Month: April 2024

David Hayes double-handed in Group 2 Sprint Cup

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Tomodachi Kokoroe has four wins this season. When Tomodachi Kokoroe arrived in Hong Kong last year, David Hayes harboured modest ambitions with the gelding despite a statistically imposing record in Australia but, such has been the speedster’s progress in his new surroundings, he has earned a tilt at Lucky Sweynesse in the HK$5.35 million Group 2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Dual Hong Kong champion trainer Hayes is happy to concede the galloper formerly known in Australia as Bank Bank Bank has exceeded expectations with four wins…

Connections hoping the force is with them at Trentham

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Full Force will contest the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North Full Force fitted a formula that vendor Kilgravin Lodge has previously enjoyed racing success with and that process could take them to the highest level this weekend. Eion and Megan Kemp’s Matamata operation retained an interest in the Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained youngster, who will take aim at the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday. “We bought him as a weanling and then…

Tony Cruz on brink of 1,500 Hong Kong wins after Sha Tin success

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Tony Cruz celebrates Monta Frutta’s victory. Fresh from Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) success in Dubai on Saturday with California Spangle, Tony Cruz stands on the brink of another remarkable Hong Kong milestone after Monta Frutta’s breakthrough success at Sha Tin’s all-dirt meeting on Wednesday night. Monta Frutta’s victory under Angus Chung left Cruz with a total of 1,499 Hong Kong wins as a trainer – a total bettered only by John Moore (1,735) and John Size (1,534). Having won Hong Kong championships as an apprentice, senior jockey and…

Velocious chasing another major payday

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Velocious will contest the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Top juvenile Velocious moves into serious bonus territory at Trentham on Saturday. The Written Tycoon filly will attempt to not only double her tally at the highest level, but also race for an extended prize pool in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). The feature is the first event in the $1 million bonus series attached to next season’s inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). “There’s been light…

Three-pronged Flying Handicap defence for Sharrock

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Tavattack (inside) winning last year’s Listed Flying Handicap (1400m). Photo: Race Images Palmerston North New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock will saddle three runners in his bid for back-to-back victories in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Sharrock won last year’s edition of the $90,000 race at Awapuni with Tavattack, who powered home for an impressive win over subsequent big-race stars El Vencedor and Maria Farina. Tavattack is back again on Saturday to defend that title, and Sharrock rates him the pick of his stable’s Flying Handicap trio.…

Forsman hoping to build on early success

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The Patron Saint winning at Ruakaka on Wednesday. Photo: Race Images Andrew Forsman commenced a big week of racing in winning fashion on both sides of the Tasman. Out of his Cambridge stable, Forsman prepared The Patron Saint to an impressive front-running win at Ruakaka on Wednesday. A promising son of Dissident, The Patron Saint flew his outside barrier draw under Joe Doyle and was never headed in the maiden three-year-old 1600m contest, with 2-1/2 lengths back to race favourite Mister Meaner. “We’d given him a bit of a freshen-up,…

Consistent Arby chasing Gold Cup win

NZRacingDesk

A year after his triumph in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m), classy four-year-old Arby will chase another feature on Manawatu’s feature day, the Gr.2 City Of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m). A son of Proisir, Arby has established a consistent record while often in the best of company this season, with top-five finishes in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m), Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m), and Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m). Matamata-based training partnership Darryn and Briar Weatherley were given a vote of confidence when the gelding flashed home to…

Sharrock trio go head-to-head in Flying Handicap

NZRacingDesk

New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock will saddle three runners in his bid for back-to-back victories in the Listed Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Sharrock won last year’s edition of the $90,000 race at Awapuni with Tavattack, who powered home for an impressive win over subsequent big-race stars El Vencedor and Maria Farina. Tavattack is back again on Saturday to defend that title, and Sharrock rates him the pick of his stable’s Flying Handicap trio. The Tavistock gelding was back in winning form at Otaki…

Velocious heads Marsh contingent

NZRacingDesk

Top juvenile Velocious moves into serious bonus territory at Trentham on Saturday. The Written Tycoon filly will attempt to not only double her tally at the highest level, but also race for an extended prize pool in the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). The feature is the first event in the $1 million bonus series attached to next season’s inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). “There’s been light discussions at the moment with a few (slot holders) but certainly nothing set in concrete,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.…

Full Force flying ahead of Trentham test

NZRacingDesk

Full Force fitted a formula that vendor Kilgravin Lodge has previously enjoyed racing success with and that process could take them to the highest level this weekend. Eion and Megan Kemp’s Matamata operation retained an interest in the Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained youngster, who will take aim at the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday. “We bought him as a weanling and then reoffered him as a yearling at Karaka. He was originally passed in and Johno rang me later and we got…