Apprentice jockey Donovan Cooper has been enjoying his stint in the South Island and is hoping to bag a few more winners before he heads back north. The promising hoop was making a name for himself in the north before a track incident sidelined him in September and he has been on the comeback trail since. “I was on a little Satono Aladdin filly for Catherine Cameron that I worked every day and unfortunately a piece of plastic blew across the track and she ended up going over onto me.…
Month: March 2024
Aquacade targets alternate Cup Day feature
A gallant fourth as favourite in last year’s Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m), quality mare Aquacade is returning to the same meeting 12 months later but setting her sights on a different race. Cambridge Stud’s homebred daughter of Dundeel will contest Saturday’s Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie, continuing a season-long plan formulated by trainer Lance Noble and the Cambridge Stud team. “Back at the beginning of the season, we decided to stick to weight-for-age races around 2000m with this mare,” Noble said. “That came down…
Sharrock gives Ellerslie debut to leading southern jockey
A difficult search for a lightweight jockey for Waisake in Saturday’s Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) led Allan Sharrock to look to the south. Kylie Williams has 919 wins to her name in a decorated career among the South Island’s jockey ranks, but the 44-year-old will be in uncharted territory in Saturday’s $500,000 showpiece. She has never previously ridden at Ellerslie, and it will also be the first time she has ridden for Sharrock. “It was very tricky to find a suitable jockey at 52kg,” Sharrock said. “Kylie…
Rodney Schick Appointed as NZTR Director
The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Members’ Council has appointed Mr Rodney Schick as a Director of NZTR’s Board, effective immediately. Schick’s position fills the vacancy left by current TAB NZ General Manager Commercial, Jason Fleming, who left NZTR’s Board in July 2023. Schick brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Board of Directors, having run his own large-scale Stud Farm operation, Windsor Park Stud, for more than 20 years with his wife Gina. The Stud Master is looking forward to commencing duties for NZTR. “What really drew…
Puntura receives All-Star Mile call-up
Taranaki trainer Robbie Patterson was getting ready to head to Ellerslie with two contenders for the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) on Saturday until he got a shock when going through his emails on Thursday. “I was going through my emails on my way home from the trials yesterday and this email popped up from Racing Victoria,” Patterson said. It was an invitation for his Group One winner Puntura to compete in next Saturday’s A$4 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield, and Patterson didn’t hesitate in calling owners John…
Canberra racing tips & best odds | Black Opal Stakes Day 2024
What Black Opal Stakes Day Where Thoroughbred Park – 1 Randwick Rd, Lyneham ACT 2602 When Sunday, March 10, 2024 First Race 12:35pm AEDT Visit Dabble The two-year-olds take centre stage at Canberra on Sunday afternoon, with the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) drawing together a competitive 13-horse field. The undercard oozes quality as well, with the Listed Canberra Cup (2000m) and Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m) making up a quality 10-race program. The rail is out +3m for the entire circuit, and with no rain to hinder proceedings, it…
Echcua racing preview & top tips | Echuca Cup Day 2024
What Echuca Races Where Echuca Racecourse – Cr Scott Rd and Murray Valley Hwy, Echuca VIC 3564 When Sunday, March 10, 2024 First Race 10:45am AEDT Visit Dabble The Echuca Cup headlines a competitive eight-race meeting on Sunday at Echuca, with $100,000 on the line for the feature race. Extreme weather conditions have forced an early start of 10:45am AEDT for the club’s marquee day. The track will start as a Good 4, with an upgrade to a Good 3 almost a certainty, while the rail sticks to its true…
Savaglee looking to cause Sistema Stakes boilover
Savaglee will contest the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) The Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) is being a billed as a match-race between Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) winner Velocious and undefeated Te Akau Racing filly Captured by Love, but Pam Gerard is keen to spoil the party with her Group Three winner Savaglee. Bred by Waikato Stud, the two-year-old son of Savabeel races in the colours of The Oaks Stud principal Dick Karreman after he purchased the colt out of the…
Tamworth free racing tips & quaddie | Sunday, March 10
What Tamworth Races Where Tamworth Jockey Club – 28 Britten Rd, Taminda NSW 2340 When Sunday, March 10, 2024 First Race 1pm AEDT Visit Dabble The $150,000 Country Championships Qualifier will headline an eight-race card at Tamworth this Sunday afternoon. With warm weather forecast across the weekend, it is expected that the track will remain in the Good range for the whole meeting. The rail will be in the true position for the entire circuit, with racing set to get underway at 1pm AEDT. Country Championships Qualifier Tip: Sting Jet…
Aquacade chasing New Zealand Stakes success
Aquacade will contest the Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) A gallant fourth as favourite in last year’s Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m), quality mare Aquacade is returning to the same meeting 12 months later but setting her sights on a different race. Cambridge Stud’s homebred daughter of Dundeel will contest Saturday’s Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie, continuing a season-long plan formulated by trainer Lance Noble and the Cambridge Stud team. “Back at the beginning of…