The South Island’s reigning champion stable will be out in force when the Grand National Carnival kicks off at Riccarton on Saturday. Michael and Matthew Pitman topped last season’s South Island trainers’ premiership with 54 wins, earning themselves a sixth-place finish overall on the national standings. The father-son duo will be represented by 10 runners on their home track on Saturday, including a three-pronged attack on the $45,000 Christchurch Casino 29th South Island Awards 13 September Open (1200m). That trio includes the nine-race winner Makabar (NZ) (Swiss Ace), who was a…
Month: August 2024
Rae Aims for Strong Kickoff at Ruakaka
Kenny Rae will start a new chapter in his training career on Saturday, with his successful term in partnership with daughter Krystal Williams having come to an end. Rae has been training since the late eighties, accumulating nearly 400 wins, with 132 of those coming since 2016/17 alongside Williams at Ruakaka. The latter more recently moved to her new base out of Burnham in Canterbury, ultimately sparking a desire to go out on her own. “She’s decided she wants to have a go on her own, she’s been good in…
Coffs Harbour racing preview & quaddie | August 2, 2024
What Coffs Harbour Cup Day 2024 Where Coffs Harbour Racing Club and Function Centre – 62 Howard St, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 When Friday, August 2, 2024 First Race 12:29pm AEST Visit Dabble Country racing heads to the mid north coast of NSW on Friday afternoon, with the $150,000 Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) headlining a stacked eight-race program. The rail is in the true position the entire way around, and with nothing but sunny skies forecast in the lead-up, punters can expect the surface to dry out into the Good…
Belmont racing tips & quaddie selections | Saturday, August 3
What Belmont Races Where Belmont Racecourse – Saintly Entrance, Burswood WA 6100 When Saturday, August 3, 2024 First Race 12:29pm AWST Visit Dabble Belmont will host a very competitive nine-race program this Saturday afternoon, with racing set to kick off at 12:29pm AWST. The track was rated as a Soft 7 at the time of acceptances, and it is tipped to stay in that range. The rail will be pushed out to the +6m position for the entire circuit, so the track should play favourably to on-speed runners. Best Bet…
Doomben free racing preview & best bets | Saturday, August 3
What Doomben Races Where Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, August 3, 2024 First Race 11:38am AEST Visit Dabble Racing returns to Doomben this Saturday afternoon as the Brisbane Racing Club hosts a very competitive nine-race program. The track was rated as a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, but with no rain forecast for the rest of the week, a Good 4 surface is expected for the whole meeting. The rail will be pushed out to the +4.5m position for the entire circuit,…
Stella Bay carrying Bond family’s hopes in Winton
By Jonny Turner Lyndon Bond hopes he can produce a special win at Winton as harness racing resumes in Southland today. The Bond stable is a family operation with Lyndon’s wife Aimee and daughter Millie contributing to the team’s great results in recent seasons. Recently the family suffered the loss of Aimee’s father Colin Argyle, whose funeral was held on Wednesday. Bond would dearly love to acknowledge his father in law’s passing with what would be a special victory at Winton. “The old fella left $50 in his back pocket…
Mark Twain continues on Cup path
Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) took the first step in a long road leading to the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) with an exhibition gallop between races at Tauranga on Wednesday. The son of Shocking earned his place in the iconic November feature with victory in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) in March, with his first public appearance off a spell pleasing co-trainer Roger James. “I was very happy with the way he worked and the way he pulled up,” said James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood. “With the weather…
Mark Twain takes first step on long Melbourne Cup road
Mark Twain during his exhibition gallop at Tauranga on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Mark Twain took the first step in a long road leading to the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) with an exhibition gallop between races at Tauranga on Wednesday. The son of Shocking earned his place in the iconic November feature with victory in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) in March, with his first public appearance off a spell pleasing co-trainer Roger James. “I was very happy with the way he worked and the way he…
Waterhouse & Bott acquire NZ Stakes performer Collect Your Cash
Stakes winner Collect Your Cash will continue his racing career in Sydney. Photo: Monica Toretto Stakes winner Collect Your Cash will continue his racing career in Australia after recently being purchased out of former trainer Shankar Muniandy’s Wingatui barn by leading Sydney trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The son of Rageese was bred by Windsor Park Stud and was offered through their ‘Racing, Racing and Beer’ South Island Sale as a yearling in 2022 where he was purchased by Ben Kwok, under his Lionrock Bloodstock banner, for $15,000. He…
Divine Essence scores maiden success at Tauranga
Divine Essence winning at Tauranga on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Moira and Kieran Murdoch completed the racing season in winning fashion, with Divine Essence scoring her maiden victory at Tauranga on Wednesday. Only lightly raced for a rising five-year-old, Divine Essence was having her fifth raceday start and second under the Murdoch’s care, with her most recent effort finishing back in the field on the Cambridge Synthetic. The mare looked to have gained clear improvement from the fresh-up run when trialling well in the heavy conditions at Avondale…