By Jonny Turner Before Don’t Stop Dreaming and Merlin battle it out in the Chariots Of Fire at Menangle, little brother and little sister will be out to impress in their debuts at Ascot Park on Friday. Nathan Williamson is set to debut two royally bred two-year-olds in Always Dreaming, a full brother to Don’t Stop Dreaming and Captain’s Mistress, a half-sister to Merlin. Captains Mistress turned heads in her latest trial when charging late to down her race rival Justanothersip right on the post. The performance has been enough…
Month: March 2024
Is it Chisel or Chase in tonight’s Alabar Classic?
By Michael Guerin Co-trainer Scott Phelan says the crucial tactics in the $60,000 Alabar Classic at Alexandra Park tonight will be left up to driver Zachary Butcher. Phelan and senior training partner Barry Purdon train Cold Chisel, who alongside arch rival Chase A Dream head the market for the Group 2. Chase A Dream has been too good for Cold Chisel the last two times they have met, both times by getting in front of him. There was little in it last start when Chase A Dream led and Cold…
Chariots Of Fire – who wins?
By Michael Guerin Preparation both on and off the track could be the key to a Kiwi victory in Saturday night’s A$250,000 Chariots Of Fire in Sydney. In one of the greatest shows of New Zealand pacing strength since trans Tasman harness racing rivalry fell into a post-Covid slumber, three New Zealand-trained pacers will contest Australia’s biggest four-year-old race at Menangle. Auckland trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan have both Merlin and Sooner The Bettor in the mobile mile, with Merlin an outstanding second after sitting parked on his Australian…
Holymanz back from New Zealand excursion
New Zealand horses making hit-and-run visits to Australia are not uncommon, but there are not many horses that do it in reverse. The Ciaron Maher-trained Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor), a New Zealand-bred four-year-old, made a hit-and-run trip to Ellerslie last month for the inaugural running of the Aotearoa Classic (1600m). Holymanz finished fourth and was soon after shipped back to the Cranbourne stables of his trainer to prepare for a tilt at the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. Victory in the Blamey offers a ‘win and you’re…
Blueblood colt scores at Matamata
Debutante two-year-old Altari (NZ) (Savabeel) produced a smart victory in the Congrats Captured By Love & Te Akau Racing Maiden 2YO (1200m) at Matamata on Thursday. When trialling on 20 February at Tauranga, Altari was trapped out, steadied 600m, ranged wide and flattened out 200m for a smart win, and his first race day outing was not dissimilar. Away well from barrier eight, Altari was caught on a limb three wide under Opie Bosson, challenged turning for home, lifted to level 200m out and went on win with an air…
Perfect start for talented Kiwi import
A promising three-year-old sourced from Taranaki in New Zealand has made a flawless start to his racing career in Hong Kong. Super Joy N Fun (NZ) (What’s The Story) made his Hong Kong debut over 1200m at Happy Valley on February 7, winning by a head. His next start came over the same course and distance three weeks later, when dominating from the front and winning by three-quarters of a length. The gelding is trained by Benno Yung and has quickly banked more than HK$1.3 million for owners Johnny Wong…