The curtain has come down on the decorated career of Callsign Mav following his sixth placed run in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Trackside Otaki-Maori Classic (1600m). Purchased as a weanling out of Windsor Park Stud’s 2017 National Weanling, Broodmate, & Mixed Bloodstock Sale for $3,000, he belied his initial purchase price when going on to win eight and place in 12 of his 38 career starts on both sides of the Tasman, accruing more than $1.6 million in prizemoney. The son of Atlante showed plenty of promise from the outset for…
Month: March 2024
Imperatriz locked in for Newmarket
Te Akau Racing has confirmed Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) will contest next Saturday’s Gr.1 Newmarket handicap (1200m) at Flemington. The star mare was either going to run in the Flemington feature or head to Sydney to contest the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on the same day, but the stable has decided she will remain in Melbourne. “Careful consideration was given to both Sydney & Melbourne options for that date and a number of factors (pros and cons) determined the decision by the team of David (Ellis), Mark (Walker),…
Busuttin has Derby deja vu
Seven years after settling for second in their last raid on New Zealand’s premier classic, expat trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are resigned to running into one better again when Interlinked contests the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Busuttin and Young tackled the 2017 edition of the Derby with Rising Red, who ran a gallant second behind Gingernuts. That hugely popular chestnut later proved himself to be among the better Derby winners in recent years, adding the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) in Sydney and…
Pericles looking to continue owners stellar run
Breakthrough performer Pericles will be out to continue a remarkable summer for his part-owners Hugh Fletcher and Dame Sian Elias when he lines up in the Gr.3 Mainstream Plumbing Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The pair’s familiar Fletcher tartan colours have been carried to eight wins since the end of November. Pendragon has been a headline act with a winning treble headed by the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m). He was a last-start second placegetter behind Orchestral in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), and he will shoot…
Imperatriz poised for Newmarket Handicap assignment
Imperatriz gets the better of Private Eye to win the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m). Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Te Akau Racing have locked in the next assignment for their star sprinter Imperatriz, with the nine-time Group One winner looking to add to her elite-level tally in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington next Saturday. The daughter of I Am Invincible was victorious first-up in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at the Melbourne track last month, putting to bed any doubts following a lacklustre trial. Te…
Pericles primed to strike at Ellerslie
Pericles will contest the Group 3 Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Breakthrough performer Pericles will be out to continue a remarkable summer for his part-owners Hugh Fletcher and Dame Sian Elias when he lines up in the Group 3 Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The pair’s familiar Fletcher tartan colours have been carried to eight wins since the end of November. Pendragon has been a headline act with a winning treble headed by the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m). He was…
Punt Drunk: Who is Australia’s best horse?
The Group 1 horses are well and truly back on the track, and with another three top-level races between Flemington and Randwick on Saturday, the Punt Drunk team thought it was a good time to rank our top five horses doing the rounds in Australia at the moment. It is safe to say that, unlike a certain radio programme, we will not be leaving reigning Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight out of our top three. We aren’t that silly. #5 – Think About It The top…
Munhamek to chase All-Star Mile glory
Munhamek is the latest to receive an All-Star Mile wildcard. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Munhamek, a Group 3 victor, has clinched a wildcard entry for the prestigious All-Star Mile at Caulfield on March 16, courtesy of Racing Victoria officials. “We’re really pumped to be getting into the All-Star Mile,” expressed trainer Nick Ryan to Racing.com. “All the staff are up and about, so it’s very exciting.” “His run in the Futurity was super, his sectionals told the story and he was really savaging the line. Going up to the…
Riff Rocket Poised to Shine in Australian Guineas 2024
The time-honoured Australian Guineas 2024, a Group 1 $1 million race over the mile distance, takes centre stage at Flemington on Saturday. Riff Rocket is tipped to pick up a second Group 1 as favourite in Saturday’s 2024 Australian Guineas at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. A capacity field of talented three-year-olds has been assembled, with Chris Waller‘s Riff Rocket emerging as the clear favourite at $2.60 through Ladbrokes. Riff Rocket, an American Pharoah gelding, boasts a consistent and versatile record. He has won five of his eight career starts,…
Learning To Fly Poised to Soar in the Surround Stakes 2024
The Group 1 Surround Stakes at Randwick on Saturday features a field of 12 talented three-year-old fillies, with Annabel Neasham‘s Learning To Fly the clear favourite at $3.20 through Ladbrokes. Class filly Learning To Fly is favourite to return to winning form in the Surround Stakes 2024 at Randwick this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart. Fresh off a narrow loss in the Light Fingers Stakes, Learning To Fly seeks redemption at her preferred distance of 1400m. This Golden Slipper hard luck story boasts an impressive 3:2-1-0 record at Randwick and looks…