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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Australian syndicator OTI Racing have made a timely acquisition of Skippers Canyon (NZ) (Belardo), with the promising three-year-old set to potentially recoup a portion of their outlay in Saturday’s $350,000 Race With Te Akau Remutaka Classic (2100m) at Trentham. Bred by Ardsley Stud, the Belardo gelding has shown plenty of promise for trainer Jim Wallace, placing on four occasions before breaking through for his maiden victory over 2100m at Otaki earlier this month. Terry Henderson’s OTI Racing came calling over the weekend, and a deal was struck this week, with Skippers Canyon to remain in Wallace’s care at Opaki, and he will race for the first time in OTI Racing’s familiar silks this weekend. “I have always had a decent opinion of him,” Jim Wallace said. “It has taken a long time for the pennies to drop in the right slots in his head, but he got it all together pretty well last time. “He runs for my barn on Saturday and then it will depend what he does as to what happens after that. There is a chance he will stay with me, but that is a decision OTI will make after Saturday. “I am absolutely rapt to be taking him down on Saturday because it is a race I have set him for for quite a while and everything has fallen into place so far. “It is a good deal for us and hopefully it is a good deal for them (OTI).” Skippers Canyon is nominated for the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day in March, for which he is at a winning quote of $18 on the TAB’s futures market, and Wallace is hopeful of a bold showing this weekend to aid his chances of continuing towards the $1 million classic. “I couldn’t be happier with him. His work yesterday (Tuesday), which was his main piece of work, was very good. He is pretty much right on track,” Wallace said. “The draw (17) isn’t going to make too much difference to him because he gets back anyway.” Skippers Canyon will likely be joined on the journey to Trentham by stablemate Wooing Tree who is set to contest the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). Wallace also has Classic ambitions with the daughter of Mongolian Khan and is eyeing a path towards the $1 million Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham in March, a race he won two years ago with Pennyweka. “She is a filly I have got an opinion of,” Wallace said. “Long-term, with her pedigree and the way she is behaving, I would like to get her to the Oaks.” Wooing Tree has had just the one start to date, finishing fifth on debut over 1400m at Trentham earlier this month, and while Wallace admits tackling stakes company for the first time at just her second start is a stiff ask, he is willing to roll the dice after drawing the ace barrier. “She did a few things wrong at the start and over-raced (on debut),” Wallace said. “She ran to the line quite well in the last 300m, I was quite happy with the way she finished off. Hopefully we can iron out a few of the issues and she will pick it up. “She has shown us enough to indicate that she is a little bit above average ability, but what is between her ears might not quite measure up to it at this stage. “I am just feeling my way as to where we go. I have got her in the race at Wellington, which is well out of her comfort zone, and I have also put her in a mile at Wanganui on Monday. At this stage, I am thinking about going to Wellington.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray will be out to complete their trio of New Zealand feature two-mile successes at Trentham on Saturday when Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) takes on the Gr.3 NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport Wellington Cup (3200m). The Cambridge training partnership won both the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) and Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) last season with Mahrajaan, and while he was the headliner for the stable, waiting in the wings was emerging stayer Nereus, who took out the Gr.3 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) later in the autumn. This term, the Savabeel five-year-old built to an impressive win in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m), which subsequently had him carrying the top-weight in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, where he finished eighth, a run Ritchie is happy to move on from. “I think that (weight) was the significant difference, he’s not a big horse and with No Compromise compressing his weight down to 53kg at Counties, it looked a good race for him and that’s how it turned out,” he said. “Obviously going up to the topweight in the Queen Elizabeth was a step too far, so it was a forgive run. “We’re pretty convinced he’ll run the two miles out strongly, based on his trackwork and how well he relaxes early and mid-race. If that’s the case and we’ve got a two-miler, then it opens quite