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Trainer Michael Reavis Earns 2,000th Win
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Zenden First Stakes Winner for Fed Biz
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Who is Horse of the Year: Corey Johnsen
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Lily’s Candle Lights Up Arqana
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Pegasus Contenders Work Saturday
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Lily’s Candle, Dubawi Filly Lead at Arqana
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San Luis Rey, a Year After the Fire
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Melmich, Pumpkin Rumble Headline Valedictory
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Street Boss Firster Wins on Debut in NOLA
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NYRA Announces Upcoming Track Announcer Schedule
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Memorial Fund Created for Late Exercise Rider
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Seeking the Soul, True Timber Aiming for Pegasus
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Insights: December 9
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So… Who’s Your Horse of the Year? Scott Jagow
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Letters to the Editor: Barry Irwin
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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Oscar Bonavena has done what many thought was impossible – and that’s beat Just Believe – at Addington this afternoon. The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained star was helped by a perfect Blair Orange drive as Oscar Bonavena had his third win in the Group 1 Livamol New Zealand Trotting Free For All. The eight-year-old slotted into the one-one with Just Believe sitting parked outside the pace-making Muscle Mountain. In the end Just Believe, known as “Harry”, just couldn’t finish it off as Oscar Bonavena reeled him in to secure his 27th win. Following his win in the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on Tuesday Just Believe was a $1.18 favourite to extend his unbeaten run on this side of the Tasman. “He’s a great old campaigner,” Orange said post race of Oscar Bonavena, “and when you give him a sit like that he can be very good.” Oscar Bonavena’s previous wins in the Group 1 were in 2023 and 2021. Just Believe held on for second, ahead of outsiders Midnight Dash and Arcee Phoenix. It was the second Group 1 of the day, after the favourite Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained Meant To Be won the IRT Sires’ Stakes 2YO Trotting Championship, edging out a game Tarrangindi and the previously unbeaten Habibti Pat. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Former Kiwi galloper Jimmysstar(NZ) (Per Incanto) will step up to Group One company for the first time on Saturday when the lightly-raced son of Per Incanto contests the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The winner of two of his three starts in New Zealand for Hastings trainer Guy Lowry, a majority share in Jimmysstar was sold to clients of Ciaron Maher in September of last year and the chestnut has continued on an upward trajectory for his new connections. Now the winner of seven of his 13 starts to date, Jimmysstar was beaten by stablemate Another Wil in the Gr.2 The Damien Oliver (1400m) at Flemington a fortnight ago and will again clash with that key rival, but gets back to his favoured Caulfield track where he is unbeaten in three starts. Maher’s Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull believes there is little between the stable’s trio of runners which includes Group One winner Southport Tycoon, Another Will and Jimmysstar and said the latter will have to overcome a tricky draw in barrier one. “Jimmystar is only a length or two behind Another Wil but I think has drawn a bit sticky in one, given how he normally races,” Turnbull said. “Hopefully we can trifecta the race. We have had a fruitful spring so far.” Turnbull said it was hard to predict where Jimmysstar would be in the run. “It is hard to say where he will be. He is not going be any worse than the second half. He’ll be midfield to box seat around abouts. “But it’s just that element of being too forward and having to ask him to be out of his comfort zone because he is a better chaser and he has run his best races being off them and trying to catch them. “I’m not doubting him by any means, but it would have to work out and flow properly, especially being at Caulfield.” With just 53kgs, Jimmystar has a 1.5kg swing in the weights on Another Wil and will be ridden by Damian Lane. . Jimmystar is not the only former Kiwi to contest the Group One handicap, with War Machine coming off a solid eighth in a strongly-run A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) for trainers Mike Moroney and Glen Thompson. “He came through the Golden Eagle well enough,” Moroney said. “This is going to be his last run this time in and I think he will be better next preparation. He is a really talented horse and he is in with a dangerous weight (52kgs) and he does tick a lot of boxes. “His form is pretty good and it was a really strong Golden Eagle and he acquitted himself well. By Harry Angel out of the winning Hussonet mare Caserta, the gelding was prepared by Jim Wallace in New Zealand and after failing to meet his $100,000 reserve at the Ready To Run Sales, won his only trial at Foxton by six lengths before his private purchase. “We purchased him from the trials through Steven Pinfold who actually worked for me and strapped Second Coming when he won the Derby. He sorted him out for us and he has been a really nice horse. “He is still a little bit unmade and needs to learn to settle a bit, but long-term he will be the best of my three in the race.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Riccarton racegoers could be in for a treat on Saturday when they get to witness one of the burgeoning rivalries in New Zealand racing come to a head. Exciting fillies Alabama Lass and Captured By Love will go head-to-head for just the third time in the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), with the ledger currently being one win apiece. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Captured By Love asserted her dominance in their first meeting when taking out the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) last season, while the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Alabama Lass evened the score when taking out the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) in September. Alabama Lass has had a faultless preparation this spring, winning all three of her outings, while Captured By Love has had a more patchy lead-up. The daughter of Written Tycoon was an eye-catching third in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Matamata last month after missing away by six lengths, and was hampered by the Heavy track conditions in the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m), which was transferred to Te Aroha following several slips at Te Rapa two days prior. “Matamata (Hawke’s Bay Guineas) was a bit of a bugger, but we added the barrier blanket and did a bit more work with her here at home. Fingers crossed she can behave herself again,” Bergerson said. “It was just a pity at Te Aroha that they got the rain. She went to Te Rapa on the Monday and they cancelled the