Month: April 2024

Punt Drunk: The Championships are here… and it’s wet again!

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For racing fans, Saturday is one of the best days on the racing calendar, with Day 1 of The Championships taking centre stage at Royal Randwick. However, it wouldn’t be a big Sydney sporting event without torrential rain. The rains are here, Marge! If there is ever a major sporting event on in Sydney, just pack a brolly and every bit of wet weather gear you own. It can be the Pink Test at the SCG in January, or more importantly, Day 1 of The Championships at the start of…

Sha Tin Sunday racing preview & betting tips | April 7, 2024

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What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, April 7, 2024 First Race 12:45pm HKT (2:45pm AEST) Visit Dabble Hong Kong racing returns to Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon for a bumper 10-race program starting at 12:45pm local time. The Group 2 Sprint Cup (1200m) and Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) share top billing for the meeting as the rail moves out to the B+2 position. The forecast suggests that some heavy rainfall could hit the course this week, but thanks…

Forsman pair looking to strike at Pukekohe

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Devastate will be one of two runners for trainer Andrew Forsman in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 1300 at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Stakes performers Saint Bathans and Devastate will take an important step towards an Ellerslie feature when lining up at Pukekohe on Saturday. The Andrew Forsman-trained pair are at different stages of their preparation, with in-form Maurice gelding Saint Bathans dropping back in distance after finishing a creditable fourth in the Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga, adding to his narrow runner-up finish in the…

Gundagai Cup Day betting preview & quaddie tips | April 7, 2024

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What Gundagai Cup Day Where Gundagai Showground & Racecourse – Oibell Dr, Gundagai NSW 2722 When Sunday, April 7, 2024 First Race 12:35pm AEST Visit Dabble Country racing heads to the NSW Riverina on Sunday afternoon for the annual running of the $36,000 Gundagai Cup (1800m). The rail is in the true position throughout the entire circuit, and with the track rated Soft 6 leading into the weekend with more showers on the way, punters should expect a downgrade into the Heavy range. Racing at Gundagai is set to commence…

Robert Dennis chasing home track success

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Hasstobeyou will lineup at Ascot Park on Sunday. Photo: Tayler Strong Ascot Park trainer Robert Dennis is set to line-up eight horses at his home meeting on Sunday and is hopeful of taking home several winning cheques. Six-year-old mare Hasstobeyou will drop back in class when she contests the Editor’s Cut Sports Bar Handicap (1200m), having finished last in the Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton a fortnight ago. She had been in good form prior to that run, winning one and runner-up in two of…

Hugh Bowman hopes to coax best from Lucky Sweynesse

NZRacingDesk

Hugh Bowman is optimistic Lucky Sweynesse can atone for a pair of recent Group One defeats when the world’s top-rated sprinter contests the HK$5.35 million Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 April). Bowman will have his first ride on Manfred Man’s charge after the 132-rater finished sixth in the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) under Zac Purton on 28 January and fifth in the Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) under James McDonald on 10 March. Bowman has galloped Lucky Sweynesse, winner of 15 of 23…

Mapperley release 2024 stallion fees

NZRacingDesk

Mapperley Stud has announced their stallion service fees for the 2024 season with their proven son of High Chaparral – Contributer spearheading their roster at a fee of $18,000 +GST. Adding further firepower to their lineup is exciting young sire Armory, a son of leading international sire Galileo, who stands at an unchanged fee of $10,000 +GST this season. Contributer has had a brilliant season on the racetrack siring 5 individual stakes across Australasia, highlighted by Campionessa (NZ), a winner of 5 stakes races this season with her Group One…

I Wish I Win aiming for back-to-back TJ Smiths

NZRacingDesk

A year ago, I Wish I Win scored his first elite-level scalp in the Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), and on Saturday his connections are hoping for a repeat dose. After his heroics at Randwick last year, he went on to place in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in September before finishing runner-up in the A$20 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick a month later. The Sydney slot race is once again at the forefront of trainer Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s minds this year and they are…

Dennis looking forward to home meeting

NZRacingDesk

Ascot Park trainer Robert Dennis is set to line-up eight horses at his home meeting on Sunday and is hopeful of taking home several winning cheques. Six-year-old mare Hasstobeyou will drop back in class when she contests the Editor’s Cut Sports Bar Handicap (1200m), having finished last in the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton a fortnight ago. She had been in good form prior to that run, winning one and runner-up in two of her last three starts, and Dennis said she wasn’t genuine to the…

Kingsclere switch focus back to home soil

NZRacingDesk

In the gap between two enormously exciting weekends in Australia, Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are hoping to maintain their winning form in the two domestic meetings in New Zealand on Saturday. Last weekend produced one of the most remarkable hours in the history of Kingsclere Stables. First up was superstar filly Orchestral, who continued her stellar three-year-old season with another Group One victory in the A$750,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill. Mark Twain followed suit soon afterwards in Melbourne, winning the A$500,000 Listed Roy Higgins (2600m)…