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Month: January 2024
Lyrical Gangster heads Kiwi-bred quinella at Randwick
A gear change and a favourable race tempo helped to unlock the potential of Lyrical Gangster (NZ) (Proisir) with an impressive win in Saturday’s A$160,000 Climate Roofing Handicap (2000m) at Randwick. The Proisir gelding headed a New Zealand-bred quinella in the Benchmark 78 event, beating last-start winner Monfelicity (NZ) (Vadamos) by three-quarters of a length. Lyrical Gangster has now had 10 starts for three wins and two placings, earning A$165,150 for his co-breeders Cam and Chas Stewart, who race the four-year-old in partnership with Michael Hughes. Since winning on the…
Holymanz puts hand up for Aotearoa Classic
The highly talented Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor) is in line for a return to the country of his birth after scoring an effortless win in the A$300,000 Coastal Classic (1700m) at Geelong on Saturday. The four-year-old races in the colours of Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who are keen to contest the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27. The TAB reacted to Saturday’s performance by cutting his odds for the four-year-old feature from $14 to $8. He is now an equal third…
Canheroc claims Marton Cup
A day after his connections took a leap of faith with a late nomination for the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m), emerging stayer Canheroc (NZ) (El Roca) rewarded their confidence with a powerful lead-up performance in the Listed Marton Jockey Club Marton Cup (2200m) at Hastings on Saturday. Canheroc had risen steadily through the North Island’s staying ranks in recent months, culminating in a close third behind subsequent Group Three winner Trust In You (NZ) (Sweynesse) in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers’ Championship Final (2400m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. The El…
Pitmans celebrate successful day at Kumara
Leading Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman played a starring role on one of the South Island’s most famous racedays at Kumara on Saturday. The father-son team came away from the eight-race card with two wins and eight placings, including back-to-back trifectas in the $25,000 Phoenix Minerals (1150m) and the $18,500 McMullan ITM/Greymouth Star (1150m). They also saddled Charbano (NZ) (Vespa) for a third placing in the $40,000 Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m). The stable’s standout performance came from highly talented sprinter Third Decree (NZ) (War…
McDermott set to continue career best form
Prebbleton trainer John McDermott completed his best personal season as a trainer in 2023 and will look to continue that form at Banks Peninsula Sunday. McDermott trained 13 winners in 2023 and has so far amassed over $770,000 in stakes throughout his training career. “It was very satisfying! I’d be happy to do as well again this coming season.” McDermott will line up five runners at today’s meeting. In race 3 I Spy Diamonds will be looking for her maiden win after some solid placings on the coast circuit, and…
Seddon Summer Trotting Series Update
by Mike Love The Seddon Summer Trotting series, an initiative led by the Seddon Harness Racing Group with support from Harness Racing New Zealand, is beginning to heat up. After the coast circuit Boy’s Invasion and Anna’s Boy hold the throne each on 12 points, with Masterly breathing down their necks on 11 points. At the end of the series the connections of the horse with the most points will get a bonus of $10,000, with $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third. Points for each race is allocated as…
Unbeaten Carbonados makes perfect Australian debut
Exciting New Zealand import Carbonados (NZ) (Belardo) kept his unblemished career record intact with an impressive Australian debut in Saturday’s A$175,000 SCAADA Group 3YO Handicap (1100m) at Geelong. The Belardo gelding began his career in the New Plymouth stable of Allan Sharrock, and he made a huge impression with a five-length victory on debut on his home track in May of last year. Runner-up Chantilly Lace (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) has since been a multiple Listed winner and Group Three placegetter. Carbonados was subsequently sold to clients of Lindsay…
Patterson’s winning run continues in Gold Nuggets
Regal Dice (NZ) (Zed) capped a dream first week of 2024 for trainer Robbie Patterson with her victory in the iconic $40,000 Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) on Saturday. Remarkably, that was Patterson’s eighth win in the last four days. The New Plymouth trainer collected a win at Greymouth on Wednesday, followed by four winners at Otaki on Thursday and a treble in front of Saturday’s huge crowd at Kumara. Earlier on the Kumara card, Patterson teamed up with jockey Craig Grylls for front-running victories with…
Sudbina to aim for bigger targets following Hastings win
Well-related filly Sudbina (NZ) (Almanzor) took advantage of a step-out of stakes company at Hastings on Saturday, taking an eye-catching victory in the CACI Hawke’s Bay 3YO (1400m). Displaying promise early into her three-year-old season, Sudbina broke maiden status at start three, and subsequently was thrown the challenge of black-type racing in her following two starts in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), and the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m). After finishing a creditable sixth in a star-studded Soliloquy field, which included top-line Northern fillies in Impendabelle (Impending) and Molly Bloom (NZ)…