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Month: January 2024
So Risque brings up winning double for top apprentice
Talented apprentice jockey Celine Gaudrey picked up a winning double at Flemington on Saturday that featured plenty of connections with the New Zealand racing and breeding industry. Gaudrey was at her aggressive best as she lifted talented filly Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt) to victory in an 1100m contest for trainer Mark Walker and her Te Akau Racing ownership syndicate and was back in the winners’ enclosure four races later aboard the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-prepared New Zealand-bred So Risque (NZ) (So You Think). The progressive six-year-old son…
Patterson and Grylls celebrate a feature double
Trainer Robbie Patterson has had his New Plymouth stable firing on all cylinders of late but even he couldn’t believe he would pick up the two feature events at Trentham on Saturday. Rider Craig Grylls, a close friend of Patterson, shared in the top drawer double as he guided statuesque gelding Puntura (NZ) (Vespa) to victory in the Gr.1 Harcourts Team Group Thorndon Mile (1600m) before combining with Mary Louise (NZ) (The Bold One) to take out the time honoured Gr.3 NZ Campus of Sport and Innovation Wellington Cup (3200m)…
Aberlour tough in Gore Guineas
Promising filly Aberlour (NZ) (Mongolian Falcon) added plenty of value to a future breeding career when she won a tooth and nail battle against the heavily supported Hakadecree (NZ) (War Decree) to capture the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m). The daughter of former Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Mongolian Falcon (AUS) had won stylishly in maiden company on her home track on New Year’s Day for Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler, with many prepared to say she would take the jump to stakes company in the feature event at Gore…
Sam Thornley brings up 100 wins
by Jonny Turner It didn’t look great early, but the end result was perfect as Sam Thornley won his 100th race in the sulky in New Zealand at Marlborough on Friday. Muscle Bank overcame a slow beginning when producing an outstanding performance to win for Thornley and trainer Tom Bamford. Thornley was not only thrilled to bring up his milestone victory, he was impressed with his trotter’s big effort to score. “It was a big run because she missed away and she was so far from them.” “When they went…
Sans Doute to be aimed towards Stakes races after Flemington win
Celine Gaudray returns to the mounting at Flemington Racecourse. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Te Akau Racing continue to make their presence felt in Australia since opening a Cranbourne stable in the spring and four-year-old mare Sans Doute made it back-to-back wins at Flemington when a game winner. Perfectly ridden by apprentice Celine Gaudray, Sans Doute sat closer to the sedate speed than anticipated and followed the rail home for a narrow victory over A Little Deep. Trainer Mark Walker has now had nine wins in Victoria this season and…
Aberlour adds value to breeding career with Gore Guineas win
Aberlour and Jasmine Fawcett stride away with the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) on Saturday. Photo: Monica Toretto Promising filly Aberlour added plenty of value to a future breeding career when she won a tooth and nail battle against the heavily supported Hakadecree to capture the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m). The daughter of former Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Mongolian Falcon had won stylishly in maiden company on her home track on New Year’s Day for Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler, with many prepared to say she would take the…
Mary Louise victorious in Group 3 Wellington Cup
Craig Grylls completes a Group-double with Robbie Patterson aboard Mary Louise in the Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Trainer Robbie Patterson has had his New Plymouth stable firing on all cylinders of late but even he couldn’t believe he would pick up the two feature events at Trentham on Saturday. Rider Craig Grylls, a close friend of Patterson, shared in the top drawer double as he guided statuesque gelding Puntura to victory in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) before combining with Mary…
Black-type goals for Sans Doute
Te Akau Racing continue to make their presence felt in Australia since opening a Cranbourne stable in the spring and four-year-old mare Sans Doute made it back-to-back wins at Flemington when a game winner of the Black Caviar Lightning Race Day, 17 February (1100m). Perfectly ridden by apprentice Celine Gaudray, Sans Doute sat closer to the sedate speed than anticipated and followed the rail home for a narrow victory over A Little Deep. Trainer Mark Walker has now had nine wins in Victoria this season and sits sixth on the…
Puntura gains a much-deserved Group One victory
A first-time winner at Group Three and Group Two level in his previous two starts, Puntura (NZ) (Vespa) took his career-best campaign to even greater heights in Saturday’s Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham. Even before the start of this breakthtaking breakthrough season, the Taranaki gelding had been a grand performer for his owner-breeders Carole and John Lynskey. He had won eight of his 28 starts, including three in Queensland, and had banked more than $230,000 in stakes. But it turns out that he was just getting started. Puntura’s…