Aiming to crown an unblemished season with victory in the HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on 27 April, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) produced an almost flawless barrier trial this morning (Thursday, 17 April), delighting trainer David Hayes and jockey Zac Purton. Jumping away moderately on Sha Tin’s dirt track, Ka Ying Rising quickly built momentum to lead from the 1000m and eventually won the hit-out by three and a half lengths from HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) winner My Wish in 1m…
Year: 2025
Miki’s the real deal in Fillies Classic
By Jonny Turner There’s no disputing that Miki’s Deal’s impressive debut win in the Group 2 Entain Southern Fillies Classic at Winton was a local triumph. The filly made the most of her trip in the one-one for driver Matthew Williamson, charging away from her rivals for an emphatic win. Miki’s Deal was raised by her breeders and owners, Marty and Daphne Fairbairn, who live just minutes from Central Southland Raceway, and she is trained by Winton committee member Brett Gray. The filly had had all of her trial outings…
Thursday’s Alexandra Park meeting postponed until Saturday
By Michael Guerin The Alexandra Park meeting postponed on Thursday because of shocking weather in Auckland will move to Saturday, but with one race less. The meeting is a crucial lead-up to next Friday’s five Group-1 race meeting at the same venue, with Thursday’s canned meeting scheduled to hold both the Oaks and Derby Preludes. But Cyclone Tam has brought heavy rainfall and strong winds and left thousands of homes in the upper North Island without power. Ferries have also been cancelled and many domestic flights in and out of…
HRNZ roadshows on “utilisation” changes
HRNZ is hitting the road in late April-early May. It will host roadshows from Invercargill to Auckland to explain the latest initiatives by the Utilisation Reference Group (URG) that have been endorsed by the HRNZ Board. Among the topics that will be addressed are : The Conduct of Race MeetingsHandicapping and Programming of RacesThe Rating SystemScratchingsOperating of the National BureauAmendments to Claiming Races. The schedule for the Roadshows is : Invercargill, 1 pm, Monday April 28 – RacecourseOamaru, 2pm, Tuesday April 29 – Racecourse, after the trialsTimaru, 11am, Wednesday 30…
Ascot free racing tips, quaddie & top odds | W.A.T.C. Derby Day
What W.A.T.C. Derby Day Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Saturday, April 19, 2025 First Race 11:54am AWST Visit Dabble The Group 2 W.A.T.C. Derby will headline the nine-race card at Ascot this Saturday afternoon, where the opening event is scheduled to jump at 11:54am AEST. The track is expected to remain in the Good 4 range with no rain and perfect weather forecast in the lead-up to the meeting. The rail will move back into its true position for the entire circuit. W.A.T.C. Derby…
Ormsby’s late decision proves a winning move
Chad Ormsby made a late call to ride his own horse Kirrawee (NZ) (Vanbrugh) in the Lest We Forget 1600 at Matamata on Thursday and that decision proved a winning one for the former top hoop. The former Group One-winning jockey stepped away from full-time riding in 2012, but briefly returned in the 2020/21 season, guiding home a further 10 winners during this period. Ormsby hasn’t ridden on raceday since Boxing Day in 2020, turning his complete focus to his business Riverrock Farm, which specialises in training, pre-training, young horse…
Talented gelding out to break through in northern feature
Dubai’s Potiki (NZ) (Ocean Park) has inherited all the better qualities of his talented dam and Chrissy Bambry hopes he can follow in her Group Three-winning footsteps at Ellerslie on Saturday. He is the youngest and final foal out of Dubai Belle (NZ) (E Dubai), a winner of the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) in the care of Bambry’s father Tony. The mare passed away only days after Dubai’s Potiki was born, and after being passed in at the National Yearling Sales, he has been retained by the family to race.…
Randwick full racing preview & best bets | Saturday, April 19
What All-Aged Stakes Day 2025 Where Royal Randwick Racecourse When Saturday, April 19, 2025 First Race 11:25am AEST Visit Dabble The Sydney autumn carnival comes to a close at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday afternoon, with the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) headlining the action on a stacked 10-part program. The rail moves out +6m from the 1000m marker to winning post, while the remainder is out +5m. Drying conditions leading into the weekend should allow the surface to be upgraded into the Good range prior to the opening event…
Eagle Farm races betting preview & quaddie tips | Saturday 17/4
What Eagle Farm Races Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, April 19, 2025 First Race 10:59am AEST Visit Dabble The Listed Daybreak Lover and Ascot Handicap will headline the 10-race card at Eagle Farm on Saturday afternoon. The track was rated as a Soft 6 at the time of acceptances, but with warm weather forecast in the coming days, it is expected that the track will firm into the Good range by raceday. The rail will be in the +3m position for the…
Giga Kick to resume in The Goodwood
Giga Kick. (Photo: George Sal – Racing Photos) Dual Group 1-winning sprinter Giga Kick will launch his autumn campaign in The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 10, bypassing a return trip to Queensland for the Doomben 10,000. The five-year-old, owned by Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing, impressed in a 1000-metre jump-out at Balnarring on Wednesday, clocking a slick 59.03s. That performance sealed the decision to head south instead. “We spoke to Jonathan, and it’s too tempting with the minimum weight, so rather than go to the Doomben 10,000, he’s going…