Month: September 2023

Improving weather key for Legarto

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Legarto will contest the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Ken and Bev Kelso are gearing up for the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings on Saturday with high hopes for their hot favourite, Legarto. However, the Matamata trainers are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast for Hawke’s Bay, hoping for the predicted warm and windy conditions on Thursday and Friday to help improve the track conditions, which were rated a Heavy 10 on Thursday morning. Legarto has emerged…

Crocetti hitting the right notes for Walker

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Crocetti will contest the St John’s College Foundation 3yo (1200m) at Te Rapa on Friday. Photo: Race Images Danny Walker, a South Auckland trainer, is convinced that he has found his horse of a lifetime in the Zacinto gelding Crocetti, who has won all three of his starts. Walker and his training partner, Arron Tata, are preparing Crocetti for the St John’s College Foundation 3yo (1200m) at Te Rapa on his path to the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 11. Walker has been impressed with…

Randwick full racing tips & quaddie | Epsom Handicap Day 2023

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What Epsom Handicap Day 2023 Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Saturday, September 30, 2023 First Race 11:55am AEST Visit Dabble Royal Randwick Racecourse is the destination this Saturday for quality metropolitan racing, as they get set to host Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) Day. The undercard is stacked, with the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) for the stayers, while the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) is the final leg of the Princess Series as the three-year-old fillies look to etch their name into racing history.…

Late call leaves McKay’s travelling party intact

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Sagunto will line-up at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Race Images On Wednesday morning, trainer Peter McKay was on the verge of culling his team of Hawke’s Bay-bound runners but ultimately decided to keep all six of them in contention for the southern journey. The Matamata-based horseman, who co-trains with his son Shaun, had initially considered withdrawing several of his horses but changed his mind after a conversation with Hastings track manager Richard Fenwick. “I was five minutes away from pulling most of them out, and then I talked to Richard,…

Mornington racing preview & quaddie tips | September 30, 2023

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What Mornington Races Where Mornington Racecourse – 320 Racecourse Rd, Mornington VIC 3931 When Saturday, September 30, 2023 First Race 12:10pm AEST Visit Dabble The traditional AFL Grand Final Day meeting at Mornington is set to greet punters on Saturday with an eight-race program. The Listed R.M. Ansett Classic (2400m) headlines proceedings on a track that is rated a Good 4, with the rail in the true position the entire circuit. Racing is set to get underway at 12:10pm AEST. R.M. Ansett Classic Tip: Dick Whittington Having grown another leg…

NZB Ready to Run Sale Stacked With Established Stallion Talent

NZRacingDesk

The catalogue for the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale features the progeny of 92 different sires, including some of the cream of the stallion crop from both sides of the Tasman. New Zealand-based sires New Zealand stallions had an extraordinary season in 2022-23, with no fewer than 16 of them siring Group One winners in Australia or Hong Kong. The progeny of many of these high-flying stallions can be found in the Ready to Run Sale catalogue. Savabeel SAVABEEL  Waikato Stud’s supremo Savabeel needs little introduction, boasting no fewer than eight…

Team Te Akau out in force this weekend

NZRacingDesk

With runners in action at four different venues, the influence of New Zealand’s leading stable is set to be felt far and wide this weekend. Te Akau Racing has 17 horses entered across Friday and Saturday’s meetings at Te Rapa, Hastings and Riccarton, while Imperatriz and Zourion will fly the flag in black-type features in Melbourne on Friday night. It all adds up to a busy few days for Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson and their staff, along with the stable’s top jockey Opie Bosson, who has…

NZB Airfreight Announces Auckland to Christchurch Return Service

NZRacingDesk

NZB Airfreight, one of the leading equine airfreight services in Australasia, has announced a new regular flight route for domestic travellers. The Auckland to Christchurch and return service will commence in early October and offer a regular on demand flight for those travelling across the Cook Strait. NZB Airfreight Manager Sharon McDowell commented on the new route aimed to service the racing and equestrian sports industries. “The new domestic flight between Christchurch and Auckland is going to provide trainers, owners and riders a more efficient service when moving horses between…

Rain a worry for Marsh duo

NZRacingDesk

Stablemates Burn To Shine (NZ) (So You Think) and Codigo (NZ) (Ardrossan) will continue their friendly rivalry on their return to Hastings on Saturday. The Stephen Marsh-trained duo will clash in the Gr.2 AHD Animal Health Direct – Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and while both are in tip-top order for the age group feature, the rain-affected going is a concern. “It’s far from ideal for either of them, but they need to run and are on exactly the same path to the 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m),” Marsh said. “They’ll have…

2000 Guineas hope to step out at Te Rapa

NZRacingDesk

Danny Walker believes he has found his horse of a lifetime. The South Auckland trainer had an inkling that Zacinto gelding Crocetti (NZ) might be special and now after three wins from as many starts, he’s convinced of it. Walker and his training partner Arron Tata will produce the Daniel Nakhle co-bred and owned Crocetti in Friday’s St John’s College Foundation 3yo (1200m) at Te Rapa as they continue his build-up to a planned tilt at the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 51st NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on…