A feature race on Melbourne Cup day could figure in the plans for in-form gelding Strombus (NZ) (Territories) after he took his record to two wins from his past three starts at the midweek Kensington meeting. Starting a $2.70 favourite, the five-year-old finished strongly down the outside to win Wednesday’s PKF Global Handicap (1400m) by two lengths. Winning trainer John O’Shea will now consider attempting to qualify Strombus for either the A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) or A$750,000 Little Dance (1600m), both run on November 7 at Randwick. But first…
Month: August 2023
Murwillumbah Cup Day preview & betting tips – August 25, 2023
What Murwillumbah Cup Day Where Tweed River Jockey Club – 185 Racecourse Rd, Tygalgah NSW 2484 When Friday, August 25, 2023 First Race 12:35pm AEST Visit Ladbrokes It’s Murwillumbah Cup Day (1550m) on Friday afternoon, with Big Dance eligibility up for grabs in the $70,000 feature. It’s supported by a very competitive eight-race program, and with the rail in the true position the entire circuit, we should be racing on a fair track. The surface is all but guaranteed to sit in the Good range, with the opening event scheduled…
More to come from Classic hope Carrazana
Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor, sire of impressive Sydney winner Carrazana. Photo: Trish Dunell Carrazana looks a three-year-old to follow through his spring preparation following a dashing performance by the gelding to open his winning account on the Kensington track at Randwick over 1300m. The Chris Waller-trained son of Almanzor had finished a late closing fourth on debut earlier this month and showed the benefit of that experience to put away a competitive age group line-up. Carrazana drifted back to a clear last from the outside barrier before improving widest near…
Emerging Poison Chalice an exciting work in progress
Poison Chalice (NZ) ridden by Declan Bates wins at Sandown Lakeside Racecourse on Wednesday. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Highly promising Savabeel gelding Poison Chalice remained unbeaten this preparation when he produced another dynamic performance to defeat a talented field on the Lakeside course at Sandown on Wednesday. The Paul Preusker-trained four-year-old, who had successfully resumed from a 10-month break at Geelong at the end of last month, continued his winning form with another impressive finishing burst to score over 1500m. Under a patient ride by Declan Bates, Poison Chalice…
Solidify stamps his mark at Taupo
It may not have been a pretty win, but it was a win nonetheless for Solidify in the Poverty Bay Turf Club 3YO C&G (1100m) at Taupo on Wednesday. Jumping a $2.30 favourite, the son of Redwood found himself at the rear of the pack shortly after the start and had to be urged on by jockey Ryan Elliot to make up their deficit. Elliot sent his charge forward three-wide at the 600m mark but the pair were still several lengths off the leaders when turning for home. However, Solidify…
Bonny Lass posts trial win
The competitive nature of Bonny Lass was showcased at Taupo where the gifted short course performer was a runaway trial winner on Wednesday. The dashing daughter of Super Easy was quickly into stride to make the running and was travelling easily at the top of the straight. She coasted clear in the run home with rider Craig Grylls barely moving a muscle to have four and a-quarter lengths on last season’s Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) winner Romancing The Moon at the end of 1100m on a heavy track. “I was…
Imperatriz impresses with Taupo trial
Imperatriz’s (I Am Invincible) impending trip across the Tasman is full of optimism following her pleasing hit-out at the Taupo trials on Wednesday. The multiple Group One winner sat in just behind the speed for jockey Opie Bosson, who wasn’t lured into the strong tempo set upfront by Our Alley Cat (NZ) (Atlante) and Ngakau Hailey, who soon opened up several lengths on the field. Imperatriz took chase down the straight and was able to eat into Our Alley Cat’s lead and closed the winning margin to two lengths. “That…
La Crique on track for Group One test
Group One winner La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) showed a change in home has done nothing to hinder her spring preparation when she put in an eye-catching runner-up performance in her 1100m heat at the Taupo trials on Wednesday. The daughter of Vadamos settled off the pace for jockey Craig Grylls, who bided his time before navigating his charge wide at the turn and La Crique showed a good turn of foot to storm home late to just miss winner Aromatic by a head. Trainers Katrina and Simon Alexander, who earlier in…
Mynott celebrates first win over jumps
Jumps jockey Sam Mynott was rapt to score her first win aboard Mondorani (NZ) (Burgundy) in the KT Myers Racing Stables Steeplechase (3500m) at Arawa Park on Tuesday, but it wasn’t without drama. The 26-year-old hoop kept the former Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) victor safe out wide for the majority of the trip before making her move with 700m to go and Mondorani quickly made his way to the front. The pair opened up several lengths on their rivals entering the straight and the nine-year-old comfortably cleared the second-to-last…
Big weekend ahead for Kuru
Top Expat-Kiwi jumps jockey Aaron Kuru will be clocking some miles in the air this weekend aiming to take Trans-Tasman feature jumps victories, first when he returns to New Zealand shores to partner with Nedwin (NZ) (Niagara) and The Cossack (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) at Te Rapa on Saturday. A phone call from trainer Paul Nelson early last week was well-received by Kuru, who has made several trips for feature jumping days at the request of Nelson and co-trainer Corrina McDougal since his departure to Australia. “If Paul and Corrina ever get…