by Michael Guerin Champion trainer Mark Purdon is adamant Don’t Stop Dreaming is ready to step up to the big time at Alexandra Park tonight but whether than means beating stablemate Akuta is another matter. Don’t Stop Dreaming races in open class for the first time in tonight’s $60,000 Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup, the highlight of a New Year’s Eve meeting far smaller than it used to be at The Park. One of our two star three-year-olds this season (alongside Merlin), Don’t Stop Dreaming clearly has the motor for open…
Month: December 2023
Sharkie’s Girl dominant on slushy track
The slushy track was no problem for Sharkie’s Girl with her dominant win last night in Race 3, the Happy New Year From Woodlands Stud Mobile Pace. Trained by John Dickie, the mare was rated perfectly by Stephanie Burley in the event for Junior Drivers. From a starting draw of 5, Burley sent Sharkie’s Girl forward to lead where she remained throughout before kicking away from the field to win by 5 and 3 quarter lengths in a time of 2.42. “I was quietly confident as I thought she was…
Canterbury free betting tips & best odds | January 1, 2024
What Canterbury Races Where Canterbury Park Racecourse – King St, Canterbury NSW 2193 When Monday, January 1, 2023 First Race 2:40pm AEDT Visit Dabble The New Year of racing is set to get underway at Canterbury on Monday afternoon as they get set to host a bumper eight-race program, headlined by the $200,000 Listed Canterbury Sprint (1200m). The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and with improving conditions forecast in the lead-up, the course should firm into the Good range prior to the opening event at 2:40pm…
Leading riders battle it out in Taupo Cup
The feature event on the programme at Taupo on Saturday came down to a battle between two of the best riders in the country with victory in the Harcourts Taupo Cup (2000m) going the way of Michael McNab on Mehzebeen ahead of Town Cryer and Opie Bosson. Bosson, who recently became only the eighth local jockey to register 2000 career wins, was at his brilliant best aboard the front-running topweight Town Cryer (60kgs) as they attempted an all-the-way victory for trainer Roydon Bergerson only to be pipped by McNab on…
Big weight no worries for classy Dunkel
Quality stayer Dunkel lumped 61kgs to an emphatic victory at The Valley on Saturday in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (2040m), as the Patrick Payne-trained galloper notched the seventh victory of his career from just ten starts. Perfectly ridden by jockey Billy Egan, Dunkel tracked the leader Grand Promenade throughout and was able to take an inside run when that runner lugged out rounding the home bend to score by just over a length. Winner of the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) last season, Dunkel is being readied for a return…
Sacred Satono ready for Railway
The burgeoning rivalry between Sacred Satono and Babylon Berlin will kick up a gear when the pair meet at Pukekohe on New Year’s Day. Sacred Satono got the better of his older rival at the South Auckland venue in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) in November and trainers Grant Cooksley and Bruce Wallace are hoping for a repeat performance in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on Monday. Cooksley and Wallace liked him the moment they saw him at Karaka as a yearling and they are pleased the $34,000 purchase out…
Richardson aiming for a Railway hat-trick
Matamata mentor Graham Richardson will attempt to win one of his favourite races for the third time on Monday when he and training partner Rogan Norvall line-up Bonny Lass in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe. Richardson was first successful in the blue riband sprinting contest back in 1997 with Kailey before striking gold once again in 2018 with outstanding mare Volpe Veloce. He believes Bonny Lass is well-qualified to add her name to the winner’s list for the race after she impressed when running third behind race rivals…
Weather a worry for Noble on New Year’s day
Lance Noble had a bumper New Year’s Day race meeting 12 months ago and has the firepower for a repeat at Pukekohe on Monday, but weather and track conditions have dented the Cambridge Stud trainer’s confidence. Last year’s New Year’s Day card was staged at Te Rapa, where Noble came away with a big-race double courtesy of Polygon in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and Aquacade in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m). Noble has a team of five entered for Pukekohe on Monday, including feature assignments for Habana…
Flemington free racing preview & quaddie | January 1, 2024
What Flemington Races Where Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031 When Monday, January 1, 2024 First Race 1:10pm AEDT Visit Dabble Feature racing heads to Flemington Racecourse on Monday afternoon, where a competitive eight-race meeting awaits punters. The Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) and Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) headline proceedings on a track rated a Good 4. Perfect conditions will greet participants on Monday, and with the rail remaining in its true position, every runner will get their opportunity if they are good enough. Action from Flemington…
Minor setback sidelines Golden Sixty from Group 1 Stewards’ Cup
Golden Sixty forges to Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) victory. Golden Sixty will bypass the 2024 Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin on January 21 after the champion miler presented with a minor leg issue on Wednesday. Trainer Francis Lui said the record-breaking Golden Sixty – brilliant last-start winner of the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on 10 December – would be restricted to trotting exercises over the next three to four weeks, ruling out a bid at a record-extending 11th international Group 1. “We found,…