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Lyle Hewitson excited by progressive pair on Stewards’ Cup undercard: ‘he’s a certain chance’
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James McDonald keeps enjoying best of both worlds, while Jimmy Ting is HK$100,000 lighter
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Decorated Macau trainer Joe Lau, like so many others, deserves better: ‘It’s very, very sad’
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Relieved Matthew Chadwick breaks drought: ‘It’s just the roundabout we sit on here in Hong Kong’
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Alexis Badel snares January Cup in far happier circumstances than his first win in the Group Three
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By BitofaLegend · Posted
I know most trainers I still talk to regularly, training fees tend to cover all of the necessities for them regarding dog food, transport, utilities etc and the winnings tend to be bonuses (obviously the stake split tends to be 70-80% to the owner). They also own 1 or 2 dogs outright to get bonuses. Most trainers with more then 15 to 20 dogs, it would be there main source of income. A limit on racing greyhound numbers would really only impact probably the top 7, although people like fahey and cole probably have enough quality dogs to breed and sell the ones that are not c5/his best. -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Stakes assignments await promising filly Miss Madridista following her impressive 5-1/4 length victory in the Norwegian Park 1200 at Te Rapa on Friday. The three-year-old daughter of Shamexpress won her maiden at her second attempt two starts back before running fifth in a quality field behind NZB Kiwi contender Sought After and subsequent Group Three winner Ardalio. She was well supported by punters, closing into a $2.70 second favourite for Friday’s contest, where she was ridden positively from the outset by Craig Grylls and led throughout, carrying the colours of her owner-breeder Ben Kwok to a comfortable victory. “We have thought a lot of her all the way through, so it was nice to see her do that again today,” trainer Sam Mynott said. “She is going to go to the paddock now for a little break and then we will try and get some black-type while she is a three-year-old filly and try and make the most of that, I think she is up to it.” The addition of black-type would further enhance her burgeoning pedigree, with Miss Madridista being a half-sister to Group One performer Chambord and a full-sister to promising four-year-old December. “She has got it all on her side,” Mynott said. “She is still six months to a year away from being her best, I think, but at the moment she is doing a job. “We have just been taking our time with her and making sure she is going the right way, and she seems to be doing that.” Mynott was rapt to get the result for Kwok, who has been instrumental in the formative years of her training career. “He has been so supportive, even over the last week at the sales taking shares,” she said. “He has got a cool team of horses and it is good to get these wins for him.” Mynott purchased six yearlings at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales at Karaka and is looking forward to the future with them. “We had a go on a couple and missed out on some, but we have picked up some nice fillies and colts to take home,” she said. “Most of them have been bought by clients and syndicated, but I have got a nice War Decree colt (lot 469) for the Ready to Runs.” Meanwhile, Mynott is looking forward to heading to Ellerslie on Saturday where she will line-up Heart Of Gold in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m). “He went to the paddock for a freshen-up after his last run,” Mynott said. “Back to 1500m should be ideal. He looks really good, and he is running well. He gets in at a nice weight (53kg) tomorrow, which will be a big help for him.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
With a pair of highly promising winners, a milestone for the season and a perfect exhibition gallop by a Group One-bound star, the Wexford Stables team had plenty of reasons to leave Te Rapa on Friday with a spring in their step. Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott went into Friday’s race meeting with 49 wins to their name this season, and they lifted that total to 51 with victories by Sabrina Hall in the NZB Kiwi Preview Evening 6/3 (1400m) and Peerless in the Fairview Motors Mile (1600m). O’Sullivan and Scott have trained in partnership since the 2013-14 season, and this is the second time that they have brought up a half-century of wins in a season. They trained a career-best 66 winners in 2023-24 – a total they are on pace to comfortably surpass with six months still remaining this term. “It’s a nice wee milestone for the season and good reward for a lot of hard work put in by all of our team,” Scott said. “We’re lucky to have some fantastic horses around us at the moment, but also such committed and dedicated staff. All of their combined efforts have really paid off with the results we’ve been enjoying on raceday.” Sabrina Hall opened her winning account in style on Friday, outclassing her opposition by four and a half lengths. The breakthrough performance