Month: February 2025

Karis Teetan excited ahead of Group 1 reunion with Ka Ying Rising

AAP

Ka Ying Rising surges to record-breaking success. Photo: HKJC Karis Teetan concedes extending beyond 1200m for the first time is a “small question mark” for outstanding sprinter Ka Ying Rising in the HK$13 million Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, but the Mauritian is buoyed by David Hayes’ supreme confidence. Ka Ying Rising has notched 10 wins from 12 starts, with only two narrow defeats, all over 1200m, rocketing from obscurity as an unraced 52-rater to status as one of the world’s premier sprinters…

Dee eyes trans-Tasman three-year-old features

AAP

Expat Kiwi hoop Michael Dee has been booked to ride Evaporate (pictured) and Savaglee in their upcoming targets. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Kiwi three-year-old Savaglee and the New Zealand-bred Evaporate are giving expat jockey Michael Dee plenty to look forward to over the next few weeks. Dee rode Evaporate to four consecutive victories in the spring including the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m), followed by a third placing in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m). The Per Incanto gelding resumed with a third in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) on…

Change to Final qualifying for Seddon Shields series

NZHarnessNews

HRNZ has approved a requested alteration to the Bob Rochford Memorial Seddon District Trotters Series. Originally it was decided that trotters would only qualify for the $30,000 Final at Addington if they had competed in four of the 10 qualifying races. The heats started at Kaikoura last November and have continued on through the top half of the South Island over the summer. There are just two heats left, at Westport and Reefton on March 7 and 9. Now HRNZ has agreed to a change to the qualifying criteria. Now,…

Flip flops help do the trick for Franco Marek

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Greg Manson did something he wouldn’t usually do with Franco Marek at Addington on Thursday night but he might be doing it a bit more from now on. The way the star of his five-horse stable won wearing flip flops in the main pace, on Thursday, The Peninsular Beachfront Resort – Mooloolaba Handicap Pace, they could be the answer to the high-class pacer’s problems. Franco Marek held out Vessen after wresting the lead off him mid-race and roaring home his last 800m in 54.6 seconds, the final…

James and Wellwood set for more time in Ellerslie spotlight

NZRacingDesk

Roger James and Robert Wellwood have played starring roles on many of Ellerslie’s biggest racedays over the last 13 months, and the Cambridge trainers are hoping to continue that trend on Saturday and again on Champions Day on March 8. Ellerslie staged four races last season with a stake of $1 million or more, and there have been three so far in 2024-25. James and Wellwood have won three of those seven-figure prizes with their stable star Orchestral. The high-class daughter of Savabeel headlines the Kingsclere contingent again at Ellerslie…

Road trip looming for Lombardi

NZRacingDesk

Stakes performer Lombardi has rarely ventured out of Canterbury, but over the next month he is set to hit the road, with trainer Bruce Smith keen to broaden his horizons. “He has never travelled further than Oamaru, but it is time to man up,” Smith said. The $170,000 Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui next Saturday is set to be his first major target of the autumn before he ventures across the Cook Strait for the first time to tackle the $110,000 NZ St Leger…

Derby tilt on the line for Hinekaha

NZRacingDesk

Hinekaha will have an opportunity to stamp her Derby credentials against the boys at Ellerslie on Saturday when taking on the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m). The classy three-year-old has been lightly-tried, with just four starts returning two wins and two minor placings, including a victory at her most recent start in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth. Andrew Forsman, who trains Hinekaha at Cambridge, couldn’t have been happier with her effort in the Central Districts. “It wasn’t a big margin, but I thought it was a…

Derby picture to be clearer after Guineas

NZRacingDesk

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike’s bid for a third Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (240m) title goes on the line at Ellerslie this weekend. His Classic contenders Golden Century and Amazing Fluke have arrived at the fork in the road when the youthful stablemates again clash in the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m). Pike has previously won the Derby with Sherwood Forest (2020) and Rangipo (2016) and will know after the Guineas what firepower he will have at his disposal in his bid for a third success in the Blue Riband…

Friday’s top horse racing bookmaker promos & offers | February 21

AAP

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Friday, February 21. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for February 21, 2025, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Moonee Valley R1 & 2 | Bet Back Run 2nd or 3rd Up To $50 Back Activate your Bet Back Tool in your Betslip on Races 1 & 2 at Moonee Valley…

Williamson and Hopes combine with two good chances at Cromwell

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  Matthew Williamson is itching to get into the harness racing hot seat at Cromwell on Friday.  The Oamaru reinsman has received the call-up to drive two strong winning threats on the first of two days of harness racing over the weekend in Eurokash and Homebush Lad. Williamson is no stranger to wearing the Greg and Nina Hope colours but will link up with Eurokash for the first time in the feature trot, the Oakley Plumbing Supplies Handicap Tot (5.08pm) and the driver thinks he can make the…