races. She has had a bit of an interrupted prep, but she deserves a bit of luck and hopefully that will come on Saturday.” Captured By Love flew down to Christchurch earlier this week and Bergerson said he has received positive reports from their Riccarton stable foreman Hunter Durrant. “She flew very early on Wednesday morning and Hunter has been really happy with the way she has travelled. She hasn’t missed a beat in the feed bin and looks very bright and well down there,” he said. “She has had a couple of quiet days on the training track and we are happy.” TAB bookmakers have the 1000 Guineas as a two-horse race, with Alabama Lass a $2.45 favourite ahead of Captured by Love at $2.70, with Kitty Flash and Love Poem the next fancied runners at $11. While looking forward to watching the race unfold on Saturday, Bergerson believes there are a number of winning chances in the high-quality field outside of the two Matamata fillies. “Training here at Matamata, we keep a close eye on each other,” he said. “She (Alabama Lass) is obviously a high-class filly. There are quite a few other nice chances in the race. There are plenty of fillies on the up and it looks a really interesting race on paper. “Fingers crossed the rain stays away and they can race on a good track and everyone gets their chance.” Te Akau Racing also feature prominently in the market for the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m), with Mehzebeen rated a $5.50 second favourite behind Beavetown Boy ($4.80) following her last start victory in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m). “I was pleased to see her get that result, she deserved it,” Bergerson said. “Sometimes she hasn’t had the rub of the green, but it was a really good, positive ride from Sam Spratt. “She has come through the run in very good order. The team down there are pleased with her. She gets in on the minimum (53kg), which is a plus. “Barrier 10 gives us some options. We will leave it up to Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) in that regard. Hopefully she can get a spot one-off somewhere and go to sleep. She does relax lovely, and we are confident that she will see out the two miles. “It is a race that looks quite open on paper, and we are hoping there is no rain about. She looks a really nice chance.” The stable will also be represented in the two-mile feature by Fierce Flight, who will jump from barrier eight with Liam Riordan aboard. “He is one of the few runners that has genuine two-mile form, which I think holds him in really good stead,” Bergerson said. “Last season he ran second in a Wellington Cup carrying top weight and he sneaks in here on 53kg. If he runs up to that performance, he will certainly be in it. “On his day, if everything goes right and he is in the right frame of mind, he is more than capable of winning. “Hunter said he is bright and well and has come through the run. We have varied his training to try and keep him on his toes and thinking a bit. He is hopefully on the right track to run a nice race on Saturday.” The stable will have a three-pronged attack in the Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m) courtesy of Millefiori, Caravella and Tokyo Tycoon. “It is hard to split them. It is quite an even race on paper and all sneak in with nice, light weights,” Bergerson said. “Up to 1200m really suits Millefiori. She was a little bit disappointing at Wellington (when second to last over 1000m). It was a funny day and tripped up a few of our horses, they didn’t really get through the Heavy going. “She has travelled down well and has been in the south before, and her work has been really good this week. She has got a nice alley and Josh Parr is a massive plus to have on. “Caravalla found the Pegasus (Listed, 1000m) a bit sharp on Saturday but has come through the run well. Up to 1200m suits and on the minimum (53kg) we think she can give it a shake and hopefully sneak some black-type. “Tokyo is a very interesting runner – drawn one with Gryllsy (Craig Grylls) on and 53 kilos. His first two runs he has been in (rating) 75 and had to lug weight. “We made a bit of a blue. He went so well first-up there over 1200m and we backed him up two weeks later thinking he was looking for 1400m and he was a bit disappointing. We gave him a freshen-up down there and kept him very fresh for this race. Back to 1200m with blinkers on, a nice alley (1), hopefully he can rediscover that two-year-old and early three-year-old form, and if he did, we think he is a nice light-weight chance.” Te Akau Racing will utilise the services of Australian jockeys Liam Riordan and Joshua Parr at the meeting, and Bergerson said they both add plenty of quality to the riding ranks over the carnival. “The more jockeys we can get over here the better,” he said. “The more we can add to the riding ranks brings about good competition and lifts the level. “Josh is a Group One-winning rider in Australia, so we are happy to have his experience. Liam is a rider on the up and can ride those light weights, which we need. “They are two jockeys that we are certainly pleased to have over on Saturday. On those big days you do need a bit of luck, but it helps having a good pilot aboard as well.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
New Zealand raider Dionysus(NZ) (Ocean Park) will attempt to secure stakes success for his connections when he heads to Newcastle on Saturday to contest the Listed The New Zealand Bloodstock Beauford (2300m). Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood had found it hard to place the seven-year-old gelding in New Zealand and looked offshore for potential targets and felt the Beauford presented as an ideal race. “He was getting to the stage where he was hard to place here. He was high up in the handicaps and he is possibly not a true weight-for-age horse, he is not very big,” James said. “A mile-and-a-half seems to be his pet distance and we spotted that one over there for him. He has come in okay at the handicap, it’s 2300m, we discussed it with the owner and thought it was worthy of having a go. “Whenever we have lined him up over 2300m or 2400m he has almost never disappointed us. Hopefully I can be saying the same thing in another 48 hours.” The son of Ocean Park, who was victorious in last year’s Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m), has settled in well across the Tasman and James said they will wait to see how he comes through his weekend run before making any further plans. “We will make a decision once we see the result,” he said. Meanwhile, the stable’s multiple Group One winner Orchestral is enjoying some time in the paddock following an unsuccessful Melbourne Spring campaign, which resulted in a sixth placing in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) and 12th placing in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). “She is home and in the paddock,” James said. “I thought her first run was full of merit, she just never got room. Her second run was probably the worst run of her life. We couldn’t fault her after the run, it’s just one of those headscratchers.” New Zealand targets await the daughter of Savabeel in autumn before a possible campaign in Australia. “There are a lot of opportunities in New Zealand in the autumn, so we will certainly be staying here until we see what her form is like and then work out if we want to go to Aussie from there,” James said. View the full article
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