Month: May 2024

Promising filly collects southern consolation

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Dangerous Liaisons winning at Riccarton Park on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South While missing a chance for valuable black-type three weeks prior, promising filly Dangerous Liaisons was able to finish her South Island mission on a high at Riccarton last Saturday. The daughter of No Nay Never initially journeyed from Tony Pike’s Cambridge stable to contest the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) on April 13, but a foot abscess on the morning of the fillies’ feature halted those plans. She bounced back strongly at the following Saturday meeting to finish…

Awapuni double for local trainers

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Fourty Eight winning at Awapuni on Sunday. Photo: Race Images Palmerston North Racing returned to Awapuni’s synthetic track on Sunday and local trainers Shaun Fannin and Hazel Schofer capitalised on it, recording a winning double courtesy of Bubbajock and Fourty Eight. Bubbajock rewarded his connections for their patience when winning his maiden at his tenth attempt in the Mark Duncan Livestock 2140. The five-year-old son of Proisir was fresh-up off a break and was having his first start at his new home track after joining Fannin and Schofer’s stable last…

Russell Warwick to Join the NZTR Board

NZRacingDesk

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Members’ Council has appointed Russell Warwick as a Director Elect of the NZTR Board, effective 1 August 2024. Russell Warwick brings a wealth of industry knowledge and administrative experience to the appointment. As the General Manager of Westbury Stud, Warwick’s ability to lead one of NZ’s elite breeding and racing programmes made him an excellent candidate to join the NZTR Board. In what is widely viewed as one of the most exciting times in New Zealand Racing history, Warwick is grateful for the opportunity.…

Promising filly scores southern consolation

NZRacingDesk

While missing a chance for valuable black-type three weeks prior, promising filly Dangerous Liaisons was able to finish her South Island mission on a high at Riccarton last Saturday. The daughter of No Nay Never initially journeyed from Tony Pike’s Cambridge stable to contest the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) on April 13, but a foot abscess on the morning of the fillies’ feature halted those plans. She bounced back strongly at the following Saturday meeting to finish runner-up to another progressive type in Contemplation Bay, but wasn’t to be…

Price star’s big winter abandoned

NZRacingDesk

A water walker incident has seen Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have to abort the campaign of the lightly raced Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) after just one run this preparation. The imposing son of Charm Spirit finished fourth in the Victoria Handicap after an extensive layoff and had hopes of racing in Queensland over the winter carnival. The Roll The Dice Racing-owned galloper burst onto the scene winning his first four starts last year. His first defeat came in the Feehan Stakes when favourite after suffering from cardiac arrhythmia.…

Count Zero’s unique ownership

NZRacingDesk

Symon Wilde’s Count Zero (NZ) (Zed) cost just $22,000 as a yearling and has returned in excess of $700,000 for connections. But half of the current ownership group hadn’t even heard of the son of Zed until he was a two-year-old, when a chance encounter at Moonee Valley saw them buy into the Grand Annual Steeplechase hero. Darren Weir’s Prince Of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire) had just run second in the Moonee Valley Cup under a bold front-running Michelle Payne ride and one of the owners was very unhappy with the…

Local trainers bag a double at Awapuni

NZRacingDesk

Racing returned to Awapuni’s synthetic track on Sunday and local trainers Shaun Fannin and Hazel Schofer capitalised on it, recording a winning double courtesy of Bubbajock and Fourty Eight. Bubbajock rewarded his connections for their patience when winning his maiden at his tenth attempt in the Mark Duncan Livestock 2140. The five-year-old son of Proisir was fresh-up off a break and was having his first start at his new home track after joining Fannin and Schofer’s stable last December. “All the owners in Bubbajock are wonderful and they have kept…

Globe’s winter carnival hopes dashed by water walker incident

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Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr. have decided to pause Globes campaign following an incident with a water walker. The talented racehorse, Globe, known for his past wins, encountered a setback during training when he playfully collided with the water walker resulting in a shoulder injury, as explained by co-trainer Kent. Despite this setback, the trainers remain hopeful for Globes future. Unfortunately, Globe faced another challenge during the Feehan Stakes due to arrhythmia, despite being the favourite among the leading bookmakers. Nonetheless, the team had aspirations for him in the…

Western Empire’s triumphant return in Northam Stakes

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Western Empire made a triumphant comeback, in Perth racing, with jockey William Pike guiding him to victory in the Group 3 Tabtouch Northam Stakes (1300m) on Sunday. The six-year-old gelding, previously trained by Grant and Alana Williams, showed his talent with a third place finish in The Joey (1200m). As the favourite at $2.20 with the top horse racing bookmakers, Western Empire didn’t disappoint, putting on a performance that earned Pike his second win of the day. With Pike manoeuvring through the field, Western Empire showcased his speed down the…

Tony Cruz dominates Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup

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La City Blanche gives Tony Cruz his fourth win as a trainer in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup. Tony Cruz will bid for a remarkable eighth Group 1 Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) as a trainer on 26 May after showcasing his stable’s staying might as La City Blanche and Five G Patch fought out the Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. A Group 1 winner over 2000m in Argentina as a three-year-old in 2021 when he raced as Zodiacal, La City Blanche…