Eshay (NZ) (Contributer) has shown trainer Peter Didham plenty of ability in work on Awapuni’s polytrack and he is hoping she can bring that to raceday this week. The daughter of Contributer will have her first start on the synthetic surface on Thursday in the Martin Collins NZ 1400m and Didham’s only concern is her draw of eight in the 10-horse field. “I really like Eshay in the first. She has shown ability on the poly but has drawn wide,” he said. “The poly last time was really front-runner bias…
Month: July 2023
Medina scores Cambridge win
Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman celebrated a comfortable victory at Cambridge on Wednesday with Medina (NZ) (American Pharoah) in the Martin Collins New Zealand MAAT 1550. The striking filly dictated as pacemaker throughout under Michael McNab, and pulled away at the top of the straight to score stylishly by 2-3/4 lengths over last-start winning duo Nystrom (NZ) (Iffraaj) and Chattahoochee (NZ) (Reliable Man). “I thought she was much improved, she’s always been a filly that’s shown a lot of ability but hadn’t quite put it together on race day,” Forsman said.…
Shepherd scores Oamaru win
A trip to Karaka five years ago is well and truly paying off for southern trainer Stephen Blair-Edie. A chestnut colt caught the Southland farmer’s expert stock eye in Phoenix Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale draft, and he went to $9,000 to secure him. At the fall of the hammer, the words uttered by the auctioneer led to the naming of the now five-year-old gelding, who on Wednesday won his fifth race for his owner-trainer. “I knew the auctioneer when I bought him as a yearling at Karaka. He…
Echuca racing tips & quaddie selections | Friday, July 28
What Echuca Races Where Echuca Racecourse – Cr Scott Rd and Murray Valley Hwy, Echuca VIC 3564 When Friday, July 28, 2023 First Race 12:30pm AEST Visit Ladbrokes Echuca Racing Club will be the destination for Victorian country racing this Friday afternoon, with a very competitive nine-race card lined up. The track is currently rated a Soft 5; however, with a fair amount of rain forecast for Echuca on Friday, expect to see a downgrade at some stage. The rail will be in the true position for the entire circuit,…
Medina impresses in maiden victory
Medina winning at Cambridge on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman celebrated a comfortable maiden victory at Cambridge on Wednesday with Medina. The striking filly dictated as pacemaker throughout under Michael McNab, and pulled away at the top of the straight to score stylishly by 2.75 lengths over last-start winning duo Nystrom and Chattahoochee. “I thought she was much improved, she’s always been a filly that’s shown a lot of ability but hadn’t quite put it together on race day,” Forsman said. “The best thing about…
Grangewilliam offer booking incentive
Good things come in fours at Grangewilliam Stud, at least for August anyway. For the first month of the new season, the South Taranaki farm will offer a strong incentive for New Zealand breeders, with all three of their stallions – Zed, Derryn, and The Bold One – available for $4,000+GST. With financial pressures of rising interest rates hitting many Kiwis pockets, Grangewilliam Stud principal Mark Corcoran wanted to do his bit to ease those concerns for breeders by reducing his stallions fees for the month. The special offer should…
Stephen Blair-Edie enjoying journey with The Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd winning at Oamaru on Wednesday. Photo: Tayler Strong (Race Images) A trip to Karaka five years ago is well and truly paying off for southern trainer Stephen Blair-Edie. A chestnut colt caught the Southland farmer’s expert stock eye in Phoenix Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale draft, and he went to $9,000 to secure him. At the fall of the hammer, the words uttered by the auctioneer led to the naming of the now five-year-old gelding, who on Wednesday won his fifth race for his owner-trainer. “I…
Melbourne campaign for Antino
Progressive galloper Antino is on a path to the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m). Photo: Grant Peters Exciting New Zealand-bred gelding Antino is being readied for a spring campaign with Champion Queensland trainer Tony Gollan keen to target Melbourne with the son of Redwood. A dominant last-start winner of the Listed Wayne Wilson (1600m), Antino has continued to step through his grades with aplomb and has an imposing record of eight wins from nine starts. “There are a couple of nice options for him in Melbourne,” Gollan told RSN. “There…
Sanibel primed for Group 3 Winter Cup
Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) contender Sanibel. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Hopes of successfully executing a long-term southern plan with talented mare Sanibel received a timely boost in her final lead-up appearance. Saturday week’s Group 3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton was identified as a major goal some months ago by trainer Shane Brown for the daughter of Shamexpress, who delivered a pleasant surprise last time out. Sanibel produced a confidence-boosting performance earlier this month when she came off a four-week break between outings to account for…
Moonee Valley preview & top racing tips | Saturday, July 29
What Moonee Valley Races Where Moonee Valley Racing Club – 2 Feehan Ave, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 When Saturday, July 29, 2023 First Race 12:45pm AEST Visit Ladbrokes For the first time in four months, racing returns to Moonee Valley this Saturday afternoon. With perfect weather forecast in the lead-up, the track will stay in the Good 4 range, with the potential to be upgraded to a Good 3 at some stage. The rail comes out 5m the entire circuit, with the first of nine races set to jump at…