Weigh In, April 20

Guy, Aidan & Emily review the racing action from Ellerslie and Riverton, featuring very tidy stakes races. They also catch up with the Stephen Marsh in Hong Kong ahead of El Vencedor’s big assignment and are joined by Sam Williams from Little Avondale Stud after another Group 1 win for Per Incanto. Weigh In, April 20

Mayor Norwood proves superior with commanding Riverton Cup victory

Consistent sayer Mayor Of Norwood (NZ) (Ghibellines) continued a run of consistent form when he took full advantage of a rails hugging ride by apprentice Donovan Cooper to take out the feature event at Riverton on Saturday, the Kennedy Building Riverton Cup (2170m) Cooper only secured the mount on the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained six-year-old after regular pilot Corey Campbell broke his foot late in the week, but produced an absolute gem as he never went around a horse throughout the race to secure victory The winner of the Waikouaiti…

Bankers Choice stars with Mornington Cup victory

Versatile Kiwi-bred galloper Bankers Choice has provided himself with a shot at one of the biggest prizes on the Victorian spring racing calendar with victory in Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup (2400m). The seven-year-old son of Mongolian Khan provided trainer Glen Thompson with his first solo victory since the shock passing of his co-trainer Mike Moroney when he won his last start at Caulfield. Bankers Choice has often looked a capable stayer and Saturday’s victory was not only his second straight success over 2400m but the victory also makes him ballot…

Jimmysstar brilliant in All Aged triumph

Former Kiwi galloper Jimmysstar has stamped himself as one of the most exciting sprinters in Australia with a brilliant victory in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher-trained five-year-old was given a masterful ride by Ethan Brown, tracking Broadsiding midfield on the fence throughout before patiently waiting for the gaps to appear. When the son of Per Incanto found clear air, the acceleration was instant as he ran out a ready winner from Joliestar and Sunshine In Paris. Jimmysstar has now won nine of…

Doctor Askar adds Easter crown to stellar run

Saturday’s Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie capped a rapid and popular rise to stardom for Waverley visitor Doctor Askar (NZ) (Derryn). The time-honoured $150,000 feature was the fifth win in a row for the Derryn gelding, who has now earned $271,145 from a 15-start, six-win career. Doctor Askar is trained by his owner-breeder Joanne Moss, who named him after a Waikato Hospital doctor who she credits with saving her son’s life. The equine Doctor Askar took nine starts to win his first race, eventually leaving maiden ranks with…

Oaks target for Movin Out

Kiwi-bred filly Movin Out made a successful switch from Sydney racing to a tilt at Victorian riches when she came from well back to race to a dominant victory in the Mornington Guineas (1600m) on Saturday. The three-year-old daughter of Novara Park- stallion Staphanos originally began her career out of the Bill Thurlow stable at Waverley where she broke maiden status at her second start before finishing a meritorious third in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) behind Captured By Love and Alabama Lass at her third and final…

Marsh hits milestone in thrilling Championship Stakes finish

Kiwi Skyhawk’s (NZ) (Contributer) last-gasp thriller in the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday delivered a milestone result for his trainer Stephen Marsh. Having also won the Listed Skycity Star Way Stakes (1200m) with unbeaten two-year-old Little Black Dress earlier on the Ellerslie card, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing statistics now credit Marsh with 97 wins at Group or Listed level in New Zealand. He has also won three in Australia – the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) with Sofia Rosa, the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) with Chocante…

Lilac adds further stakes success to burgeoning record

Promising three-year-old filly Lilac further enhanced her future value in the matrons paddock when she dictated terms to take out the Gr.3 James HB Carr Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in the hands of James McDonald. A graduate of Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka, Lilac is trained by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald who had the daughter of Justify tuned to the minute after some strong recent performances including finishing fourth to Lady Shenandoah in the Gr.1 Surround Stakes (1400m) last…

Immediacy produces strong staying performance

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained four-year-old Immediacy was back in the winner’s circle with a strong win in the Enchanted Adventure Handicap (2000m) at Mornington on Saturday. The gelded son of Tarzino was a Group Two winner at three and has built towards another raceday victory. Ridden by Michael Dee, Immediacy was put into the race, settling one out and one back and went on to score by a length and a half from Foujita San with Golden Crusader back in third. Immediacy came into the race off a…