Cambridge’s Night of Champions is one of racing’s biggest, and it promises to be another epic trans-Tasman battle. Friday’s 10-race card will be highlighted by the $1m Race by betcha and the $600,000 TAB Trot plus a support card that includes the Dorothy Cutts Invitational. To mark what will be a huge occasion we have produced a special Liftout with previews, tips, opinion pieces and more. To view the Liftout please click here
Day: 2 April 2025
House on the money again at Manawatu
By Brigette Solomon No stable is winning races like Michael House is right now. On Tuesday at Manawatu his runners won five of the night’s seven races – it’s the third time this year that he’s had five wins at the same meeting. The previous five-fors were also at Manawatu on February 11 and February 13. Four of the five winners were driven by son Wilson House, who is second in the drivers’ premiership with 43 wins this year, 10 shy of seven time champion Blair Orange. “It…
News Briefs – April 2
Nina Hope’s record-breaking final training tally, an increase to the minimum wage, and plenty of chat about Cambridge’s Night of Champions all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Nina Hope’s final training tally This country’s most successful female trainer Nina Hope is leaving the training ranks with 903 career wins. As announced last week Hope is not renewing her trainers’ licence, with son Ben joining Greg in partnership from yesterday, April 1. The Woodend-based husband and wife combo of Greg and Nina Hope have been a huge successful training operation…
McCarthy heading for the front in $1mThe Race by betcha
By Michael Guerin Champion horseman Luke McCarthy has only one plan for Don Hugo after securing the perfect barrier in Friday’s $1million Race by Betcha at Cambridge. “We will be leading and staying there,” he says matter-of-factly. That was the New South Wales superstar driver’s only tactic after Don Hugo, the Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile champion, drew barrier 2 for the slot race over 2200m mobile, suggesting he will be the early leader. His arch rival and best horse in the race Leap To Fame drew the outside of front line,…
Inglis Sires’ 2025 Field & Betting Update: Slipper Runner-Up Wodeton Favourite
Chris Waller‘s Wodeton, narrowly defeated in the Golden Slipper, is the favourite in a closely contested Inglis Sires’ 2025 betting market this Saturday at Randwick. The Group 1 $1 million Inglis Sires’ (1400m) features ten of the season’s top two-year-olds. “Wodeton is favourite to return to winning form in the 2025 Inglis Sires’ this weekend […] The post Inglis Sires’ 2025 Field & Betting Update: Slipper Runner-Up Wodeton Favourite appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
Kiwi Raider Willydoit Heads 2025 ATC Australian Derby Field & Odds
The 2025 ATC Australian Derby at Randwick this Saturday features a compelling contest between New Zealand raider Willydoit and the talented filly Aeliana, who are both vying for favouritism in the Group 1 $2 million staying showdown. “NZ Derby winner Willydoit is down under for Saturday’s 2025 Australian Derby,” a racing analyst from Races.com.au reported. […] The post Kiwi Raider Willydoit Heads 2025 ATC Australian Derby Field & Odds appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
TJ Smith Stakes 2025 Field & Betting Update: Joliestar Favourite
Chris Waller is aiming for his fourth TJ Smith Stakes victory this Saturday at Royal Randwick, with his mare Joliestar leading the charge in the Group 1 $3 million sprint feature. Waller, who previously enjoyed a three-year reign with Nature Strip, has a strong hand in the 2025 edition. “Newmarket Handicap winning mare Joliestar heads […] The post TJ Smith Stakes 2025 Field & Betting Update: Joliestar Favourite appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
Linebacker Looks to Extend 3YOs’ Dominance in Doncaster
John O’Shea is content he couldn’t have Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) in any better shape for the Doncaster Mile and the rest, he says, is up to the horse. The colt remains favourite at $6 after coming up with gate 14 at Tuesday night’s barrier draw and O’Shea says Linebacker’s campaign has been faultless. “The things we can control we have under control,” O’Shea said. “He is a very fit, healthy horse. Whether we’re good enough, we’re going to determine that on Saturday. “The preparation has gone exactly how we have wanted. He will…
Foot Troubles Resurface for La Crique
Dual Group One winner La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) has been plagued by foot issues her entire career, and unfortunately they have reared their ugly head once again over the weekend. The daughter of Vadamos was set to contest the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill last Saturday, but the race was transferred to Tuesday because of inclement weather, which proved costly to La Crique, who succumbed to a foot infection and was forced to be withdrawn from the rescheduled race. “When they moved those races to the Tuesday, I was…
Flying Filly Set to Join Lindsay Park Stable
Multiple stakes winner Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns) is to continue her career across the Tasman at Lindsay Park with brothers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. The daughter of Ten Sovereigns will relocate in due course to the family’s Euroa complex to prepare for a spring campaign in Melbourne. The three-year-old’s sparkling run of southern form through the summer prompted Cambridge Stud to purchase a 50 percent holding in the filly from owner Colin Wightman. Connections identified Lindsay Park as the ideal fit for Pivotal Ten, given she has previously…