Two members of the current All Blacks rugby squad are hoping they will have cause for a double celebration this weekend. Damian McKenzie and Jordie Barrett will be cheering on their promising mare My Chablis(NZ) (Burgundy) at Friday’s Awapuni meeting ahead of their clash with Argentina in Wellington on Saturday evening. The duo shares in the ownership of the Stephen Marsh-trained daughter of Burgundy who has made an encouraging start to her career with two wins and a placing from four appearances. My Chablis will run in the $100,000 Martin…
Month: August 2024
Exciting win for Fyre
Ashley Frye has waited over a decade to get back into the winner’s circle, but that wait is now over after guiding Float to success in the Nautical Insurance Grand National Amateur Championship (2200m) at Riccarton Park Synthetic on Wednesday. Having ridden 75 winners, two at stakes level, as an apprentice jockey, Frye’s professional career was cut short after a serious fall in 2014, aged just 18. After recovering from the accident, Frye followed in her father Danny Frye’s footsteps into the training ranks, with 19 successes to her credit,…
betcha enter New Zealand betting landscape
An exciting new player has entered the New Zealand wagering industry, with the launch of betcha. The arrival of betcha yesterday is the first time since the TAB was established back in 1950 that there’s a new betting brand based in New Zealand. Entain Australia and New Zealand’s Managing Director – New Zealand, Cameron Rodger, said betcha was a direct response to the increasing threat to New Zealand sports and racing caused by offshore betting operators. “In the three months to the end of June 2024, New Zealanders’ spending with…
Hill and Macca Lodge keen to keep momentum going at Invercargill
By Jonny Turner Max Hill has starred on the rugby field this winter and will attempt to do the same at Ascot Park on Thursday. The junior driver was part of Wyndham’s Division One rugby competition win late last month. The victory was nice reward for Hill who had to sit out part of the rugby and harness racing seasons with a leg injury recently. The reinsman is safer than other Southland junior drivers under the high ball, but he isn’t one to talk up his rugby skill. “I scored…
Move To Strike impresses at Te Rapa trials
Move To Strike powers to the line to capture the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham. Photo: Race Images PN Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are excited for what spring has instore for their premiership-winning team, with several of their stars stepping out at the Te Rapa trials on Tuesday. One of those stars is Group One winner Move To Strike, who finished runner-up by a head to Alabama Lass in their 900m heat, showing he has lost none of the brilliance he showed as a…
Woodsford off the mark with Riccarton success
Bridget Woodsford was all smiles after recording her first win as a trainer at Riccarton on Wednesday. Photo: Race Images South It’s been a week to remember for the Woodsford family. Family patriarch Steven Woodsford tasted success at Riccarton last Saturday with Street Fightin Man, and on Wednesday his daughter Bridget followed suit when recording her first win as a trainer courtesy of Blue Bay on the Riccarton Synthetic. Blue Bay had finished runner-up first-up on the surface last month and Woodsford was confident her mare could go one better…
Spartan runs away with Riccarton synthetic feature
Russell McKay with Spartan and Tegan Newman after winning the Ripple Creek Equine Polytrack $100,000 (1200m) at Riccarton Park Synthetic. Photo: Race Images South A classy field of synthetic specialists assembled at Riccarton Park in search of the rich spoils on offer in the inaugural Ripple Creek Equine Polytrack $100,000 (1200m), but the glory went the way of local trainers Russell McKay and Ashley Harrington with Spartan. A winner of his maiden on the synthetic early last year, Spartan had proven himself in strong company on turf over the summer…
Waterhouse & Bott chasing lucrative spring with sprint duo
Adam Hyeronimus had Storm Boy in splendid isolation when claiming the Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Photo: Darren Winningham Tulloch Lodge has unveiled the spring campaigns for two of their standout horses, Storm Boy and Lady Of Camelot. Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are targeting the Melbourne Spring Carnival with the pair. Lady Of Camelot is set to kick off her campaign aimed at The Everest (1200m) in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley next month. Meanwhile, Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) winner Storm Boy will start…
Sale set to host Victoria’s first Inglis Xtra Bonus
Sale Turf Clib is set to host Victoria’s first Inglis Xtra Bonus. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) The first Victorian race to feature in the new $5 million Inglis Xtra Bonus Maiden Series takes place at Sale on Thursday, August 22, when the 3YO Maiden Plate (1100m) will carry a $100,000 bonus for eligible horses. The national series will see a total of 50 maiden races throughout the 2024-25 season carry the lucrative $100,000 bonus. Provided the winning horse is an Inglis graduate and fully paid up for the Inglis…
Dewsbury content with Darwin Cup Carnival
Happily for Darwin Turf Club chief executive officer Grant Dewsbury, the positives outweighed the negatives during the 2024 Darwin Cup Carnival. The eight days of racing, which started on July 6, concluded on Monday with Cup Day at Fannie Bay. The Peter Robl-trained six-year-old gelding Hadouken from the Gold Coast, ridden by leading Sydney jockey Tyler Schiller, won the $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m). A decision was made by the DTC not to utilise the infield this year – it traditionally accommodates the corporates and general public. The Gala Ball returned…