Year: 2025

Alalcance grinds his way to victory in Randwick City Stakes

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Alalance winning the 2025 Randwick City Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Tim Clark has claimed a race-to-race double for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott barn at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with Alalcance ($2.80) grinding her way to victory in the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m). The Mastercraftsman mare justified a wealth of support with horse racing bookmakers to secure the first-up victory, with Clark taking all luck out of the equation from the inside draw (1) to lead throughout the journey. Almania () pressed forward to ensure a genuine tempo throughout…

Ascot racing preview, best bets & quaddie tips | Sunday, March 9

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What Ascot races Where Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 When Sunday, March 9, 2025 First Race 1:40pm AWST Visit Dabble The Listed Lex Piper Stakes and 1000 Guineas will headline the eight-race card at Ascot on Sunday afternoon. The track is expected to stay in the Good 4 rating that was posted at acceptances, with warm weather forecast across the weekend. The rail will be in the +7m position for the entire circuit, with the first race scheduled to jump at 1:40pm AWST. Ascot 1000 Guineas…

Joliestar sprints clear in Group 1 Newmarket Handicap

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Joliestar ridden by Damian Lane wins the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Joliestar has bounced back with a slashing victory in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), giving Chris Waller his second victory in the race and Damian Lane his first success in the time-honoured contest. The daughter of Zoustar finished third in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes first-up, and punters were more than happy to give her another chance, as she was hammered in betting with Picklebet and jumped as a +240 favourite. After jumping…

Linebacker holds off Broadsiding to win Randwick Guineas

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Group 1 Randwick Guineas winner, Linebacker. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The John O’Shea & Tom Charlton-trained Linebacker ($9.00) has tasted Group 1 success for the first time at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, fending off all challengers to claim the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m). The son of Super Seth had always promised to produce at the highest level across seven career starts, consistently finishing on the heel of Broadsiding ($1.60) throughout the spring campaign. It finally eventuated on Saturday with Zac Lloyd storming across to take up the running in the early…

Damask Rose scoops biggest prize in New Zealand Racing

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Te Akau Racing, Blake Shinn and fantastic filly Damask Rose created a piece of New Zealand racing history when they took out the inaugural running of the richest race in the land, the newly minted $3.5 million Listed The NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie. The slot race is the centrepiece of the newly created Barfoot and Thompson Champions Day, a day featuring eight black-type contests including four at Group One level. Open to New Zealand bred three-year-olds, the 14 slots for the race were auctioned during 2024 and were snapped…

Connors lands another Ellerslie staying feature

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Raymond Connors’ green and red colours will forever be known for six victories in the Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) at Ellerslie between 1998 and 2019, but the respected Manawatu horseman returned to Auckland on Saturday and took the spoils in another major test of stamina. Connors won the Great Northern as an owner and jockey on Our Jonty (1998) before adding owner-trainer successes with Hypnotize (2007, 2008, 2009) and Wise Men Say (2017, 2019). Now those trophies sit alongside a major prize on the flat, courtesy of a $17 upset…

Thrilling finish to Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes

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Pin up boy El Vencedor signed off his latest local campaign with the final leg of a winning Group One treble when he downed gallant mare La Crique in a thrilling finish to the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. El Vencedor or EV as he is now affectionately known had added the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) to his career record at his previous two starts and was shooting for a final local accolade before heading to Hong Kong next…

Provence a dual Group One winner after Breeders’ Stakes upset

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Eight weeks after celebrating what they thought was a career pinnacle in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham, the connections of blue-blooded mare Provence were treated to something even more special in Saturday’s Gr.1 HKJC World Pool New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie. The fillies and mares’ feature carried a stake of $600,000 and was one of four Group Ones on a star-studded Champions Day card. Provence earned her time in the spotlight with a stunning $30 upset over the $1.30 favourite, New Zealand’s highest-rated mare Legarto.…

Alabama Lass Melbourne-bound after King’s Plate romp

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Ken and Bev Kelso bought Alabama Lass in Melbourne as a yearling two years ago, and a stunning performance in Saturday’s Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie has them plotting a return. The $250,000 sprint feature on Champions Day was a rematch of the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) in January, where Crocetti defeated Alabama Lass by a short head. Alabama Lass had a weight swing in her favour on Saturday and jumped as a $1.70 favourite to turn the tables, and she delivered in style. Alabama Lass broke sharply…

Dee makes winning return to New Zealand

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Ex-pat Kiwi rider Michael (Mick) Dee gained early success on his latest race day return to his homeland when he guided favourite Island Life to victory in the Gr. 3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie. Dee, who plies in his trade in Melbourne these days after spending his formative years in New Zealand, had been engaged to partner race favourite Willydoit in the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) later on the card and got his day off to a great start with a superb effort…