by Jonny Turner Sam Thornley is keeping his feet on the ground ahead of combining with a strong book of drives at Westport today. The junior reinsman will link up with two genuine hopes in both the feature pace and the feature trot at Patterson Park. Just Ask Paddy comes into the Kawatiri Cup after a spectacular win in his last start at Waterlea in which he fell after passing the post. Thornley is hoping to see a more polished version of the pacer when he returns to grass track…
Month: March 2024
Old Town Road set for first start in 2024
By Michael Guerin Winning would be a bonus when Old Town Road resumes at Alexandra Park tonight. That is not to say trainer John Dickie doesn’t want his stable star to win the $40,000 Lincoln Farms Founders Cup and he is adamant he can. But first and foremost Dickie is just happy the race, in fact the whole Alexandra Park meeting, is being held at all. The meeting will consist of just seven races with a total of 47 starters. The fields are quite even with few standout favourites so…
Selections | Auckland
Selections for Auckland today. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race TrottechForm Analyst Race 16.35pm 4 Nelson’s Boy2 Scout’s Honour1 Skipper5 Potter Race 27.05pm 5 It’s Electrifying4 Lincoln Lou2 Sadhaka1 Justyouwait Race 37.34pm 3 Leo Lincoln5 Precious Bet2 Onyx Shard4 Hadron Collider Race 47.59pm 6 Great White4 Demon Blue2 Sugar Ray Lincoln5 Roy Kent Race 58.24pm 6 Shake A Leg1 Dear God9 Beta Prepare3 Xcite Me Race 68.50pm 2 Old Town Road5 Self Assured4 Mach Shard3 Kango Race 79.20pm 6 All You Need Is Me5…
Heat no concern for Imperatriz
Melbourne’s pending heatwave hasn’t dented Te Akau’s confidence levels in their outstanding mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) ahead of her tilt at Saturday’s Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap. A final decision on the timings for Flemington’s races will be made on Friday, with temperatures forecast to hit 38 degrees at the track the following day. “There’s no concern really,” said Te Akau’s Melbourne-based assistant trainer Ben Gleeson. “They’ve all got to deal with the heat themselves, every one of them. It’s a pretty cool week, it’s not like they’re facing the whole…
Jeffries enhances broodmare band with Live Drama purchase
The purchase of two-time stakes winner Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines) for $75,000 on gavelhouse.com this week means that breeder Warwick Jeffries is about to enhance his broodmare band with two of the South Island’s best-performed racemares from recent seasons. Jeffries won last season’s New Zealand Small Breeder of the Year Award, which is restricted to breeders with a broodmare band numbering five or fewer. From such small numbers, he produced multiple Group One-winning star Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) and fellow Group One winner Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir). Jeffries also bred Legarto’s…
Randwick full racing preview & quaddie tips | Saturday, March 9
What Randwick Guineas Day 2024 Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Saturday, March 9, 2024 First Race 12:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble Metro racing returns to Royal Randwick this Saturday afternoon, where a bumper 10-race program is set for decision. The card is headlined by the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) for the three-year-olds and the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m). The rail moves out +3m after racing in the true last weekend, and with only a minor shower predicted to hit the track, it shouldn’t…
Te Akau Captured By Love with exciting filly
Captured By Love will contest the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Te Akau Racing’s unbeaten filly Captured By Love is set to face her sternest test to date when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to contest the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). The daughter of Written Tycoon got her career off to the perfect start when winning on debut over 1000m at Tauherenikau last November before scoring her first stakes victory at just her second start in the…
In Form Asterix on song for Auckland Cup
Wexford Stables have fond memories at Ellerslie with Asterix, and they are hoping to add another when they head to the Auckland track this Saturday to contest the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m). Asterix is unbeaten on the course in two starts, recording the stable’s second consecutive win in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie two years ago, and returned to the venue last month to take out the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m) under jockey Lynsey Satherley. The Waikato hoop retains the ride for the Auckland…
Te Akau filly up for Group One challenge
Te Akau Racing’s unbeaten filly Captured By Love is set to face her sternest test to date when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to contest the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). The daughter of Written Tycoon got her career off to the perfect start when winning on debut over 1000m at Tauherenikau last November before scoring her first stakes victory at just her second start in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham a month later. Purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis at last year’s Magic Millions…
NZTR Chair Cameron George Resigns
The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Board has today regrettably announced the resignation of its Chair, Cameron George, effective 31 July 2024. Under his leadership, George, who has served as Chair since 2020, has played a pivotal role in steering NZTR and the racing industry through various challenges and sizeable achievements over recent years. “My decision to step down from my role on the Board hasn’t been an easy one,” George said. “My journey at NZTR started with navigating a path forward for the business through COVID-19. Over time, we…