Kiwi star set for Aussie debut

Ben Gleeson was happy to receive a vote of confidence from in-demand jockey Michael Dee ahead of three-year-old-filly Bellatrix Star‘s (Star Witness) Australian debut at Caulfield on Saturday in the Gr.3 Quezette Stakes (1100m). Dee has ridden the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly in a jumpout and at trackwork at Cranbourne on Tuesday and he has given the stable’s Melbourne-based manager Gleeson a positive assessment. “He’s been very pleased with her and wants to stick with her, which says a lot,” Gleeson said. The Te Akau Racing filly had…

The Follow Files: Godolphin 3YO flashes home at Moonee Valley

Last weekend, Randwick took centre stage with its Missile Stakes meeting, while Moonee Valley, Sunshine Coast and Morphettville held strong support cards. With the spring carnival just two weeks away, this week’s edition of The Follow Files focuses on three runners who will compete in Group or Listed races throughout their preparation. You can add these horses to your blackbook with your chosen bookmaker and receive notifications before they run. Moonee Valley Track rating: Soft 6 Rail position: True entire circuit Race 2: 3YO Handicap (1000m) | Time: 1:00.61 Horse…

Ipswich racing tips, top odds & quaddie | Wednesday, August 14

What Ipswich Races Where Ipswich Turf Club – 219 Brisbane Rd, Bundamba QLD 4304 When Wednesday, August 14, 2024 First Race 12:33pm AEST Visit Dabble Ipswich Turf Club will host a very competitive eight-race card this Wednesday afternoon, with racing scheduled to kick off at 13:33pm AEST. With a lot of rain on the forecast, the track is tipped to worsen from its initial Soft 6 rating. The rail will move back into its true position for the entire circuit. Best Bet at Ipswich: Real Rush Real Rush returned from…

Sandown Lakeside racing preview & top tips | Wednesday 14/8/24

What Sandown Lakeside Races Where Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 When Wednesday, August 14, 2024 First Race 1pm AEST Visit Dabble The Lakeside circuit at Sandown will host yet another midweek metro meeting this Wednesday afternoon, with an eight-race card set down for decision. Despite the the initial Soft 5 rating, a favourable forecast for Melbourne should push the track into Good 4 territory. The rail comes out 6m for the entire circuit, with the action commencing at 1pm AEST. Best Bet at Sandown: Ndola Ndola…

Respected trainer almost bookends decorated career

Karen Fursdon’s solo training career opened with a winning chapter and she went oh so close to a fairytale ending at the weekend. Successful with her first runner in her own right when Blazing Boy opened her account at Te Aroha in 1998, the popular Matamata horsewoman’s final representative Vino Valentino (NZ) (Zacinto) finished a close second at Te Rapa on Saturday. It signalled the end of a long and successful career highlighted by the 2004 victory of Upsetthym in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) off the back of the…

Trial wins for Moody’s sprint stars

The past two winners of the Gr.1 T.J. Smith Stakes gave notice on Tuesday that they are firmly on track for feature-race returns, with stablemates I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and Chain Of Lightning enjoying comfortable jumpout victories at Pakenham. I Wish I Win cruised in his 800-metre heat to record a soft win, as later did Chain Of Lightning, who was wearing the bottle green colours of her new owners Yulong Investments for the first time. She was purchased at public auction late last season by Yulong for…

Brightside revels in Valley gallop

A change of plans has seen Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) take to The Valley on Tuesday morning as an important part of his build-up towards a mouth-watering first-up bout against Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 31. Co-trainer Ben Hayes said the Lindsay Park team snapped up the chance to gallop the Cox Plate runner-up at The Valley rather than trial on a country track later in the week, as had been originally programmed. “He had a nice gallop there with a workmate and…

HK offers for Warmonger knocked back

Michael Kent Jnr has revealed that the connections of Queensland Derby winner Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) rejected a significant offer from Hong Kong owners to purchase the gelding. Previous Derby winners like Ruthven and Dark Dream were quickly snapped up by Hong Kong buyers with the intention of running in the lucrative Hong Kong Derby the following year, but Kent Jnr explained that the horse’s owners weren’t interested in following that trend after his dominant Group One triumph. “There was one particularly good one, but it was a clear no,”…

Pendragon’s time to fire

Auckland Guineas winner The Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) is expected to make an altogether different impact at his second Australian start than he did at his first when he lines up to begin his spring campaign at Caulfield on Saturday. The effects of a long campaign in New Zealand told on The Pendragon at his Australian debut in the Australian Guineas at Flemington in March and Anthony Feroce from the Mike Moroney and Glen Thompson stable said little notice should be taken from his 15th placing. “He’d been up…

Dunstan join the 2024 Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series

Thanks to the long-term support of Majestic Horse Transport as well as new partner Dunstan Horsefeeds, NZB is pleased to announce that the popular Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series will return for its fifth edition in 2024. The well-received series was introduced by NZB in 2020 to help support New Zealand trainers wishing to attend and purchase from its Ready to Run Sale in November.  Trainers Adrian Bull, Anne Davies, Andrew Carston, Guy Lowry, Rosie Buchanan, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Stephen Marsh, Ross Beckett, and Lance Noble were…