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Day: 27 April 2025
Harness racing rocked by death of Greg Sugars
By Adam Hamilton The harness racing world is shocked and devastated following news of the tragic passing of decorated horseman Greg Sugars. News of Sugars’ passing emerged on Saturday afternoon via the Instagram account of Larajay Farm, run by Sugars and his wife Jess Tubbs. “With an absolutely shattered heart that doesn’t want to believe it’s possibly true, I need to share the news that Greg passed away in his sleep last night,” the post read. “Greg had excitedly driven our team to NSW yesterday with none of us possibly…
Tenzing secures first stakes success
New Zealand-bred gelding Tenzing (NZ) (Contributer) took his career to new heights with a first black-type win in Saturday’s A$300,000 Listed Jones & Co IGA Brisbane Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm. The Tony Gollan-trained six-year-old has now won seven of his 29 starts, along with three seconds and nine thirds. He has earned A$443,221 for an Australian Bloodstock syndicate. Tenzing got into Saturday’s Brisbane Mile on the minimum weight of 53kg and jumped from gate one. He was given a perfect ride by Regan Bayliss, who saved ground along the…
Step Aside picks up where he left off
In his first raceday appearance since winning at Rosehill in February, consistent galloper Step Aside (NZ) (Redwood) returned to action on a winning note in the A$160,000 Terry Marskell Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday. The Benchmark 78 handicap was the fifth victory of a 21-start career for the New Zealand-bred gelding, who has placed on another eight occasions and has earned A$375,600 for an OTI Racing ownership group. Representing the champion expat New Zealand trainer-jockey combination of Chris Waller and James McDonald, Step Aside was sent out as a…
Travis Stakes redemption for Val Di Zoldo
Val Di Zoldo’s (NZ) (War Decree) victory in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday showed what a difference a year can make. The $150,000 fillies and mares’ feature capped an autumn black-type double for the War Decree mare, who was a last-start winner of the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m) at Wanganui on April 5. It could hardly be a more different story to what happened in those same two races 12 months ago. Val Di Zoldo ran fourth in the 2024 edition of the Manawatu…
Gold Cup hero delivers another milestone for Kincaid
Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion) has been a special horse for rookie trainer Brooke Kincaid, who had her first taste of black-type success in Saturday’s Gr.3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) at Riccarton. Kincaid went into partnership with Riverton trainer Graham Eade at the beginning of this season. Riviera Rebel quickly became her first winner with a Rating 75 victory at Riccarton on August 10, and on Saturday the talented gelding was in the spotlight again as he provided her sixth and most significant training success. “It’s amazing,” Kincaid said.…
Dirty Grin continues purple patch
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Dirty Grin (NZ) (Zacinto) collected his third win from four starts in this preparation with a come-from-behind victory in the A$80,000 Symal Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday. The five-year-old son of Zacinto came into this campaign with two wins to his name in a 14-start career. He has had a change of scenery this year with a move from Simon Zahra’s stable into the care of Nick Ryan, and Dirty Grin hasn’t looked back. He kicked off his preparation with a Benchmark 64 victory…