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Month: February 2024
Aberlour completes Guineas double
Emerging talent Aberlour extended her winning sequence to three and completed a southern Guineas double with a tour de force in Saturday’s Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1600m) at Ascot Park. The Riverton filly had begun her career with a fourth and two thirds, including a third placing during the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton in November. She broke through with a six-length maiden win on her home track on New Year’s Day, then stepped up to stakes level with a narrow but authoritative long-neck victory in…
Former Derby winner back in winners circle in Avondale Cup
Talented stayer Asterix returned to the scene of his greatest triumph when he stormed home to take out the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie. The injury-plagued son of Tavistock took out the 2022 edition of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) but a string issues had hampered his progress since then. Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott and his ownership group, that includes former New Zealand cricketer Mark Greatbatch, have shown infinite patience with the now five-year-old and he repaid that faith on Saturday with a powerful…
Imperatriz makes triumphant return in Lightning
An unimpressive trial created a touch of uncertainty around Imperatriz ahead of her first-up run in Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington, but the Te Akau Racing wonder-mare blew all those doubts away and carried on her winning way. The Lightning was the sixth major Melbourne sprint win in succession for Imperatriz, who won the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last March and then put together a perfect spring campaign with victories in the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1000m), Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m), Gr.1…
Orchestral justifies favouritism in Avondale Guineas
Orchestral winning the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Three weeks after announcing her arrival among the season’s elite three-year-olds in breathtaking style on Karaka Millions night, Orchestral treated Ellerslie to an encore in Saturday’s Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). The exciting Savabeel filly had blown her rivals away by three and a half lengths in last month’s $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), and the step up to 2100m on Saturday produced something every bit as impressive. Orchestral was sent out as a -200 favourite…
Group 1 winner Asterix back to winning ways in Avondale Cup
Asterix winning the Group 2 Avondale Cup (2400m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Talented stayer Asterix returned to the scene of his greatest triumph when he stormed home to take out the Group 2 Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie. The injury-plagued son of Tavistock took out the 2022 edition of the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) but a string issues had hampered his progress since then. Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott and his ownership group, that includes former New Zealand cricketer Mark Greatbatch, have shown infinite patience with…
Kimochi Breaks Group Maiden Tag in Light Fingers, Eyes Surround Stakes 2024
Gary Portelli‘s progressive filly Kimochi finally shed her bridesmaid’s tag with a thrilling nose victory in the 2024 Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick, kicking off a potentially lucrative Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign. Kimochi wins 2024 Light Fingers Stakes first-up for breakthrough Black-Type success. Photo: Steve Hart. The talented daughter of Brave Smash, ridden by Jason Collett, edged out the promising Learning To Fly in a heart-stopping finish, avenging frustrating placements in last year’s Princess Series. “That gate was a huge help,” said Collett. “She only had a short let-up…
Imperatriz Claims Ninth Group 1 in Thrilling Black Caviar Lightning 2024 Result
Imperatriz, Mark Walker‘s champion mare, silenced critics with a powerful victory in the Black Caviar Lightning 2024, silencing doubts after a lacklustre trial. Imperatriz wins the 2024 Black Caviar Lightning as the odds-on favourite first-up at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. This dominant win marks her ninth Group 1 victory and extends her winning streak to six races. Despite a fifth-place finish in a recent Cranbourne trial, Imperatriz remained the clear favourite at $1.60 to kick off her autumn campaign down under with a win for the punters. Trainer Walker…
Pericles scores in Uncle Remus Stakes
Pericles winning the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The Pam Gerard and Mike Moroney stable have been enjoying considerable success of late including with class three-year-old Pendragon, however, it was his stablemate of the same age in Pericles who stole the limelight on Saturday with an eye-catching victory in the Listed Horizon Uncle Remus Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie. Fresh off a victory over 1400m at Pukekohe last month, the strapping son of Rubick was overlooked by punters who allowed him to…
Aberlour a class above in Southland Guineas
Aberlour winning the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m). Photo: Monica Toretto Emerging talent Aberlour extended her winning sequence to three and completed a southern Guineas double with a tour de force in Saturday’s Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) at Ascot Park. The Riverton filly had begun her career with a fourth and two thirds, including a third placing during the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton in November. She broke through with a six-length maiden win on her home track on New Year’s Day, then stepped up to stakes level with a…