Month: July 2023

Patrick Payne is planning a low-key spring with his maiden Group One winner Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel) who will not chase the major Cups this year. Dunkel won three of his first four starts in Victoria after making his debut in October, then he progressed to Tasmania, where he won the Listed Launceston Guineas (2100m) and Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m), before a rare failure in the G2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at The Valley. Payne chose the SA Derby over the ATC Derby in Sydney for Dunkel’s next run and he…

It only takes one small thing to go wrong to affect a trainer’s plans. Matthew Brown had a plan in place with Prix De Turn (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) who runs in the Neds Punter Assist Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Prix De Turn started his campaign with a pleasing sixth at Flemington over 1620m on June 17 and was then to have run at that venue last Saturday before going to 2000m, at Flemington, on Saturday week. But Prix De Turn pulled-up a sore following that first-up outing.…

Co-trainer Mick Price believes his Kiwi-bred charge Artzino (NZ) (Tarzino) will benefit from further experience when contesting his second start over 2000m on Saturday, lining up in the Caulfield Handicap (2000m) for three-year-old’s at the Melbourne course. A son Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino, Artzino has faced poor draws and luckless runs in recent starts for Victorian trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr., however, Price is confident the gelding will see out the 10-furlong distance if he can settle well in the running. “You’ve got to draw a gate in…

Rangiora galloper Louie Louie (NZ) (Zacinto) will get his first shot at stakes glory following his dominant performance in the Winning Edge Presentation Winter Cup Trial (1400m) at Ashburton on Thursday. Eased out of the gate by jockey Lemmy Douglas, Louie Louie settled at the rear of the field in the meeting’s feature race, where the pair sat patiently throughout. Turning for home, Douglas asked his charge to improve out wide and Louie Louie responded to the urges of his rider, running home strong to record a 2-1/4 length victory.…

Genetic testing is set to play a big part in the shaping of Globe’s (NZ) (Charm Spirit) spring campaign, with the Caulfield Cup now an unlikely target for one of the feature’s early fancies. Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s unbeaten galloper is currently on the fourth line of betting at $17 with Sportsbet but Price said recent testing meant the horse is unlikely to stretch out beyond 2000 metres this preparation. “We actually did the DNA testing on him and he is going to peak somewhere around 2000 metres,”…