Month: July 2023

Strike Force will line up at Riccarton on Friday. Photo: Race Images South Any thoughts Riccarton trainer Ryan Thistoll might have had that Strike Force would become easier to deal with as he got older have long since dissipated. Thistoll’s patience with the Battle Paint seven-year-old gelding has been severely tested at times but persistence could see connections reap racetrack rewards at upcoming Riccarton polytrack meetings. Strike Force did everything but win at Riccarton last start, only caught on the line after he had slipped clear over the last 200m…

Shejengar winning at Oamaru on Wednesday. Photo: Tayler Strong (Race Images) Melissa Douglas’ dream start to her training career continued at Oamaru on Wednesday when Shejengar scored her first win. It was Douglas’ second start as a trainer, with Shejengar runner-up in her debut outing at Wingatui earlier in the month. The Invercargill horsewoman was rapt with Wednesday’s result and is hoping her northern acquisition can continue her impressive run of form. “I was stoked with the win,” Douglas said. “Halfway up the straight she looked like she was stopping,…

Raucous will line up at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Corrina McDougal has enjoyed another successful racing season in partnership with Paul Nelson, and the Hastings trainers hope to top it off in style with last-start winners Taika and Raucous at Te Rapa on Saturday. A son of Mettre En Jeu, Taika showed his hurdling promise early when runner-up to The Mighty Spar on debut at Te Rapa, before breaking his maiden stylishly over 2500m under jumps jockey Jack Power at Hastings earlier this month. The…

Quirky Habits will contest the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Shaun Clotworthy didn’t foresee Quirky Habits contending for black-type honours as a two-year-old, but has been more than happy to be proved wrong by the youngster. With wife Emma, he prepares the son of Belardo whose late season progress has seen him emerge as a leading chance in Saturday’s Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. “He hasn’t done anything wrong, he hasn’t showed us a lot on the track but has delivered…

Darwin trainer Gary Clarke and stable rider Jarrod Todd have successfully defended their respective premierships this season. (Picture: Caroline Camilleri – Darwin Photography Professionals) With unassailable leads, the champion trainers and jockeys in the Northern Territory for the 2022/23 racing season will have the opportunity to let their hair down this weekend. Darwin trainer Gary Clarke has sealed the Top End title for the 11th-straight year, while Dick Leech has taken out the Alice Springs gong for the first time. Jarrod Todd has secured the Top End jockeys’ crown for…