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    Draws favour Dalgety trio

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    TAB Great Chase Gippsland

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    Bright future for Dark Destroyer

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    The Pope set for raceday return

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    Elephant hunting maiden Group One

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    Llanacord going back to the Bay

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    Hoard The Bourbon on Guineas path

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    Derby rehearsal for Inverell

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  • Posts

    • Yes the turnover on those races will be terrible.    I would take a 14 horse non winners field over a 5 horse 2yo field any time.  Was tempted to go to Addington this week but having two 5 horse fields puts me off going as it is a waste of two hours in between those races.
    • Horrendous. No "Wizard of Woz" catch cries there.
    • Wolfgang (NZ) (Puccini) will aim to complete his best season to date on a high on Saturday, chasing another Trentham distance feature in The Frac Club New Zealand St Leger (2500m). A gelding by Puccini, Wolfgang has flourished in his six-year-old season, kicking off with victories at the Hawke’s Bay and Matamata premier meetings, before a successful trip across the Tasman where he finished fourth in the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m). Back at home, he went on to place in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) and Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2400m), before picking up the major spoils in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m), pushing his career earnings well above $500,000. Wolfgang’s consistency continued in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) with a narrow placing behind What You Wish For, but after finishing at the tail in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) last-start, a second trip to Victoria for next Saturday’s Listed Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m) was ruled out. “If he’d run a little bit better last start, we were going to go to Australia next week, but we just put that run down to not enjoying the right-handed tracks quite as much as left-handed,” his trainer Peter McKay said. “He’s won there (at Ellerslie) and run second, but the rest of his record isn’t that good. “We’ll head down to Wellington instead and that will be his last run for the season, hopefully we can get some greenery around and he can spell in a nice paddock. “He’s been up a wee while, but a lot of my horses can get through a long period as I don’t do a lot of galloping and exhibition gallops, I tend to race them. Hence, they do have a few races, but they seem to have longevity and enjoy their racing. “He’s looking as good now as he was earlier in the season, he’s continued to tick over really well and we’re been very happy with him going into this race.” Joining Wolfgang on the journey from Matamata is Ballon d’Or (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), a promising son of U S Navy Flag who has developed an affinity with the course with two wins and a placing there in his last four starts. Stepping back up to stakes company, the gelding will contest the Gr.2 IRT Wellington Guineas (1400m). “We were hoping to go down there last-start and either win, or be unlucky not too, so we could go on to this race,” McKay said. “It’s come up a really good field, which is as to be expected. “His race last time was out of where he usually likes to be, he had to lead them up all the way so to win like that, I thought was a really good effort. He’s a better horse taking a sit and attacking from there, so we were very happy. “He’s come through that well and he’s going to have to step up another marker to compete against some of these horses, but I believe he’s got it there and deserves a run in the race.” Bred by Valachi Downs, Ballon d’Or was initially purchased as a weanling by Bruce Perry Bloodstock and after being passed in at Karaka in 2023, McKay joined the ownership alongside Elsdon Park owner Lib Petagna.   “They bought him as a weanling and he went to the yearling sales, but he’d broken a splint bone, so that was possibly enough to put people off, as well as being on the smaller side,” McKay said. “When I saw him passed in, I got in contact with Lib and asked if he was interested in doing a deal, initially to trial up and sell. It’s working out really well for both parties at the moment.” Completing the stable’s trio at Trentham will be in-form gelding Just Call Me Jonny (NZ) (Eminent), taking his place in The Upper Hutt Club Incorporated (1600m). Bred and raced by Milan Park’s Tony Rider, Just Call Me Jonny broke his maiden two starts back over a mile and nearly backed that up with a game second at Taupo on February 26. “It was a good run (at Taupo), Craig (Grylls, jockey) came in a little bit annoyed with himself that he didn’t stick to the inside run,” McKay said. “There was a lot of speed up-front and they looked like they were going to start stopping on top of him, so he came out to make sure he got a clean run, and the winner’s kicked through on the rail. “We were really happy with that run, and he’ll go back to a mile on the big, roomy track at Wellington. Craig came and worked him this morning and gave him the tick of approval, so he should be going down in fine fettle and should be in the first two or three, if all goes well.” View the full article
    • A year after disaster struck in a stakes race at Riccarton Park, in-form mare Contemplation Bay (NZ) (Rageese) will be back for redemption as she takes on the Gr.3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) on Saturday. The daughter of Rageese was a fast-improving three-year-old, progressing through to an attempt at the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m), but after just 600m, her saddle slipped severely and she was ruled out of contention. Contemplation Bay swiftly bounced back, winning her final start of the campaign and opening up plenty of opportunities for the following season. Resuming in late August, she failed to show her true ability through the spring, but after trainer Anne Herbert sent her for a spell, she was right back to her best fresh-up in March, winning with authority over 1200m. On the back-up last Thursday at Ashburton, she continued on her winning way, defeating Candycane and putting her hand up for a tilt at the $100,000 feature. “I was certainly hoping that she would come back like this and I’d pretty much written off her last prep,” Herbert said. “I think I made a couple of errors, starting her without a trial first-up and she was just way above herself and over-raced. Then she was possibly still a bit big in her second start, then after that, she just wasn’t racing up to expectations. “When we took her plates off she had very bruised heels, so I elected to put her out, let her get over that and bring her back so we could start again. That’s why she has concussion plates on, but everything is going well so far. “I did have this race in mind, but we got going so late and it came up very quickly for her. Traditionally, I’ve been fairly conservative at not backing horses up and I feel like I’m doing that to her, but she’s eating and she’s very bright, so we’ll box on.” The NZB Insurance Stakes was the mare’s only attempt over a mile, but Herbert holds little concern that she won’t see out the distance. “I always thought she would get the mile, but the only time I’ve tried her was at Riccarton in a three-year-old race and the saddle slipped,” she said. “She had to be pulled up, so we didn’t get to see her run the distance. “The way she is running in her last two starts, I’d be really surprised if she doesn’t get the mile. Just at this stage, we’re playing it race by race, so we’ll see how she goes and make a plan after that. “We can always lower our sights afterwards if it doesn’t come off, but I’m really happy with her.” Contemplation Bay will continue her partnership with Swedish rider Ulrika Holmquist in the race, an association that goes back to her dam, Ysabella Brave, who was also trained by Herbert. Whilst riding as an apprentice in New Zealand, Holmquist rode Ysabella Brave in all but two of her 24 starts, winning four races before the mare suffered a career-ending injury. “Mum was quite a bit smaller with shorter legs and a dumpier body, but she was very, very brave, so she was well-named,” Herbert said. “She was very tenacious and her career was cut short by a bowed tendon, otherwise I’m sure she would’ve gone on and won more races.” A Group One-winning trainer through her career, Herbert is now based in Christchurch and has downsized her operation, only preparing Contemplation Bay and her half-brother for a close friend. “I have a brother of hers that is currently spelling, a three-year-old who hasn’t started yet,” she said. “They are the only ones, they are owned by my best friend Toni Croon so I just do them for her really. “I’m effectively retired, but it gives me something to do and it’s enjoyable, especially when they’re going well.” View the full article
    • This week, Michael heads to Matamata to catch up with hall of famer, Lance O’Sullivan to discuss his career as a jockey including THAT race, his legendary dad and brother, life as a trainer, and love and loss. And we have a look at the newly launched TAB terminals. Guerin Report – Ep.29 – Ft. Lance O’Sullivan View the full article
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