a few doors for us. “We always thought he would be a Cups-style horse and the ultimate prizemoney is getting up to two miles, so we’ve wanted to try him at this distance.” Nereus is currently rated a $13 chance for Saturday’s contest, with Victorian raider Interpretation heading the market at $3. While Ritchie knows the threat the gelding brings across the Tasman, Nereus also benefits from his presence in the race. “The obvious thing here is the Australian horse coming over, he’s favourite and he’s going to be hard to beat,” Ritchie said. “But he does compress us down to a winnable weight, he gets us only three and half kilos off the minimum, a luxury compared to last time. “He’s got a great record with Trentham, it’s the track he’s performed up to his best at. I’m really looking forward to the race on Saturday.” Joining Nereus in the Central Districts will be Brave Spirit, who will have his first appearance at the races in over eight months in the Mode Technology 1200. A son of Swiss Ace, Brave Spirit has never finished outside of the first four in eight starts and will contend with a barrier draw of 16 in the Rating 75 event. “He hasn’t raced for a while and he’s got a wide draw, but I find the Trentham dogleg is quite forgiving of wide draws,” Ritchie said. “But it does make things tougher and you’ve got to be concerned about it. “He’s had some little niggling problems since that trial with his feet, nothing too serious but just frustrating for us. Having said that, he’s missed very little work lately and we did scratch from barrier one about three weeks ago from a wet track. “I think he’s a horse that will win a nice race, but whether it’s a forgive run first-up, it’s hard to tell. He shows plenty in trackwork, but with the one trial under his belt, he’s likely to need this race.” Meanwhile, the stable is hoping to unveil their next Jennifer Eccles as the $1 million Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) looms in mid-March, with Spezzatura and Alaskan both hoping to take the next step towards a tilt at the Classic during the week. At Te Rapa on Thursday, Spezzatura, a half-sister to Group One performing mare Supera, will take her place in the Waikato Stud @ Karaka 2025 (1600m) after a tidy third to Belle Tribute at New Plymouth last month. “She’s a really lovely moving filly, she’s drawn well (5) and I’d expect her to race relatively handy,” Ritchie said. “I think she’ll run well, she’s well-bred being a half to Supera from a Pencarrow family and I love her action. I’m dying to get her to 2000, but we thought another mile might suit, which may be her challenge tomorrow, whether it’s just a bit short. “After this one, we hope to get her over ground and that might be time for punters to have a bet.” Sunday’s NZB Karaka 2025 (2100m) will feature Alaskan, a filly by Niagara having her third race-day start at Ellerslie after placing at Tauranga. “She’s a good filly, she’s a dead-set stayer,” Ritchie said. “They’ve got to get rolling early on her and she’ll run the trip right out, that I’m certain of. She’s got to nail one of the maidens to take the next step, so I’m pleased she’s drawn a good gate so she doesn’t get too far back. “If she can race handy, she’ll be extremely hard to beat on Sunday.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Top-flight winner El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) is in a happy place as he prepares to double his tally at the elite level. Last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) victor enjoyed a spin around Matamata on Tuesday, romping home by six lengths in the hands of Rory Hutchings in a 1200m open trial. “He had a lovely day out, he galloped beautifully and pulled up great,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. “He’ll be at Ellerslie on February 1 for an open 1500m and then on to the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m). “He’s right back where we want him, he’s well and a very happy horse.” El Vencedor won the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) in the spring but then tailed the field home in the Gr.1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m) before finishing a gallant third behind Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock) and La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m). “He missed the jump at Trentham, did a bit of work and the track was a bit off, but it was a below par effort before he bounced back at Ellerslie,” Marsh said. “It was basically catch me if you can and even Rory said the mares would have to be good to beat him, as it ended up they were good enough, but I still thought he was terrific.” Stablemate and last-start Gr.2 Rich Hil Mile (1600m) winner Bourbon Empress (NZ) (Proisir) also stretched her legs at the trials and finished runner-up over 1000m ahead of her next test in the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie. “She’s a mare that keeps on improving and everything we do with