Trainer Patrick Payne is a realist when it comes to his horses and says it is time for Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel) to take the step up to the big league. A dual Derby winner as a three-year-old, Payne has chosen the stayer’s races wisely, to the point when the gelding is an eight-time winner from 12 starts with two runner-up finishes thrown in for good measure. A Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) start is on offer on Saturday when Dunkel runs in the Listed The Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington. The Roy Higgins is one of four staying races run…
Month: March 2024
Lisa Vaughan out to defend Riverton Cup crown
Lochnaberry will contest the Riverton Cup (2147m) on Saturday. Photo: Monica Toretto Ascot Park trainer Lisa Vaughan will head to Riverton on Saturday where she hopes to make it back-to-back wins in the Riverton Cup (2147m). Former stable runner Asathought, a half-sister to multiple Group One winner Avantage, won last year’s edition of the race when it held Listed status, and while it has lost its stakes status, Vaughan would dearly love to continue her good record in the race. She will be represented in the race on Saturday by…
Sea Shepherd looking to get back into winning form
Sea Shepherd will compete at Riverton on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South Sea Shepherd was in unchartered waters at the start of the season, having a spate of subpar unplaced runs, and trainer Sabin Kirkland is hoping to get his gelding back on course this weekend. The Southland gelding strung together three wins last year before Kirkland went on a European trip and transferred Sea Shepherd to the care of Michael and Matthew Pitman. He won first-up for the Riccarton trainers at Ashburton before finishing last in both the Oamaru…
Mustang Valley on the hunt for more Group 1 success
Mustang Valley will contest the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell Mustang Valley will be out to prove her class when attempting a first Group One title on Good track conditions on Saturday at Ellerslie. The dual Group One-winning mare made a strong impression fresh-up over 1400m, finishing a narrow second in a contest featuring Fashion Shoot (first), Karman Line (fourth) and Maria Farina (fifth), the trio now set to face off in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes…
Cruz excited by California Spangle’s Group 1 Al Quoz prospects
California Spangle exercising at Meydan Racecourse. Tony Cruz is confident California Spangle can defy convention by reprising elite sprinting form and pressing for victory in the HK$11.7 million Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday night. To face 11 rivals, including John Size’s Sight Success, California Spangle will contest a 1200m race for the first time since January 16, 2022, having had 18 starts since from 1400m to 2000m while racking up seven wins, including last-start victory in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m)…
UK Raider Post Impressionist Headlines Tancred Stakes 2024 Field
The 2024 Tancred Stakes, one of Sydney’s premier autumn features, takes centre stage at Rosehill this Saturday with a field of ten ready to battle it out for the $1.5 million purse. Post Impressionist is clear favourite in 2024 Tancred Stakes betting after a big win at the track and trip first-up in Australia last weekend. Photo: Steve Hart. Leading the charge is the impressive UK-trained Post Impressionist. William Haggas‘ Teofilo gelding wasted no time making his mark down under, cruising to a dominant victory in the Group 3 N.E.…
Leech’s horse transferred to leading NT trainer
Longtime NT trainer Dick Leech has transferred all of his horses to the stable of leading Darwin trainer Gary Clarke. Leech recently incurred a 12-month suspension. Leading NT trainer Gary Clarke has agreed to take over the 19 horses from the Dick Leech stable for the next 12 months. Leech, with stables in Darwin and Alice Springs, was suspended by Thoroughbred Racing NT stewards on March 18 when found guilty of injecting Envenomate before the six-year-old gelding was due to race at Fannie Bay on February 3. Stewards noticed that…
2024 Australian Cup Showdown: Mr Brightside vs. Pride Of Jenni
The 2024 Australian Cup might have a diminutive final field numbers-wise, but the excitement is anything but diminished with a host of weight-for-age stars including the past two All-Star Mile winners Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni renewing their rivalry. Mr Brightside is favourite to return to winning form in Flemington’s Australian Cup 2024 this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. Flemington prepares to host this iconic $3 million Group 1 race on Saturday, and racing fans are in for a treat. Leading the charge is the popular Mr Brightside, trained…
Kingsclere favoured to retain Vinery crown
Cambridge’s Kingsclere Stables is in for a busy trans-Tasman weekend, headlined by their glamour filly Orchestral tackling the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The Kiwi raider took out last year’s edition with Prowess, and Orchestral has quickly taken up the mantle of New Zealand’s best filly and is rated a $1.60 favourite with TAB bookmakers to give trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood their second successive win in the Sydney feature. The daughter of Savabeel has been a revelation for the Cambridge-based horsemen this year, winning…
Mustang Valley seeking third elite crown at Ellerslie
Mustang Valley will be out to prove her class when attempting a first Group One title on Good track conditions on Saturday at Ellerslie. The dual Group One-winning mare made a strong impression fresh-up over 1400m, finishing a narrow second in a contest featuring Fashion Shoot (first), Karman Line (fourth) and Maria Farina (fifth), the trio now set to face off in the Gr.1 NCEA New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). “It was a great effort resuming, she just had to give away a fair bit of weight and was…