By Michael Guerin A winter night at Cambridge is rarely the first stepping stone to a New Zealand Cup start but one of the best trainers in the country thinks that unlikely journey could begin tonight. Premiership winner Steve Telfer is sure Fernleigh Cash has what it takes to get to open class, maybe even the great race at Addington in November, and says if not for injury the big gelding wouldn’t even be at Cambridge tonight. Fernleigh Cash has won five of his 13 starts and was a head…
Month: June 2023
Niagara back in the Bay
Proven stallion Niagara, a Group Two winning son of Encosta de Lago, will return to Hawke’s Bay ahead of the 2023 breeding season to take up residence at Vicki Wilson’s Hau Ora Farm in Kahuranaki, south of Hastings. It is somewhat of a homecoming for Niagara, who initially retired to Greg and Jo Griffin’s Lime Country Thoroughbreds in Hawke’s Bay in 2013, before the couple relocated across the Tasman, resulting in Niagara joining The Oaks Stud’s roster in 2017. The sire of nine stakes performers and 118 winners at a…
NZTR naming rule change
At the beginning of the 2022-23 racing season, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing announced a proposed amendment to the Rules of Racing, around the naming of horses before being allowed to trial or presented for barrier certification. NZTR has approved the Rule change whereby a horse may only be entered for, and start in, a race, or a trial (or a jump-out or test for certification purposes) if it is registered and has been named in accordance with the Rules of Racing. Why has NZTR approved this Rule change? The rationale behind…
Saturday’s Belmont Park best bets & quaddie tips | June 3, 2023
What Belmont Races Where Belmont Park Racecourse – Saintly Entrance, Burswood WA 6100 When Saturday, June 3, 2023 First Race 10:49am AWST Visit Ladbrokes The Western Australian Turf Club will host a massive 11-race card at Belmont from 10:49am AWST this Saturday, with three races being transferred from the scrapped meeting on Wednesday to this program. The track is currently rated a Soft 6, but with no rain on the forecast for Friday and Saturday, we should see the track improve to a Soft 5 or Good 4 by raceday.…
Whispering Artist impresses with four in a row
By Michael Guerin New Zealand’s most surprising mare may be running out of ways to keep surprising us. Whispering Artist was a huge mover up the pacing ranks over the autumn, winning four races on end culminating in the Powell Transport Northern Breeders Stakes at Alexandra Park last Friday. In doing so she beat a genuine Group 1 mare in Manhattan not once but twice in seven days and while the first of those wins came courtesy of a good draw, last week Whispering Artist had to show gate speed…
Sakura Girl looking to fulfil Oaks dream
When Ross Lao first laid eyes on Sakura Girl (NZ) (Iffraaj) at Karaka two years ago, just two words entered his mind – Oaks filly. Business partner Andy Lau shared the same judgement of the daughter of Iffraaj and they went to $260,000 to secure the then juvenile out of Riverrock Farm’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft under their Upper Bloodstock banner. The Hong Kong pair entrusted her to the care of Cambridge trainer Ben Foote and they are hoping their dream with the filly comes…
The Stir Up featuring Bobby Axelrod, Alpha Zulu and Hector Fawley
GRV’s Peter Quilty, Gerard Guthrie and Trent Langskaill provide their thoughts on some of the star greyhounds racing in Victoria. Keep an eye on these, they are worth saving in your WatchDog Blackbook! Quilts Gents, the significant contribution of women in racing is celebrated tonight with the Premier Racing meeting at Sandown Park. Gerard Quilts, Jess Hopkins has Bobby Axelrod in the Judy Hayley Memorial Final and she was “really happy” with him on Sunday. The Group 2 Ballarat Cup finalist appears to be the class factor. Trent Lakeview Buff…
Castletown Stakes favourite sold
Carbonados has been sold to the Ben and JD Hayes stable. Photo: Race Images PN Carbonados, the warm favourite for Saturday’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui has been scratched due to his sale to Australia. The Allan Sharrock-trained son of Belardo had been a dominant debut winner on his home track at New Plymouth earlier in the month, where he was the heavily supported favourite on the back of a strong trial win at Foxton. Sharrock said the sale of the stakes-bound two-year-old was bittersweet. “He has been purchased…
Sakura Girl primed for Queensland Oaks tilt
Sakura Girl will contest the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell When Ross Lao first laid eyes on Sakura Girl at Karaka two years ago, just two words entered his mind – Oaks filly. Business partner Andy Lau shared the same judgement of the daughter of Iffraaj and they went to $260,000 to secure the then juvenile out of Riverrock Farm’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft under their Upper Bloodstock banner. The Hong Kong pair entrusted her to the…
Fireburn scratched from Group 1 Queensland Oaks
Fireburn has been scratched from the 2023 Group 1 Queensland Oaks. Photo: Darren Winningham Fireburn, the $3 pre-post favourite for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, has been scratched from the 2200m event at Eagle Farm. Gary Portelli, the trainer of Fireburn, challenged the Queensland veterinarian’s assessment that caused his stable star to be scratched from Saturday’s Eagle Farm feature. The dual Group 1 winner was a clear favourite with online bookmakers to win the Oaks at three years old and become the first Golden Slipper victor to do so since…