her, she just keeps on getting better and better,” Marsh said. Meanwhile, Nest Egg (NZ) (Reliable Man) has mixed his form in the lead-up to Saturday’s Gr.3 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) and hopes of a turnaround in fortunes have been boosted by the booking of Warren Kennedy. “Not a lot has gone right, but Warren seems to be the man that has always got on well with him,” Marsh said. “The horse’s work has been great, he went out to the beach on Monday and he’s well and happy. The track should be good, so he gets his chance to get back into form, but it has been a very in and out campaign.” Also in action at Trentham will be the promising filly Bellarista (NZ) (Belardo) in the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and last-start winner Sinhaman (NZ) (Tavaci) in the Race With Te Akau Remutaka Classic (2100m). “Bellarista hasn’t put a foot wrong and it’s an even field, she had her final piece of work this (Wednesday) morning and she’s hard to fault,” Marsh said. “Sinhaman just loves getting over a bit of ground and he’s a nice, progressive horse.” Marsh also has a big team engaged at Te Rapa on Thursday and believed Penman, runner-up in his only two starts, as one of his best chances when he steps out in the Waikato Draught Maiden (1400m). “He’s going really well and he’s just going to need a bit of luck from the draw (11),” he said. Marsh also reported former Champion Two-Year-Old Velocious was progressing well following a wind operation after she failed in two starts earlier this season. “She’ll be jumping out on Friday and will head to the trials from there, she’s coming up very well,” he said. Velocious won four of her six starts at two, including the Gr.1 Sistema (1200m) and the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). View the full article -
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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
What Kembla Grange Races Where Kembla Grange Racecourse – Princes Highway, Kembla Grange NSW 2526 When Thursday, January 16, 2025 First Race 1:10pm AEDT Visit Dabble Provincial racing returns to Kembla Grange Racecourse on Thursday afternoon, with a competitive eight-part program set for decision in the Illawarra region. The surface is rated a Soft 7 at the time of acceptances, and with more rainfall forecast in the lead-up, punters can expect that rating to worsen the closer we get to start time. The rail is in the true position, with racing scheduled to get underway at 1:10pm local time. Best Bet at Kembla Grange: Ride The River The Bjorn Baker-trained Ride The River returns following a 155-day spell and appears primed to strike in this Class 1 contest. The son of Headwater caught the eye in a recent barrier trail at Warwick Farm on January 3, closing on the heels of the ever-consistent Willaidow. Watch for Ashley Morgan to dictate terms from barrier four aboard this progressive type, and provided he can handle the testing conditions, Ride The River should justify the short price with Neds. Best Bet Race 2 – #2 Ride The River (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Ashley Morgan (58kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Kembla Grange: Mrs Maree Mrs Maree faded badly in the Listed Lonhro Plate (1000m) at Randwick on February 10, pulling up two out of five lame in the post-race vet report before being sent to the paddock. She looks to be returning in supreme order, pushed out to score impressively in a recent barrier trial at Warwick Farm on January 3, showing no signs of her previous injury despite the lengthy layoff. Zac Lloyd takes the reins from stall four, and with Mrs Maree likely to gain the ideal stalking position in the one-one, watch for Mrs Maree to be storming down the centre of the course. Next Best Race 1 – #5 Mrs Maree (4) 3yo Filly | T: Clarry Connors | J: Zac Lloyd (55.5kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Value at Kembla Grange: Milly Molly Mandy Milly Molly Mandy represents terrific each-way value with horse racing bookmakers as she gets set to make her debut for the Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou barn. The daughter of So You Think was held up with nowhere to go in a recent barrier trial at Rosehill on December 23, with the unraced three-year-old slowly building into her work at the end of 900m. The 1200m first-up could prove short of her best trip based on breeding; however, with Tyler Schiller set to gain the perfect run from gate three, Milly Molly Mandy should get every chance to make an impression on debut. Best Value Race 5 – #10 Milly Molly Mandy (3) 3yo Filly | T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | J: Tyler Schiller (55.5kg) Bet with Picklebet Thursday quaddie tips for Kembla Grange Kembla Grange quadrella selections January 16, 2025 1-2-5-10 1-2-4-6 1-4-6-11-12 1-2-3-4-6 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article
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