There was plenty of merit in Eye Candy’s runner-up effort behind Hinekaha in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth on Saturday, and trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray now have their sights set on a couple of Trentham fillies features. “It was very brave,” Ritchie said of Eye Candy’s weekend run. “It was a superb ride by Lily Sutherland, she got herself in front and then slowed them down and did her very best to wait as long as possible before taking off, and nearly got away with…
Month: February 2025
James unveils another Derby hopeful
Roger James has unveiled an exciting prospect in his attempt to add a seventh $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) to his record, in the form of unbeaten three-year-old Oceana Dream. James has prepared half a dozen Derby winners in his career, the most recent being last year’s demolition job by star filly Orchestral, which was his first in partnership with Robert Wellwood. Oceana Dream, a gelding by Ocean Park, debuted with a comfortable win over 1400m on January 2 and stepped out to the mile in last…
Top drive steers Boudica to Hawera Cup victory
By Mike Love A “peach” of a drive by Harrison Orange helped Blenheim trainer Tony Thomas and his mare Boudica take out the DTS Hawera Cup at Hawera yesterday. “It was good. She tries so hard every time she races,” said Thomas. Boudica settled back of midfield early from their 10 metre handicap. Orange then elected to move around the field with eyes on the lead at the 1200m. From there the pair staved off all challengers, holding on to win by one length. “We were pretty stiff on the…
Republican Party heading home after big Hunter Cup run
By Adam Hamilton Auckland Cup winner Republican Party is heading home after his fantastic third in the Hunter Cup. But compatriots Tact McLeod and Don’t Stop Dreaming will stay in Victoria to clash with Leap To Fame again in next Saturday night’s $100,000 Group 2 Cranbourne Cup. Trainer Cran Dalgety also planned to tackle Cranbourne, but admitted Republican Party “certainly felt” his brave and close-up third to Swayzee and Leap To Fame in record smashing time. “It’s really the first time in his career he’s pulled-up a bit shagged, as…
Oamaru treble helps Greg Hope to 1000 training wins
By Jonny Turner Homebush Lad helped trainer Greg Hope join an elite group to have trained 1000 New Zealand winners with his Temuka Transport Waikouaiti Cup victory at Oamaru yesterday. Hope brought up the milestone when Torvi took out yesterday’s finale, the McLellan Freight Ltd Trot, to complete a winning treble for the horseman, who trains in partnership with wife, Nina. The Hopes ended the Oamaru meeting with 892 career victories, with Greg having prepared 108 winners before entering into an official training partnership with Nina. The couple’s son Ben…
Grafton Tuesday races free betting tips & quaddie | February 4
What Grafton Races Where Clarence River Jockey Club – Powell St, Grafton NSW 2460 When Tuesday, February 4, 2025 First Race 1:15pm AEDT Visit Dabble The Clarence River Jockey Club is the destination for NSW racing on Tuesday afternoon, with a competitive eight-part program lined up at Grafton. The rail moves out +3m the entire circuit, and although the track is rated a Good 4 at the time of acceptances, scattered rainfall means punters could be facing a downgrade into the Soft range at some stage. All the action is…
Here To Shock set for NZ Group 1 sprint
Australian raider Here To Shock will contest Saturday’s Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Well-performed Lindsay Park representative Here To Shock is back in familiar territory and thriving in his build-up toward Saturday’s feature sprint at Te Rapa. The New Zealand-bred seven-year-old arrived without incident last week for a crack at the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) with top Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller booked to ride the son of Shocking. “He’s all good to go and flew over on Thursday night and arrived…
Alhambra Lad set to chase Hobart Cup success
Alhambra Lad. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Alhambra Lad (Proisir) will head to the Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) on Sunday following a last-start fourth in the Summer Cup (2200m) at the same track last month. “We thought it was an okay run as he may have been in the wrong part of the track on the inside. It was a good progressive run for the Hobart Cup,” Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Michelle Payne told Racing.com. The seven-year-old gelding was sent off as…
Sprinter ready to shock in NZ Group One raid
Well-performed Lindsay Park representative Here To Shock is back in familiar territory and thriving in his build-up toward Saturday’s feature sprint at Te Rapa. The New Zealand-bred seven-year-old arrived without incident last week for a crack at the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) with top Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller booked to ride the son of Shocking. “He’s all good to go and flew over on Thursday night and arrived safely on Friday morning and is staying with Stephen Marsh,” said Ben Hayes, who trains with brothers Will and JD. The…
Brazen mare back on track at New Plymouth
Progressive sprinting mare Ima Brazen One delivered on the promise she showed early in her career with an impressive victory at New Plymouth on Saturday. The daughter of Brazen Beau caught plenty of attention when spacing her rivals on debut in September 2023, but subsequently faced a setback, forcing her off the scene until the following April. She added another victory to her record as a three-year-old, before heading to the paddock. Kicking off in early November, Ima Brazen One struck unfavourable conditions at Tauherenikau and Trentham, but showed signs…