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    • With the likes of Treacherous Bay and Duchess Megxit squaring off in Friday’s $225,000 Group 1 Tennant Engineering NZ Pacing Oaks for the three-year-old fillies at Addington Raceway why not look back at who won the Oaks half a century ago? 1974 New Zealand Oaks winner – Hurrania By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It was like mother like daughter in the New Zealand Oaks 50 years ago. On February 16, 1974 at Addington Raceway, Hurrania won the New Zealand Oaks, just like her mum Arania had done 15 years previously. She gave trainer George Noble her third win in the fillies classic, son John Noble his second winning drive, and Roy McKenzie, of Roydon Lodge fame, his second success in the race as an owner-breeder. Hurrania was perfectly driven by John Noble (pictured above) in the 14-strong field. She was positioned in the one-one more than a lap out from home. In the straight she was too strong for second favourite Forta Cavalla, winning by over a length. On a rainy day it was an eventful Oaks with four runners receiving bad checks after 350 metres when Grouse Call galloped. The disappointment in the race was the hot favourite Gentle Miss. Her manners were wayward early before sprinting around the field to be handy from the 1600 metres, only to fade in the run home to finish seventh. George Noble’s previous training successes in the Oaks were with Arania in 1959 and Bonnie Frost 10 years later. George drove Arania to victory with son John doing the honours with Hurrania and Bonnie Frost. (George and John Noble also combined to win the 1976 New Zealand Cup with Stanley Rio.) Bonnie Frost’s winning margin in the Oaks is recorded as being seven lengths, the equal biggest along with Glint in 1955. Hurrania was one of the first New Zealand crop of Armbro Hurricane who was imported from the USA by Roy McKenzie in 1969 for his Roydon Lodge Stud at Yaldhurst in Christchurch. She was Arania’s seventh and most successful foal, with eight career wins from 70 starts. Bred and raced by McKenzie, Arania (U Scott – Local Gold) at one stage was the fourth fastest mare in history after recording a 1:57 mark at the famous Red Mile track in Kentucky in 1961. Driven by Noble senior, McKenzie’s private trainer, she was a top three-year-old winning six times that season from just nine starts. She also won two heats of the 1961 Inter Dominions at Addington before just getting beaten in the final by Massacre and three-time New Zealand Cup champion False Step. To show how things have changed over the past half century in 1974 the Oaks was worth $9000 while Friday’s race has stakes of $225,000, with more than $123,000 going to the winner. Hurrania’s winning time was 3:29.3 – the race record by Princess Tiffany in 2019 was 3:08.2. The Oaks date back to 1948 with Mark Purdon (5 wins), Ricky May (5 wins), Natalie Rasmussen (4 wins) and David Butcher (4 wins) all featuring prominently in recent years. To see Friday’s Oaks field click here     View the full article
    • What Geelong Races Where Geelong Racecourse – 99 Breakwater Rd, Breakwater VIC 3219 When Wednesday, November 27, 2024 First Race 1pm AEDT Visit Dabble Geelong is the destination for midweek racing in Victoria on Wednesday afternoon, with a competitive eight-race meeting on the cards. The track was rated a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, but with rain forecast on raceday, it is likely the meeting will be held on a Soft 6 or 7. The rail sticks to its true position, with the action commencing at 1pm AEDT. Best Bet at Geelong: Rewards And More Rewards And More got the job done as an odds-on favourite at Bendigo fresh from a spell, overhauling his rivals fairly easily to win by a half-length. The son of Reward For Effort steps up to 1100m, which looks more to his liking than the 1000m, and should get the race run to suit him. Damian Lane sticks on board, and from the rear of the field, Rewards And More will be hitting the line strongly down the heart of the track. Best Bet Race 5 – #3 Rewards And More (7) 4yo Gelding | T: Jerome Hunter | J: Damian Lane (61kg) Bet with Neds Next Best at Geelong: Rose Of England The Charlotte Littlefield-trained Rose Of England was a dominant maiden winner first-up at Pakenham on Heavy going, stalking the speed before putting the race away within a couple of strides. Ben Allen sticks aboard and is sure to give the four-year-old mare a similar run in transit from barrier three. Beyond any bad luck, Rose Of England looks poised to win again. Next Best Race 7 – #7 Rose Of England (3) 4yo Mare | T: Charlotte Littlefield | J: Ben Allen (59kg) Bet with BlondeBet Best Value at Geelong: Juggernaut Joan First-up from a spell, the Patrick & Michelle Payne-trained Juggernaut Joan looks well placed to break maiden ranks at the third time of asking. The four-year-old mare ran second behind a couple of handy city-class types in her initial campaign, and this looks to be a touch easier than those races. Billy Egan will take her towards the rear of the field, but with a genuinely run 1300m expected, the race sets up perfectly for Juggernaut Joan to be launching down the heart of the track. Best Value Race 4 – #2 Juggernaut Joan (4) 4yo Mare | T: Patrick & Michelle Payne | J: Billy Egan (57.5kg) Bet with PlayUp Wednesday quaddie tips for Geelong Geelong quadrella selections Wednesday, November 27, 2024 1-3 4-5-7-8-10 1-3-7 3-5-6-9-10-12-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article
