Dragon leaps his rivals to claim narrow victory in Foxbridge

Punters got it spot on in the feature event at Te Rapa on Saturday, as favourite Dragon Leap defeated second elect Skew Wiff in a thrilling finish to the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m). The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott trained seven-year-old had looked to be peaking nicely after he boomed home to take an Open 1100m contest at Ruakaka earlier in the month, and took plenty of late money to close as the $3 favourite. Jockey Warren Kennedy had him nicely situated in midfield as El Vencedor and…

Acromantula leads all the way in Carlyon Stakes

Acromantula ridden by Craig Williams wins the Listed Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Western Australian trainers Daniel & Ben Pearce have taken out the Listed Carlyon Stakes, with their six-year-old gelding Acromantula leading all the way in the feature race of the day at Moonee Valley. After being sent over to Victoria earlier this month, the son of Written Tycoon has acquitted himself well with a solid third-place finish in a Benchmark 100 Handicap last start and now a Listed win in the Carlyon. Although…

Libertad remains undefeated in San Domenico

Libertad has remained undefeated after claiming the San Domenico Stakes. Annabel Neasham brought her undefeated three-year-old colt Libertad ($8.50) to the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes, and he proved way too good in the co-feature race of the day at Rosehill. After taking out the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes in the autumn, the son of Russian Revolution brought some of the best form lines into the San Domenico. Chad Schofield settled his mount in the one-one position to give him every possible chance and as the field rounded the home…

Rosehill breakthrough for Elettrica

Five-year-old mare Elettrica (NZ) (Vespa) has broken through for a well-deserved Australian victory when scoring in the Midway Handicap (1800m) for trainers Richard and Will Freedman at Rosehill on Saturday. The former Kiwi sports the colours of James Moss’ Tricolours Racing & Syndications and has raced consistently but without luck of late. Sent out the $5 equal favourite, the daughter of Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City) was given a beautiful ride from Jason Collett, racing midfield on the fence before getting the breaks in the straight and going on to score from Monfelicity…

Tom Kitten returns a winner in Up And Coming Stakes

Nash Rawiller lifts Tom Kitten (right) to victory in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes. Photo: Racing NSW Tom Kitten ($11) has returned to the racetrack as a winner after getting the better of Kintyre ($19) in the final strides to claim the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. The son of Harry Angel was given 59kg – which was four kilograms more than any other runner – but it didn’t matter, as the James Cummings-trained colt wound up in the final 200m to reel…

Dragon Leap thunders home to claim Foxbridge Plate

Dragon Leap takes the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) in a barnstorming finish under Warren Kennedy. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Punters got it spot on in the feature event at Te Rapa on Saturday, as favourite Dragon Leap defeated second elect Skew Wiff in a thrilling finish to the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m). The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott trained seven-year-old had looked to be peaking nicely after he boomed home to take an Open 1100m contest at Ruakaka earlier in the month, and took plenty of late…

Four in a row as Marquess rules supreme at Rosehill

Tavistock gelding Marquess winning at Rosehill on Saturday Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Five-year-old gelding Marquess has made it four wins in succession for trainer James Cummings after narrowly prevailing at Rosehill as he stepped up to Saturday company for the first time. Ridden by James McDonald, the son of Tavistock raced just off the speed on the rails for much of the contest in what was a sedately run affair. The $2.70 favourite found room at the top of the straight to make his run and narrowly prevailed from the fast-finishing Gracilistyla…

Burn To Shine impresses at Te Rapa

Burn To Shine (left) betters stablemate Financier at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Trainer Stephen Marsh looks to be in for a good spring with a pair of promising gallopers after Burn To Shine and Financier provided the quinella at Te Rapa. Both horses had looked good in their brief careers to date with Burn To Shine closing out his two-year-old preparation with a fighting third behind Tokyo Tycoon and Trobriand in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper (1200m). Given two trials to prepare for his new…

The Cossack dominates rivals at Te Rapa

Aaron Kuru checks the extensive winning margin by The Cossack in Saturday’s CLC Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4800m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The Cossack reminded racegoers just what a class jumper he is when he strode away from his rivals carrying the topweight of 71.5kgs to capture the CLC Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4800m) at Te Rapa. Given a blowout on the flat over 2200m at Rotorua on Tuesday, the Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal-trained ten-year-old provided a complete exhibition in the art of steeplechasing as he loped along behind pacemaker…

Whittle goes back to back in Alice Springs’ Winter Series Final

Darwin-based jockey Alice Lindsay and the Lisa Whittle-trained Lastar after saluting at Alice Springs earlier this month. Lindsay and Lastar combined to win the $40,000 Red Centre Winter Series Final (1200m) at Pioneer Park on Friday. Trainer Lisa Whittle and jockey Alice Lindsay are back in business in the Northern Territory. The pair combined to win the $40,000 Red Centre Winter Series Final (1200m) with five-year-old gelding Lastar during the Alice Springs Turf Club’s Truckies Cup Day meeting at Pioneer Park on Friday. For Whittle, it was back to back…