Month: September 2023

Justaskme approaching retirement

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Retirement is beckoning Justaskme, who will have his final home track outing at New Plymouth on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) The career of the remarkable winter performer Justaskme is winding down, while his fellow stablemate Ladies Man faces a pivotal moment in his quest for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). Both horses, trained by Allan Sharrock, will lineup at their home track in New Plymouth on Saturday. Justaskme’s illustrious winter career has seen him secure a dozen wins, including at Group Two level. However, his…

Te Akau armed with strong Riccarton hand

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Viva Vienna will contest the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell Te Akau Racing is set to continue its successful southern spring campaign at Riccarton on Saturday, boasting several top contenders for the upcoming races. Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will be fielding Viva Vienna and Rhetorical in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m). The pair had impressive performances earlier this month at the Christchurch track, with Viva Vienna finishing first and Rhetorical third over 1000m. Bergerson commented on their progress, saying, “They…

Polly Grey returns home to New Zealand

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Polly Grey has returned to New Zealand to see out her racing career. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Group One performer Polly Grey has returned to her native New Zealand to conclude her racing career under the care of part-owner Kylie Fawcett. Polly Grey, sired by Azamour, initially won six races for Matamata horsewoman Kylie Fawcett, including the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m). She also achieved placings in the Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) and Group 3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) before being transferred to Chris Waller’s stable in Sydney. Under Waller’s guidance, Polly Grey…

De Melo, Atzeni pounce with Happy Valley wins

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Keagan De Melo partners his first Hong Kong win. In a remarkable meeting of firsts, Keagan De Melo and Andrea Atzeni celebrated significant breakthrough victories at Happy Valley’s season-opening fixture on Wednesday night. Recruited to bolster Hong Kong’s world-class jockey ranks, reigning South African champion De Melo and European Classic-winning Atzeni showcased their impressive credentials in decisive fashion, with De Melo securing his win on the Caspar Fownes-trained Valhalla and Atzeni triumphing aboard Mega Bonus for Ricky Yiu. De Melo displayed remarkable poise in the straight, deftly maneuvering Valhalla to…

Richardson confident ahead of Bonny Lass’ return

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Bonny Lass will lineup at Te Rapa on Sunday. Photo: Trish Dunell Graham Richardson has no worries about Bonny Lass’ condition ahead of her resuming run at Te Rapa on Sunday, but factors beyond his control are tempering confidence levels. The Matamata horseman, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall, has the gifted short course specialist in good order to open her campaign, which also features stablemate Paisley Park. However, Bonny Lass will have to overcome a hefty impost and a horror barrier (12) in her first appearance since a…

Heaven returns to ‘second home’

NZRacingDesk

Richard Jolly is confident his brilliant galloper See You In Heaven can mix it with some of the best mares in the land when she returns to her ‘home away from home’ in Saturday’s Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. After a return win in the G3 Behemoth Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide last month, See You In Heaven was beaten into second by Seonee as the $1.95 favourite in the Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) last start. Saturday’s third-up run will be the fifth time in 14 starts that…

Antino takes first step on Toorak path

NZRacingDesk

Leading Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan admits he still doesn’t know just how good his winning machine Antino really is. The son of Redwood easily won on debut when he was trained by Adam Campton, before he was transferred to Gollan’s stable and has since claimed another seven victories. Saturday’s meeting at Flemington will be Antino’s first test away from Queensland when he takes his place in The Sofitel at Listed level over 1400m. “He’s pretty untapped, he’s got a fair bit of upside to him and he’s nowhere near his…

Per Incanto gives Sam something to smile about

NZRacingDesk

Sam Williams has multiple reasons to put that familiar smile back on his dial. Last Friday Per Incanto arrived back at Little Avondale Stud in full recovery mode from an injury that threatened to rule him out of the 2023 breeding season. Next day at Hastings the star stallion’s emerging son Jimmysstar carried the LA colours to an impressive win, his second from three starts. On an even more personal level, Williams is coming out the other side of a battle with cancer, ready to pick up the reins and…

Bonny Lass to resume at Te Rapa

NZRacingDesk

Graham Richardson has no worries about Bonny Lass’ (NZ) (Super Easy) condition ahead of her resuming run at Te Rapa on Sunday, but factors beyond his control are tempering confidence levels. The Matamata horseman, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall, has the gifted short course specialist in good order to open her campaign in the PS Brown Construction Sprint (1200m), which also features stablemate Paisley Park (NZ) (Super Easy). However, Bonny Lass will have to overcome a hefty impost and a horror barrier (12) in her first appearance since…

Polly Grey back on home soil

NZRacingDesk

Group One performer Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour) has returned to New Zealand to finish her racing career where she started it, in part-owner Kylie Fawcett’s care. The daughter of Azamour won six races for the Matamata horsewoman, including the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m), and also placed in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) and Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m), before she was sent across the Tasman to join Chris Waller’s barn. Under the leading Sydney trainer’s care she won a further five races, including the Gr.3 Epona Stakes (1900m), Listed Gosford Cup (2100m),…