    • Andrew Forsman will continue a busy week across the North Island at Te Aroha on Wednesday, with his small contingent including strong recent trial winner Mad Max (NZ) (Savabeel). The son of Savabeel was impressive at the trials early in his career and had a pair of starts in Australia and back home in January, before Forsman allowed him plenty of time to mature over the autumn and winter period. Raceday rider George Rooke guided Mad Max at Waipa where he closed off nicely to win his 850m heat, a performance Forsman hopes he can replicate in the John Revell Memorial 1150. “He’s coming up really well, he’s certainly a lot stronger so hopefully that was attributing to some lacklustre raceday performances last time around,” he said. “He just needs to show what he does at the trials, at the races.” The familiar colours of Christopher Grace will be carried by the gelding’s stablemate Hinekaha (NZ) (Savabeel) in Saturday’s Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Ellerslie, following a performance that impressed her trainer on debut at Pukekohe. Out of Listed Rangatikei Gold Cup (1600m) winner Hinerangi, Hinekaha showed Forsman plenty prior to her first outing, but he was pleasantly surprised to see her so effective over the 1200m. “I expected her to run well, but I thought the 1200m may be a bit short because she was drawn wide and might get back,” he said. “It was very encouraging when you think you have a horse with ability to see them win like that first-up.” Forsman nominated the filly for the Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui on the same day, but said she would almost certainly be heading to the northern meeting. Joining her at Ellerslie will be Saint Bathans, who holds nominations for the Gr.3 Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m) and Stella Artois 1500 Championship Qualifier (1300m), the former also having the potential of featuring Group One winner Aegon. “At this stage, we’ll probably keep Saint Bathans to the 1300m,” Forsman said. “He just needs genuine tempo and a decent barrier draw, so there is a possibility we’ll accept in both races.” Aegon has raced in elite company in Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand throughout his career and the seven-year-old was eye-catching fresh-up in the Gr.2 P.B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) back in August before finishing among the tail-enders in his following starts. The Sacred Falls gelding returned to the trials at Taupo on Tuesday and pleased Forsman, who indicated he could bypass Saturday’s feature in favour of the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) on December 7. “He never trials that well but it was nice to give him a day out and see how forward he is fitness-wise,” Forsman said. “I think he’s not far off being ready to go, so I’m just deciding whether we’ll run him this weekend or go to Trentham next Saturday.” Forsman hopes to see his well-performed mare Moonlight Magic back in Group One contention this campaign, after the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) runner-up also performed well in a strong trial at Taupo. “She’s been back in work for a couple of months and had a trial last week at Waipa,” Forsman said. “She trialled well today (Tuesday) so she shouldn’t be far off racing in the next two or three weeks. “Our targets this preparation will be the Herbie Dyke (Gr.1, 2000m) and the Bonecrusher (Gr.1, 2000m), the two weight-for-age races are what we’re hoping to head towards. “Her next couple of runs will dictate where we might get to, but I think the middle-distance will suit this time around.” View the full article
    • The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Board has today confirmed their support for the continuation of Jumps racing as part of the racing programme. This decision follows a process announced in September that included the appointment of a Jumps Racing Review Panel. The panel resolved to recommend that Jumps racing in New Zealand should continue, but that continuation will need to be supported by several initiatives to ensure the success of the industry, both in the short and long term. “The panel have taken a comprehensive review of Jumps racing in NZ and whilst the recommendation is for the continuation it is not for jumps racing to continue in its current state, changes do need to be made to give it the best chance to thrive,” said Darin Balcombe, NZTR COO and Jumps Racing Review Panel Chair. The panel provided 19 individual recommendations with priorities that include: Supporting, mentoring and attracting Jumps jockeys Reviewing and optimising the Jumps racing calendar Enhancing race programming for consistency and competition Ensuring fit-for-purpose infrastructure and rules The panel has also recommended NZTR develop key performance indicators to evaluate Jumps racing’s performance annually and a comprehensive strategic review every three years to ensure objectives and performance are aligned. NZTR Chairman Russell Warwick applauded the panel for their hard work and