born in Nelson but moved to Christchurch during her high school years to work for Nevele R Stud. “That got me hooked on the business,” Nicole offered. “I really fell in love with the breeding end of the industry. Watching the foals grow and develop and seeing them become racehorses, dealing with them from day one and seeing…

Wagga Gold Cup Day preview & best bets | Friday, May 5

AAP

What Wagga Gold Cup Day Where Murrumbidgee Turf Club – Travers St, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 When Friday, May 5, 2023 First Race 12:40pm AEST Visit Ladbrokes It’s Wagga Gold Cup Day at Murrumbidgee Turf Club this Friday with eight races set down for decision. The $200,000 Listed feature has provided a massive field of 16 runners engaged to battle it out over 2000m for a free ticket to The Big Dance later in the year. If the track handles the racing from the day prior, it should be playing…

Dwyer takes Cup plunge with Butterfly

NZRacingDesk

Irish Butterfly (NZ) (O’Reilly) will chase success in the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) on Thursday following his victory at Sandown last weekend. Trainer Henry Dwyer didn’t take much convincing to line the son of O’Rellly up this week after Irish Butterfly went home from that win at Sandown and ate all his feed, something Dwyer said was a rarity. That feat had almost made Dwyer’s mind up on Sunday morning and all he needed to see on Monday morning before acceptance time was that the gelding’s action was sound. “That…

Cunneen chases a couple of firsts

NZRacingDesk

Riccarton trainer Meg Cunneen is hoping to break new ground on two counts this week: securing her first stakes win on her home track and winning her first race on the all-weather surface. Cunneen will produce promising US Navy Flag two-year-old filly Semper Supra (NZ) in the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on Saturday but more pressing is Ghibellines mare Givealittle’s (NZ) polytrack assignment on Thursday. Givealittle tackles the Summit Ultra On Tap Maiden (1600m), with Cunneen optimistic the four-year-old can improve on her most recent efforts…

Derby hope Arby in tip-top order

NZRacingDesk

Top staying prospect Arby (NZ) (Proisir) has taken no harm from a last start defeat in trying conditions at Pukekohe Park. The Proisir three-year-old finished fifth in the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) on a Heavy 10 track after impressively winning the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) on a better surface at his previous appearance at Awapuni. Despite the most recent hiccup in his form line, Arby remains in contention for a trip to Brisbane for the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 27. “The owners are really keen…

Tylers poised to plunder Riccarton spoils again

NZRacingDesk

Nightmare travel logistics have forced Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler to abandon Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) plans with high-class filly She’s A Con (NZ) (Contributer) but that hasn’t stopped him from preparing a strong team of six to travel to Riccarton for feature racing on Saturday. Tyler, who trains in partnership with his daughter Aimee, enjoyed a successful day at Riccarton late last month when She’s A Con backed up an impressive Riverton maiden win with a strong victory in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m), while Prince Alby (NZ) (Sacred Falls)…

Hong Kong boss declares FWD Champions Day a major success

AAP

Golden Sixty lands the FWD Champions Mile in style. Picture: HKJC. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has lauded the success of FWD Champions Day after Hong Kong stars Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior and Lucky Sweynesse led a clean sweep of the three Group 1 features at Sha Tin on Sunday. Describing the performances of Hong Kong’s three equine titans as “very special” after Lucky Sweynesse’s G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) triumph, Golden Sixty’s record-breaking G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) romp and Romantic Warrior’s G1 FWD…