Crimson Light (NZ) (Redwood) has won the A$150,000 Country Oaks, dashing best off a slow tempo at Yarra Valley on Good Friday and giving Mick Kent his second consecutive victory in the race. The daughter of Redwood settled outside Hard Squeeze (All Too Hard), who came out on top when the pair clashed at Moonee Valley last start, but strode out under Craig Williams to lead outright down the back straight. Williams put the foot on the pedal coming around the home turn, and in an instant the whole field…
Month: March 2024
Legarto on the hunt for further Flemington Group 1 success
Legarto winning the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m). Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Ken Kelso is hoping lightning might strike twice when Legarto makes her second start at Flemington in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m). The top-class daughter of Proisir produced arguably the best performance of her glittering career when she ventured to Melbourne 12 months ago and became the first New Zealand-trained winner of the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m). Held up until after the 200m mark, she quickly moved through her gears for jockey Mick Dee and launched a…
NZ Oaks winner Pulchritudinous joins Waterhouse & Bott stable
Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Impressive last-start Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous will continue her racing career in Australia following her sale this week. The Chad Ormsby-trained filly has been the subject of interest from prospective buyers from around the globe, care of her commanding Oaks victory, which came just eight days after a strong win in the Group 2 Lowland Stakes (2000m). The daughter of Wrote will join the stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott…
Fownes keen to establish Straight Arron’s standing on international stage
Straight Arron stretches out at Meydan Racecourse. Caspar Fownes is hopeful Straight Arron can prove his wares against elite opposition, including Voyage Bubble, in the HK$39 million Group 1 Dubai Turf (1800m) at Meydan on Saturday night despite drawing barrier 12. To be ridden by Brenton Avdulla, Straight Arron faces 15 opponents as Fownes bids to better his stable’s previous best result at the Dubai World Cup meeting – Lucky Nine’s third behind Krypton Factor in the 2012 Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m, dirt). “It (the barrier draw) is…
Last chance to qualify for Alice Springs features
The Alice Springs Turf Club’s Cup Carnival is in full swing with the third of five meetings scheduled for Pioneer Park on Saturday. Fields for the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) and $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) will take shape in the Red Centre on Saturday. For horses who have yet to qualify for either race, it’s their last chance on Day 3 of the Alice Springs Turf Club’s Cup Carnival at Pioneer Park. Currently, 19 nominations have been received for the Cup scheduled for April 7, with 21 nominating for…
Sha Tin Sunday free racing preview & tips | March 31, 2024
What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, March 31, 2024 First Race 12:45pm HKT (3:45pm AEDT) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing returns to Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, where an ultra-competitive 10-race program is set for decision. The rail moves out to the A+3 position for the meeting, and with the radar suggesting some scattered showers may hit the course proper, punters should anticipate the surface to be rated somewhere in the Soft range. All the action…
Pierre Ng hopes Mugen can excel at 1600m
Mugen is chasing his fourth win of the season. A week after almost executing an unconventional win in the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) with Galaxy Patch, Pierre Ng will test Mugen at an unfamiliar distance when the talented sprinter clines up over 1600m at Sha Tin on Sunday. The winner of three races this season – two at 1200m and the other at 1400m – Mugen (131lb) stretches to 1600m for the first time as he faces The Golden Scenery (135lb), All For St Paul’s (133lb), Running Glory (133lb), Flaming…
Is Muscle Mountain unbeatable in Trotting Championship?
By Jonny Turner The biggest danger to Muscle Mountain in the Fred Shaw Memorial New Zealand Trotting Championship at Addington on Saturday could be himself. The star trotter clearly looks the horse to beat in the Group 1 event and is set to start at red-hot odds in the vicinity of $1.20. Muscle Mountain is such a clear-cut favourite that the biggest danger to his winning chances could be himself. On occasion, the seven-year-old has goofed around when clear at the end of his races and been nabbed on the…
Dunkel to bring A game to HQ?
Leading Victorian jockey Billy Egan will be hoping that Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel) can bounce back to his best on Saturday when he lines up in the Gr.3 Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington. The Patrick Payne-trained four-year-old has won two of his past three starts this preparation but finished a disappointing sixth in the Listed Pakenham Cup at his most recent outing. “It was very unusual for him, he pulled up a bit battered and bruised,” Egan said. “I think he’s come through that run; Paddy wouldn’t run him unless…
NZ Oaks heroine joins Australian powerhouse
Impressive last-start Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote) will continue her racing career in Australia following her sale this week. The Chad Ormsby-trained filly has been the subject of interest from prospective buyers from around the globe, care of her commanding Oaks victory, which came just eight days after a strong win in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2000m). The daughter of Wrote will join the stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott after a deal was brokered by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo in conjunction with the Waterhouse-Bott…