Month: July 2023

Hunter doubles up, Supreme Attraction stars at Alice Springs

AAP

Darwin-based jockey Casey Hunter is justifiably pleased after riding the James Carroll-trained Truckload Of Hoffa to victory Alice Springs on Sunday. (Picture: Nikki Westover Photography) Terry Gillett’s Supreme Attraction and Darwin jockey Casey Hunter were the stars at Alice Springs on Sunday. Supreme Attraction made it five straight wins in the Red Centre, while Hunter sealed a winning double on the five-race program. They were back racing at Pioneer Park after the Alice Springs Turf Club elected to defer last Sunday’s meeting when a rain band engulfed Central Australia. Gillett…

Aussie News – July 10

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  Fresh from a two-week break from driving and running a marathon, Kate Gath dominated the weekend’s Bendigo meeting. Gath drove four winners (half the card), three for husband Andy and one for Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin. The first win was on former Kiwi mare Dannemora for Stewart and Tonkin, who made it six wins from as many starts since coming across from NZ. Gath then won on a trio of former Kiwi pacers for her own stable, firstly Tango Tara in the Koala King free-for-all (2150m)…

Leap To Fame’s stocks soar after Albion park triumph

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton Even the notoriously sedate Grant Dixon was buzzing after Leap To Fame’s latest and biggest feature win at Albion Park over the weekend. But Dixon’s excitement was nothing compared to those on track and the broader harness racing industry who think the sport has found its next megastar. It was 17 years ago when the great Blacks A Fake burst into the big league winning the Hobart Inter Dominion and Leap To Fame is starting to have the same sort of aura. It’s a huge call given…

Halter snags four winners on Day 1 of Darwin Cup Carnival

AAP

Top End trainer Tayarn Halter had a day out at Fannie Bay on Saturday, landing four winners on Day 1 of the 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival. Top End trainer Tayarn Halter hasn’t been in the spotlight in the weeks leading up to the Darwin Cup Carnival, but that all changed when Tyquendo, Zou Der Zee, Noble War and Expert Witness saluted at Fannie Bay on Saturday. “That’s a personal best over Carnival and to get four was absolutely great,” she said. “My best day ever was five at Wyndham in…

Win at start 50 for Sir Monty

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner An autumn and winter of longtime maidens breaking through for success continued when Sir Monty scored at Addington on Sunday in his 50th attempt. The five-year-old’s gate speed helped driver Sam Thornley secure him a sweet trip in the trail before he sprinted up the passing lane to win the Bev Little Memorial. By recent standards, breeder-owner-trainer Gavin Turner didn’t have to be too patient. Sly Tricks broke through in his 85th start recently, while Santeria made it win one in her 64th start late last month.…

Australia launches BetStop: National self-exclusion register for online gambling

AAP

Australian individuals seeking to distance themselves from online gambling will have the option to do so for their entire lifetime. In line with recent government actions prohibiting the use of credit cards in online betting and following the inquiry into online gambling, BetStop is set to launch on August 21. This national self-exclusion register aims to assist problem gamblers in blocking themselves from betting on sports and racing, becoming the final component of the national consumer protection framework for online wagering. By enrolling in the register, individuals can exclude themselves…

Gambling Ad Ban sparks controversy: Potential revenue loss for industry

AAP

The racing industry and betting companies face the risk of losing significant revenue if a recommendation in a recent report on online betting is implemented. The report, released by the House of Representatives standing committee on social policy and legal affairs in June, proposed 31 recommendations primarily focused on betting advertising and its impact on problem gambling. While the recommendation to gradually ban all betting ads over three years has received criticism from the betting industry, sports bodies, and television networks, the bipartisan committee unanimously supported all 31 recommendations. However,…

Cavalry impresses in Singapore debut

NZRacingDesk

Former Tony Pike galloper Cavalry (NZ) (Tavistock) got his Singapore career off to a winning start when he kicked clear to score comfortably in a Class 3 1400 race at Kranji on Saturday. Bred by Marie Leicester, Cavalry was purchased by Pike for $250,000 out of Haunui Farm’s draft at Karaka, a half-brother to 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle, he was a dual stakeswinner under the name Tutukaka for Tony Pike and changed hands in a deal brokered by bloodstock agent Bevan Smith. Now trained by Michael Clements and…

Impressive Almanzor debutant winner

NZRacingDesk

The Ben and JD Hayes stable continued its excellent record in this season’s two-year-old events, taking out the maiden over 1433m at Werribee on Sunday with debutant Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor). Sent out the favourite, Rise At Dawn settled off the pace and while he looked under pressure approaching the home turn, he let down well in the home straight to reel in the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Labarna, coming away over the concluding stages to score by over three lengths. The win was also a meaningful one…

Patterson shines at Awapuni

NZRacingDesk

Uraskyfullastars (NZ) (Tarzino) continued to shine at Awapuni on Saturday when taking out the BJW Motors LTD 1400. It was the second win from just three starts for the daughter of Tarzino, having placed on debut after a luckless run. “She should have won her first start, she got held up behind a slow one, but she duly obliged in her next start,” trainer Robbie Patterson said. “Yesterday was an incredible performance. Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) said she never handled the track (Heavy10) at all and it wasn’t until she…