By Jonny Turner It is easy to forget that one of the stars of New Zealand harness racing is just a baby. That’s how driver Tim Williams describes Aardie’s Express who will take her spring campaign in a new direction at Winton today. The classy mare is set to start at red-hot odds ($1.20FF) in a mobile mile that features the return of another big name in Robyns Playboy. Aardies Express was set to win her last start at Addington before she broke before the home turn. Williams blamed himself…
Month: September 2023
Childs excited for Goldman return
Jordan Childs is looking forward to renewing his association with Goldman (NZ) (Verdi) ahead of his pipe opener at The Valley in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes this weekend. With White Marlin (Mastercraftsman) out for the spring, Childs is pinning his hopes of a strong Melbourne Cup mount on the current second favourite. “I could probably do 53.3 or 54 (kilograms),” Childs said of his riding weight. “I obviously have done that on Surprise Baby a few years ago, 54 would be about my bottom. “He would probably have to…
Waller favouring Rose for Militarize
Dual Group One winner Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel) is set to make his seasonal return in The Run To The Rose with trainer Chris Waller increasingly lukewarm on pitting him against the older horses in the Theo Marks Stakes. The colt is an acceptor for both races and while he was originally an emergency for the latter, the early scratching of Wild Planet (Animal Kingdom) has cleared a path for him to run. However, Waller wasn’t thrilled with his 55kg handicap or barrier 11 in the Theo Mark Stakes (1300m) and…
Eminent on the board
Brighthill Farm stallion Eminent recorded his first win as a sire at Avondale on Wednesday when his daughter Fon Memories (NZ) scored on debut in the Westbrook Cellar Door 1200. The three-year-old filly had finished runner-up in her lead in trial and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were pleased with her last to first performance on the Heavy10 footing. “It was a big win today, especially to do it the way she did by coming from last,” Walker said. “We’ve thought for quite some time that we’ve got fillies…
Imperatriz ready for raceday return
Te Akau Racing will begin a new chapter this weekend when Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) becomes their first representative from their Cranbourne barn at The Valley. The multiple Group One winner will have her first start of the spring in the Gr.2 McEwan Stakes (1000m) on Saturday and she was readied for her assignment with a hit-out at the Melbourne track on Tuesday morning. Te Akau Racing assistant trainer Ben Gleeson oversaw her work with jockey Mick Dee in the saddle, and he was pleased with what he saw. “She…
Go Racing’s Queen set to resume
Big spring plans are in-store for Kiwi-bred Group One winner Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) if she performs up to expectations in the early part of her preparation, which will kick-off at Rosehill on Saturday. The daughter of Savabeel is fresh off being crowned the joint ‘Queen of the Autumn’ at the New South Wales Racehorse Owners’ Association Awards after her deeds earlier this year, which included finishing runner-up behind Roots (Press Statement) in the Gr.2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) before winning the Gr.1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in April.…
Guineas hope to heads to Oamaru
Exciting Christchurch three-year-old Penvose Lad (NZ) (US Navy Flag) will head to Oamaru on Friday to kick off a campaign aimed at the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November. The Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong-trained US Navy Flag gelding showed plenty of talent in three Riccarton starts as an autumn two-year-old, winning one and beaten narrow margins in his other two starts, culminating in his short head defeat at the hands of Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m). That…
Cairns racing tips & quaddie selections | September 8, 2023
What Cairns Amateurs Carnival – Day 1 Where Cannon Park Racecourse – Mulgrave Rd, Woree QLD 4868 When Friday, September 8, 2023 First Race 12:20pm AEST Visit Ladbrokes The Cairns Amateurs Carnival kicks off with a competitive eight-race card at Cannon Park Racecourse this Friday afternoon. The track is currently rated a Good 4, but with some rain forecast on Friday, the track could soften during the meeting. The rail will be in the true position for the entire circuit, with the opening race set to jump at 12:20pm AEST.…
132 Melbourne Cup 2023 Nominations Feature 15 Raiders
Fifteen international raiders feature in the official nominations taken on Tuesday for this year’s Group 1 $8.41 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m). Reigning Melbourne Cup hero Gold Trip is among the 132 nominations for this year’s edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’. Photo: Steve Hart. The world’s richest handicap runs for the 163rd time at Flemington on Tuesday the 7th of November, 2023 and 132 early entries were received by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) this week. Heading updated Melbourne Cup odds online at Ladbrokes at $8 is…
Imperatriz thriving ahead of first-up run
Imperatriz winning the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley in March. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Te Akau Racing will begin a new chapter this weekend when Imperatriz becomes their first representative from their Cranbourne barn at The Valley. The multiple Group 1 winner will have her first start of the spring in the Group 2 McEwan Stakes (1000m) on Saturday and she was readied for her assignment with a hit-out at the Melbourne track on Tuesday morning. Te Akau Racing assistant trainer Ben Gleeson oversaw her work with…