Romantic Warrior trials as Shum eyes Hong Kong Cup three-peat

Healthy Happy is a five-time winner in Hong Kong. Romantic Warrior coasted through a barrier trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning as trainer Danny Shum’s eight-time Group 1 winner prepares to return in the HK$5.35 million Group 2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m). Romantic Warrior clocked 57.52s in second position over 1000m on turf under Hugh Bowman, a short head behind Macau import Wonderstar. The Hong Kong International Sale graduate’s first major target is to win an unprecedented third HK$40 million Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on 8…

Healthy Happy seeks Group 3 Celebration Cup repeat

Healthy Happy is a five-time winner in Hong Kong. This season’s Group racing gets underway at Sha Tin on Sunday with the running of the Group 3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m), where game veteran Healthy Happy is aiming for a second straight win in the HK$4.2 million feature. One of seven entries for the race, Healthy Happy scooped last year’s prize first-up from out in front against five rivals as the race’s longest odds chance. Trainer Frankie Lor has prepared the eight-year-old – who has five wins in Hong Kong…

Canterbury free racing preview & best bets | September 18, 2024

What Canterbury Races Where Canterbury Park Racecourse – King Street, Canterbury NSW 2193 When Wednesday, September 18, 2024 First Race 1:25pm AEST Visit Dabble Metro racing returns to Canterbury Park Racecourse on Wednesday, with a quickfire seven-part program set to start at 1:25pm AEST. The rail moves out +8m for the meeting, so punters will want to give a slight edge to on-speed gallopers. Pristine spring conditions are forecast to continue throughout the week, so participants should be racing on a genuine Good 4 surface. Best Bet at Canterbury: Deprivation…

Velocious set to be sidelined for extended period

Group One winner Velocious has been ruled out of racing for the remainder of the year. Photo: Race Images Stephen Marsh may have temporarily lost the services of his star youngster Velocious, but he still has enough firepower to be a major force to be reckoned with in upcoming age group features. The Cambridge trainer was forced to call a halt to her three-year-old program following below par efforts when resuming at Taupo and again in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m). “She’s gone for a wind operation, she’ll…

Melbourne Cup 2024 weights and order of entry released

Mark Zahra kisses the Cup after winning the 2023 Melbourne Cup on Without A Fight. (Photo by Jay Town/Racing Photos) We’re one step closer to finding out what the 2024 Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) final field will look like, with Racing Victoria’s (RV) Head of Handicapping, David Hegan releasing the official weights and order of entry for the race that stops the nation. 77 horses have passed the first ballot for entry into Australia’s greatest staying contest, with four horses currently ballot exempt for November 5, including last Saturday’s…

Caulfield Cup 2024 favourites well positioned in order of entry

The order of entry for the 2024 Group 1 Caulfield Cup was announced on Tuesday. (Photo by Jay Town/Racing Photos) The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) will be run on Saturday, October 19, and on Tuesday, the weights were announced for the 86 nominated runners in the $5 million feature. After booking his place in the Cup through an unexpected victory in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m), Esti Feny from the Matthew Smith stable joins Fawkner Park as one of two runners that are ballot exempt for the Caulfield Cup.…

Coco Sun set for Group 1 WFA challenge

SA Derby winner Coco Sun. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Last season’s Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) winner, Coco Sun, is set for her second spring outing in Saturday’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield. Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, the four-year-old mare returned with a solid seventh-place finish in a Benchmark 100 (1400m) at Caulfield last month, finishing 2.8 lengths behind winner Another Wil. “I was happy with her return. She ran a really solid last furlong and didn’t get a lot of room,” Calvin McEvoy…

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai extend sponsorship in NZ

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai have extended their sponsorship of the New Zealand racing industry to include the $250,000 Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (2100m) and best turned-out prizes at New Zealand’s premier racetrack, Ellerslie. The Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase will be run on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8. In addition to the race sponsorship, Al Basti Equiworld Dubai will also be sponsoring cash prizes awarded to the strapper of the best turned out horse in every race run at Ellerslie. “We are delighted…

Overpass ramps up spring preparation with trial win

Group 1 winner, Overpass. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Overpass is gearing up for an exciting spring campaign after winning a 900-metre trial at Rosehill on Monday morning. The gelding, who has earned over $7.7 million in prize money, hasn’t raced since his victory in The Quokka (1200m) in April. Trainer Bjorn Baker confirmed that Overpass will kick off his campaign in Sydney before heading to Melbourne for the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington, followed by a possible trip west for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), a race he won…