Month: June 2024

Mont Ventoux on his way to winning at Te Aroha on Thursday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Capable flat performer Mont Ventoux scored a deserved maiden success over the fences in the Majestic Horse Floats Hurdles (3100m) at Te Aroha on Thursday. Mont Ventoux collected seven victories during his flat-racing career including three at open grade, and since transitioning into the jumps role he had been the perennial bridesmaid with seven placings from nine attempts. His consistent record for trainer Rudy Liefting placed the eight-year-old a seemingly-unbeatable favourite in Thursday’s…

Jay Kozaczek on his way to recording his first win in New Zealand aboard Sound Of Silence at Te Aroha on Thursday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Lofty British jumps jockey Jay Kozaczek made the perfect start to his riding venture in New Zealand at Te Aroha on Thursday when guiding Sound of Silence to victory in the Agrisea NZ Steeplechase (3500m) for Dave Blackie, who also celebrated his first training success. Kozaczek kept a cool head aboard Sound of Silence for the majority of the journey, sitting at the…

What Tamworth Races Where Tamworth Jockey Club – 28 Britten Rd, Taminda NSW 2340 When Friday, June 28, 2024 First Race 12pm AEST Visit Dabble Country racing heads to the New England region of NSW on Friday afternoon as Tamworth Jockey Club gets set to host a competitive eight-race program. The rail is in the true position the entire way around, and with minimal rain forecast in the lead-up, the current Soft 5 rating should hold for race-day. All the action is scheduled to kick off at 12pm local time.…

Trainer Stephen Nickalls. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Group 1 performer Chase will be out to make it back-to-back wins when he heads to Hastings on Saturday to tackle the Poverty Bay Cup (1600m). The seven-year-old gelding was back in winning form last start at Otaki in the hands of Kate Hercock, who will reunite with the son of Zed this weekend where he has been lumbered with top weight of 60kg on what was rated a Heavy 10 track on Thursday morning. “Kate gets on well with…

Berry The Cash will contest Te Whangaui Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m). Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Star hurdler Berry The Cash will chase his first title at Hastings on Saturday, while stablemate West Coast is out to defend his crown in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m). A dual Grand National Steeplechase (5500m) and Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m) winner, West Coast has led the charge for trainer Mark Oulaghan in recent seasons and returned in the same unstoppable fashion with a Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) victory last month. The…

Helena Baby on his way to winning at Te Aroha on Thursday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Proven flat performer Helena Baby continued his flawless transition to jumping with another easy victory in Thursday’s $30,000 The Bottle-O Te Aroha Hurdles (3100m). The grey son of Guillotine boasts seven wins on the flat, headed by the 2019 and 2022 editions of the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m). He was also a multiple placegetter in Hong Kong and finished third behind Melody Belle and Wyndspelle in the 2019 running of the Group 1…

Weneedashock (inside) will contest the Raukawa Cup (2100m) at Otaki on Friday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) A $100,000 carrot at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting in August is firmly in the sights of trainer Howie Mathews with a pair of his gallopers, but he is being forced to take an unsuitable path to the lucrative target. With no suitable races at Awapuni’s polytrack, the Otaki horseman has opted to test both Weneedashock and Free Spirit on Heavy 10 footing at their home track on Friday in the Raukawa Cup…

What Tatts Tiara Day 2024 Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, June 29, 2024 First Race 11:43am AEST Visit Dabble The Group 1 Tatts Tiara will headline a massive nine-race card at Eagle Farm this Saturday in the penultimate meeting of the Queensland Racing Carnival. The program will feature three races in Listed grade and three at Group level, while the Battle Of The Bush Final will be a highlight for Queensland’s country trainers. The track is rated as a Soft 5 at…

Copartner Prance makes it six in a row. The 2023/24 Hong Kong trainers’ championship continues to hang in the balance after Francis Lui posted a crucial double, spearheaded by Copartner Prance’s sixth successive win, at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (26 June) to draw onto almost level terms with Pierre Ng in the title race. With only five meetings left in the season, Ng and Lui both have 65 wins but Ng holds sway by virtue of more minor placings as the pair’s rollercoaster battle rolls on. On a night…

What 2024 Tatts Tiara Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, June 29, 2024 Prizemoney $700,000 Distance 1400m Conditions Weight For Age 2023 winner Palaisipan (16) | T: Chris Munce | J: Kyle Wilson-Taylor (57kg) Visit Dabble The Tatts Tiara will be the final Group 1 race of the 2023/24 season, headlining a massive nine-race program at Eagle Farm this Saturday afternoon. A full field of 17 runners is expected for the $700,000 contest, with four of those being three-year-old fillies who will take…