collaboration throughout the review process. “I would like to thank the panel and Alan Galbraith KC for their support throughout this process. Many factors were taken into consideration, and we believe implementing the panel’s recommendations will give Jumps racing the best opportunity to perform at a high-level long term,” he said “This decision gives the industry the opportunity to reenergize Jumps racing and will make winter racing an exciting prospect into the future.” The full Jumps Racing Review Panel Recommendations Report can be found using the link below. NZTR’s implementation process will include creating a framework and outlining KPIs to measure Jumps racing’s performance annually, to be delivered prior to 31 March 2025. Jumps Racing Review Panel Recommendations Report View the full article
    • The newly-established TAB Racing Club will have their first juvenile runners to the races at Ellerslie on Saturday, including Dorothea (NZ) (Proisir) for trainer Pam Gerard. A filly by Proisir, Dorothea was selected by the Ballymore Stables contingent and purchased for $150,000 out of Highline Thoroughbreds’ draft at the Karaka Yearling Sales in January. Her most recent of two trial appearances was a creditable fourth behind Return To Conquer, the highly-impressive winner of last Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m). Matamata-based Gerard was rapt to be offered the opportunity to select one of the original yearlings for the TAB Racing Club and is pleased with her filly’s progress. “The TAB are very generous in getting horses out there for the public to race and this was the one we chose,” she said. “I’m really happy with the choice we made. She’s got a great nature on her, she’s cute, she’s pretty and I’ve gotten a lot of comments from the TAB that she’s got a lot of followers as such a nice type. “Hopefully she can go and do the job.” Dorothea is eligible for the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in January, the obvious target for juveniles, but Gerard indicated she expects a more refined version of the filly later in the season. “She’s a really lovely filly with plenty of upside about her, she’s only going to keep improving,” Gerard said. “It’s a bit of an ask to go up to Auckland (on Saturday), but she’s got a lovely temperament on her and she’ll cope with it really well. “It can be a bit hard on some of these younger ones, but she’s certainly a filly that will be a lot better next prep. I would like to get a run into her to see which way she’s going to go, obviously we’re all trying to get to the Karaka Millions if possible, but I do think she’ll be a better filly after that. “We’ll just see how she goes on Saturday.” Dorothea will be joined in the maiden two-year-old contest by Te Akau Racing filly In Haste (Snitzel), who is owned by the TAB Racing Club, alongside Newgate Operations and breeders SF Bloodstock. The daughter of Snitzel is a half-sister to Australian Group One winner Prompt Response and Group Three winner Prompt Return. Earlier in the week, Gerard will have a trio of runners at Te Aroha on Wednesday, including Pericles (NZ) (Rubick) in the Keith Miller 1400. The Rubick four-year-old won last season’s Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1200m) and got within a nose of subsequent Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) and Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m) winner Luberon in a fresh state at Ellerslie in September. Pericles was set to run last Saturday at Pukekohe, but a wide draw deterred Gerard under a big impost. The intention for the gelding remains the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final (1500m), with a nomination for the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) also submitted. “The draw was just far too wide with that much weight on his back at Pukekohe to start, it wasn’t ideal,” Gerard said. “That race (Stella Artois Championship Final) is on the plan and what we are aiming for with him, we just haven’t had a lot of luck with draws. I can’t really explain his last run, I think he just got too far back with too much weight. “He’s a horse with a lot of ability and we’re trying to get him to the best race we can.” Pencarrow Stud galloper Naxos (NZ) (Harry Angel) has the topweight in the Capistrano Lodge 1000, after pleasing Gerard in a competitive open trial at Waipa. “He trialled really well the other day fresh, but he’s a small horse that has to carry a bit of weight so we’ve taken a couple of kilos off,” she said. “It’s still a lot of weight for him to carry, but it’s not a bad little race for him starting off, it’s on our back doorstep and is almost like another trial for him.” Zacinto filly Zerre (NZ) (Zacinto) is bringing a strong form reference into the Diprose Miller 3YO 1150, finishing third behind Hankee Alpha and Adelante at the venue on October 30, with the latter going on to salute comfortably on a good surface at Rotorua. “She’s a filly with a lot of ability, she’s just doing a few things wrong,” Gerard said. “This distance probably suits her, I do think she’s probably a little bit better left-handed, but the timing was right to have a go and it’s the right race for her at this stage.” View the full article
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