The opening stakes race for the season delivered an incredible finish between a trio of talented gallopers, but after a tense wait, the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) went the way of Adrian Bull’s Jay Bee Gee. Jay Bee Gee had run in just one race since finishing back in the field in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) last November, with Bull returning to Riccarton to win the Amberley Cup (1600m) in June before preparing him for Saturday’s contest, concluding with a trial victory at Foxton on…
Author: NZRacingDesk
Rise At Dawn dictates all at Flemington
Consistent galloper Rise At Dawn was in the winner’s circle at Flemington on Saturday when leading throughout to land the VRC Season Premiere Race Day Plate (1620m). Prepared by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, the son of Almanzor has raced well through the winter months and took on older rivals for the first time after turning four this week. The gelding has now won five of his 10 starts and been placed on a further two occasions, with his only disappointing performances coming in the autumn where he pulled up…
Chicago Jack and I’m All In dead-heat season opener
The new season of racing in the winterless north at Ruakaka kicked off in fitting style, with a dead-heat in the opening event between promising three-year-old’s Chicago Jack (All Too Hard) and I’m All In (NZ) (Zoustar). I’m All In, trained by Stephen Marsh at Cambridge, was the favourite for The Homestead Bar & Bistro (1100m) after producing a win and two placings from his four career starts, while the Steven Cole-trained Chicago Jack started a $5.50 third-favourite after gaining a placing in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) to…
Beach Life agreeing with rejuvenated Horrifying
Talented stayer Horrifying (NZ) (Shocking) caused a minor upset when defeating highly-regarded galloper Berkshire Breeze (Mastercraftsman) in the Inside Run Trophy (2530m) at Flemington on Saturday. The seven-year-old son of Shocking was having his third start for Warrnambool conditioner Lindsey Smith, having previously been trained by Mark and Levi Kavanagh. Beach life has given Horrifying a new lease on life as he made it back to back victories at Flemington after breaking a long run of outs a fortnight ago when successful over 2000m at the premier Melbourne racecourse. Horrifying…
West Coast sets scene for Grand National showdown
Outstanding steeplechaser West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) laid down the gauntlet to fellow superstar jumper The Cossack for supremacy in next weekend’s Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) in emphatic fashion at Riccarton on Saturday. Shooting for his second win in three attempts at the traditional lead-up event, the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m), the nine-year-old son of Mettre En Jeu never looked like he got out of third gear as he ambled around behind pacemaker Al’s Red Zed before making his bid…
Berry The Cash wins Sydenham Hurdles
Berry The Cash (NZ) (Jakkalberry), the hot favourite for the Hospitality New Zealand Canterbury Grand National Hurdles (4200m) next weekend, completed the perfect dress rehearsal for that feature when taking out the Avon City Ford Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) on Saturday, albeit with a healthy dose of racing luck. The Mark Oulaghan-prepared eight-year-old was shooting for win number six in a row but looked likely to settle for a gallant runner-up finish under his 73kgs topweight when the Paul Nelson-trained Dictation held a clear three-length margin on his rival approaching the…
Cartwright to move to NZ
Young jockey Matthew Cartwright will move to New Zealand this weekend as he aims to build further momentum in his riding career, with Friday’s meeting at Ballarat to be his final one on a Victorian racetrack for some time. Cartwright will fly across the Tasman Sea on Sunday and cited a lack of opportunities in Victoria as a key reason behind his move. “I wasn’t happy with how I was going as a rider, so my manager (Travis Johnstone) was speaking to a few people in New Zealand, like Brad…
Affluential jumps to attention
With the stunning return to the winner’s list of rising nine-year-old Showmanship at Caulfield last Saturday, owner Bob Peters’ attention this week turns to yet another task that was also once thought just as improbable. Peters said on Tuesday that the two-year, drought-breaking win from Showmanship at Caulfield was a triumph for patience, as it will be on Sunday if jumping rookie Affluential can elevate himself as a Grand National Hurdle winner at Sandown. “He’s the sort of horse that we thought might be good at that (jumping) and so…
Browne hoping Zebra hasn’t changed stripes
Pakenham trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne will be hoping for a rinse and repeat effort from smart four-year-old Le Zebra when he contests the VRC Season Premiere Race Day Plate (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday. The son of Rip Van Winkle was a dominant five length winner at the same track last start in three-year-old company and will take on older gallopers now that the new season has commenced. “He’s really well,” David Browne told RSN. “He’s basically just repeated the same process again with him from his last start,…
Maher pair to meet at Flemington
The Ciaron Maher stable will kick off the campaign of Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor) at Flemington in the hope that it may lead to richer spring purses. Holymanz, and stablemate St Lawrence (NZ) (Redwood), run in the Flemington Kentucky Bluegrass Handicap (1410m) on Saturday. Beaten just over 7-½ lengths behind stablemate Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at his last appearance, Holymanz could be on trial for a start in the Gr.2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17. Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said Holymanz had prepared well for his return and is looking for a positive first-up showing with…