No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) was a two-time winner from a handful of starts for Bill Thurlow before successfully continuing his career in Australia and now looks primed to star in his second stint for the Waverley trainer. The son of Pins, who is raced by Thurlow’s brother Grant and sister-in-law Patricia, will step out in Saturday’s Gr.1 Harcourts Team Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham and his previous performance suggests he can be a major player. No Compromise won five races from Chris Waller’s stable, including the Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m), before…
Month: January 2024
The Oaks Stud looking to future with yearling draft and racing team
Group Three winner Burn To Shine (NZ) (So You Think) made a pleasing return to the trials at Tauranga on Tuesday when taking out his 950m heat under a hold, beating Group Two performer Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) by a nose. Racing in the familiar silks of The Oaks Stud principal Dick Karreman, Burn To Shine impressed in the spring when placing in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) and Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), before winning the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m), with his…
Akuta injured and immediate future in doubt
By Adam Hamilton Superstar pacer Akuta’s Australian trip is off and his immediate racing career is in limbo. Trainer Mark Purdon revealed his stable star injured a tendon in a training mishap on Wednesday and he fears it could be “quite serious.” “We won’t know the full extent until the swelling goes down a bit and we can get it scanned, which might be two weeks,” he said. “At this stage we’re worried it could be quite serious given the amount of swelling.” Purdon said Akuta pulled a shoe off…
Aldebaran Floss breaks winning drought in style
By Dave Di Somma Harness News Desk Megan Swain was more than a little chuffed when driving home from the Ashburton races yesterday. She’d just seen Aldebaran Floss dominate the Rosebank Life Care Mobile Trot, leading from start to finish for Sam Ottley. “I was a bit worried when she kicked clear at the 600 but I was stoked alright,” Swain says. Aldebaran Floss flew the gate from a wide draw (9) and pressed on to the lead, and never really looked like getting beaten. She paid $12.70 and $3.50.…
Pakenham races preview & free quaddie tips | January 18, 2024
What Pakenham Races Where Pakenham Racecourse – 420 Nar Nar Goon–Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3813 When Thursday, January 18, 2024 First Race 5:45pm AEDT Visit Dabble Racing returns to Pakenham on Thursday night, where an eight-race program is scheduled, headlined by another two heats of the Future Stars series. With rain forecast in the region on Wednesday, it is unlikely we will be racing on anything better than a Soft surface, with the rail out 3m the entire circuit. Action from Pakenham Racecourse is set to commence at 5:45pm AEDT.…
Shaw heading north to hunt Ellerslie prizes
The New Zealand racing industry is chomping at the bit to get to Ellerslie next week for the biggest show in town over Auckland Anniversary Weekend, and Levin trainer Josh Shaw is looking forward to being a part of the action. The Central Districts horseman will head north for the rich Karaka Millions race meeting with his star mare Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca) to tackle the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m), following her pleasing 1000m trial win at Foxton on Tuesday. The five-year-old mare has been a revelation for Shaw this…
Raging Blizzard heads to Happy Valley in search of city riches
Raging Blizzard (NZ) (Per Incanto) has stepped up his game this season with a pair of wins and on Wednesday night he will attempt to emulate his Sha Tin heroics at Happy Valley in the HK$1.86 million Class 3 Chater Handicap (1200m). Trained by John Size and to be ridden again by Karis Teetan, Raging Blizzard has had only four starts in Hong Kong – all at Sha Tin. The four-year-old scored at his first time of asking in Class 3 last month with a smart success over Gorgeous Win.…
Murphy relishing solo role
After more than a decade training in partnership with Danny Champion, Kezia Murphy has enjoyed spreading her wings over the last month and tackling training under her own account. It’s been a bittersweet transition for the Riccarton trainer, with Champion’s move to Waipukurau last month ending a two-decade association between the pair. “We had been training in partnership since the 2010-11 season, but I had been working with Danny for 20-odd years,” Murphy said. “He has always wanted to train up north and the opportunity arose for him. I am…
Draft dates calendar “not done deal”
Harness Racing New Zealand would like to remind everyone in the sport that last week’s draft dates calendar is just that – a draft. Since it was released there has been an outpouring of comment, and in some case strong criticism, with many believing the new calendar is set in stone. “There has been a lot of feedback from people thinking this is a done deal. It is not,” says HRNZ General Manager – Racing, Catherine McDonald. Included in the draft is the potential to have upwards of 86 more…
Bolt expected to bounce back for TAB Trot
By Michael Guerin One of the reasons for Bolt For Brilliance’s below par spring has been revealed. After returning with a brilliant win at Alexandra Park after 10 months off the scene, the former Rowe Cup winner never hit his true peak on his southern campaign that left trainer-driver Tony Herlihy scratching his head. Bolt For Brilliance didn’t appear to be breathing well when he ran fourth in the Dominion and vet checks back in Auckland failed to diagnose why. It was only when Herlihy was able to get a…