Month: August 2023

Darwin trainers flock to Kununurra, Betoota

AAP

Kununurra in northern WA has attracted a host of Top End talent heading into its annual Cup Day meeting. Darwin Cup winner Dick Leech and his fellow Top End trainers dominate the Kununurra Race Club fields on Saturday. The WA club, located 514km west of Katherine, will host seven races on its grassed surface, with Kununurra Cup Day scheduled for next Saturday. The KRC hosted three meetings in August and September last year, but there are only two meetings in 2023, with Darwin trainers fielding 24 of the 35 runners…

Nathan Delany’s “emotional” first win as a trainer

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin It was an emotional victory for young horseman Nathan Delany at Cambridge on Thursday night and not just because it was his first training success. Delany has just started training and reined one of his five horses Illustrious Arden to win at her second start in race 2 on Thursday. “It was very emotional, firstly because of the win,” says the 23-year-old. “But it is a tough time for our family at the moment, it is the anniversary of my brother passing this week. He died when…

Can Allamericanlover make history in the Maurice Holmes Vase?

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner Tim Williams is hopeful giving away a head-start won’t be a headache for Allamericanlover in the Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington on Friday night. The Stonewall Stud mare will be out to make history in the first qualifier for the 2023 New Zealand Cup. No horse has started from a handicap in the 12-year history of the event, let alone won from the 10m mark Allamericanlover will face. Though they face a daunting task, Williams hopes his mare can overcome it with a fast beginning. “I don’t…

Everest contenders in trial clash

NZRacingDesk

Randwick is set to host another key barrier trial session on Friday, headlined by the clash of a quintet of Everest hopefuls. Six horses have accepted for Friday’s opening 850m heat on the Kensington track and five of those including Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto), are in the mix for a coveted spot in the $15 million feature. Lost And Running finished fourth in the 2021 Everest and was a race morning scratching last year when he was on the second line of betting. Luck again deserted the Group…

Riproar shoots for Valley success

NZRacingDesk

Andrew Forsman will get a better gauge as to the spring fortunes of Riproar (NZ) (Charm Spirit) after the gelding runs at Moonee Valley. A half-brother to Mr Maestro (NZ) (Savabeel), Riproar runs in the Corporate Membership On Sale Plate (1500m) on Saturday as Forsman looks to lock in a spring campaign for the three-year-old. Mr Maestro ran fourth in the corresponding race last year before going on to win three straight races, including the Gr.3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) before finishing fourth in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.…

Belmont racing tips, value bets & quaddie | August 26, 2023

AAP

What Belmont Races Where Belmont Park Racecourse – Saintly Entrance, Burswood WA 6100 When Saturday, August 26, 2023 First Race 12:44pm AWST Visit Ladbrokes Belmont Park will host a very competitive nine-race card this Saturday afternoon, with the program highlighted by the Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes. The track is currently rated a Soft 5, but with no rain on the forecast, we should be racing on a Good track for the first time this month. The rail will be in the +3m position for the entire circuit, with the opening…

Carston celebrates synthetic treble

NZRacingDesk

Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston continued his winning ways on Riccarton’s synthetic track on Thursday when recording a winning treble. Teaming up with his former apprentice, Kozzi Asano, Carston was confident of a solid day at his home meeting and was delighted to take out three of the first four events on the seven-race card. “It was a really good day again, things are going well,” Carston said. Al Zahira kicked off proceedings when taking out the CJC Feature Races Nominations Close 31 August Maiden (1600m). The daughter of Almanzor was…

Allen ready for Awapuni test

NZRacingDesk

Roger Allen couldn’t believe his luck when he saw the fields for Awapuni on Saturday. The Opaki trainer was dreading running into staunch opposition with his in-form gelding Kahu Rock (NZ) (Alamosa) but was pleasantly surprised to see topline gallopers missing from the Tui Backing A Winner Since 1889 1550. “It seems to be set up for us,” Allen said. “I thought the field would be quite strong and Allan Sharrock would have Justaskme or something like that in it, but no one has turned up, so we are happy.” Kahu…

Poser ready to deliver at Te Rapa

NZRacingDesk

Matamata horseman Kurtis Pertab will head to Te Rapa on Saturday with just the one runner, but he is quietly confident one is enough to bring home a winning cheque. Poser (NZ) (Ocean Park) has been in superb form over winter, winning the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m) in May before winning at Te Rapa a month later. She then returned to the Hamilton track last month to finish runner-up in the Taumarunui Gold Cup and Pertab said she has thrived since. “She is flying at the moment,” he said. “That last…

Weatherley keeping his options open with Pier

NZRacingDesk

A healthy dose of realism is keeping Darryn Weatherley’s feet firmly on the ground as far as spring plans for stable star Pier (NZ) (Proisir) are concerned. While the Matamata horseman can’t ignore a massive pot of gold on offer in Sydney, he will leave it up to his Group One-winning son of Proisir to take care of business at home before committing to an Australian venture. Weatherley prepares Pier with daughter Briar and the four-year-old’s performance in Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa and the Gr.1…