The champ is back
Copy That is fully recovered and on target for his New Zealand Cup defence at Addington in November. X-rays have shown the champion is 100 per cent recovered from the splint bone fracture he suffered in Victoria last year. He will start trialling next month.
Top southerner dies
Former star southerner Roman Gladiator has died aged 21. Trained by Colin Barnes and Robin Swain, the son of Christian Cullen won 19 of 55 starts including the 2003 Sires’ Stakes Final for the Colts and Geldings and the Group 2 Welcome Stakes, as well as the 2004 Group 2 Southern Supremacy Final. He finished racing in 2009.
North American star retires
The winner of 77 races, Pannochino has been retired in North America. The well-named 12-year-old son of No Pan Intended had 255 starts during his long career, winning 51 times at Pompano Park in Florida. He won 16 times as a four-year-old.
Spell for top trotter ahead of IDs
A drop off in form has prompted trainer Andy Gath to give star trotter Majestuoso a break ahead of the Inter Dominions where he’ll likely take on the big Kiwi guns, Sundees Son and Bolt For Brilliance. The star Aussie finished third at Shepparton at the weekend but he hasn’t been at his best of late with Gath hoping a spell will do the trick before the Inter Dominions in November and December.
Top draw favours champ
Ladies In Red is a commanding favourite to do what Amazing Dream did last year and win the Group 1 Rising Sun in Queensland on Saturday night. The preferential barrier draw was always going to put her in a good spot and now it is confirmed she’s drawn gate three she is a $2.50 favourite. With David Moran still sidelined by suspension, Nathan Jack takes the reins at Albion Park.
Gavelhouse auction closes tonight
The latest gavelhouse.com standardbred auction closes from 7 pm tonight with 10 lots on offer. Among them is race winner Javasa, who has won one from nine for trainer Darren Keast. Today she was at $4500. Meanwhile entries for NZB Standardbred’s 2023 National Yearling Sale are now open, with the sale taking place next summer in Auckland on Sunday 19 February and Christchurch from Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 February.