came in her fourth career start, having produced strong finishes in all of her three previous appearances. Bred and raced by Windsor Park Stud, Sabrina Hall is a four-year-old daughter of Mongolian Khan and the stakes-placed Guillotine mare Angelica Hall. She comes from a quality family that has produced quality black-type performers such as Greta Hall, Royal Descent, Madam Valeta, Falkirk and Golden Sword. Notably, Falkirk was himself trained at Wexford by Paul O’Sullivan through the early stages of his high-class racing career. “We’ve always had a very good opinion of Sabrina Hall,” Scott said. “She’s just been quite physically immature and a bit that way mentally too. She’s starting to make very good progress in both of those areas. “She loves firm ground and really quickens on it. Windsor Park’s ‘Hall’ family has produced a number of quality horses over the years, and our Wexford team has had some luck with them in the past. Generally if you have one from that family that can quicken, they get to a good level. With a bit more experience and time, we believe she’ll be no exception to that. “We’re very pleased for the Windsor Park team. They’ve had to be pretty patient with this mare, but I think that patience will be rewarded in time.” Three-year-old gelding Peerless, meanwhile, cleared maiden ranks at his third attempt when he launched a big finish from the back of the field to win Friday’s maiden mile. The son of Wrote is now rated a $31 chance for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 8. “We think he’s a really promising staying type of horse,” Scott said. “He ran two encouraging races before today, but just needed that bit more confidence. He might be on his way now, and Rory (Hutchings, jockey) said he still felt like he wants to go further. “We’ll carry on towards some of those three-year-old staying races that are coming up. Hopefully he’ll continue to progress.” Meanwhile, Grail Seeker galloped between races at Te Rapa on Friday as she builds towards next Saturday’s Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at the same venue. The four-year-old daughter of Iffraaj has been one of New Zealand racing’s brightest stars this season, winning the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) in her only two starts. Grail Seeker heads the TAB’s BCD Group Sprint market at $2.40. “We got what we wanted out of her gallop today,” Scott said. “She was only out there for a quiet piece of work. We think she looks forward enough in her condition for next Saturday. “Kevin (Stott, jockey) reported that she felt comfortable on the firmer ground today, so it was good to tick that box. She’s pulled up really well too. We’re very pleased with how she’s shaping up.” Friday’s pleasing afternoon came at the end of a busy week at Karaka for the Wexford team, who bought 13 horses from the Book 1 sale and one from Book 2. “We had a really good week there,” Scott said. “We bought some lovely horses. We have a wee way to go with the syndication of some of them, but we stayed within our budget and we couldn’t be more pleased with the quality that we’ve got. “We’ve been lucky enough to secure some great horses at the sale over the years, and we believe the ones we’ve brought home this week could be right up there in terms of quality.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Following a busy week in Auckland, it’s back to business as usual for Mark Walker, with the Te Akau trainer heading back across the Tasman to oversee his Cranbourne base. Walker has racked up plenty of frequent flyer points since Te Akau Racing established their Cranbourne operation in Victoria, and that is set to continue, with the respected horseman now having permanent residences on both sides of the Tasman. “I have got a permanent house here (Cranbourne) and a permanent house in New Zealand,” he said. “It works out really well as the carnivals don’t really clash. It is hard to quantify in percentage terms, but I will still be seen out and about in New Zealand.” It’s been a busy week for Walker and Te Akau Racing, with New Zealand’s leading stable scoring a Karaka Millions double at Ellerslie last Saturday when La Dorada won the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Damask Rose took out the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis then retained his leading buyer crown at Karaka when purchasing 27 yearlings to go alongside his 21 purchases at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this month. “It (Karaka Millions results) was great for Sam (Bergerson, New Zealand co-trainer) and the team,” Walker said. “I have been away a lot and Sam has really stepped up to the plate and has coped with the pressure well. It was really satisfying for the whole team. “Both horses weren’t terribly expensive, one was $190,000 and the other was $200,000. There were a lot of very happy owners there, so it was good. “It’s pretty exciting with the yearlings that Dave and the whole team have put together. We are excited about their prospects. From the yearlings from the Gold Coast plus Karaka, I think it is the best group of yearlings I have ever seen.” Walker is hoping the stable can continue their good run into the weekend where they will have stakes representation on both sides of the Tasman. In Australia, Group One winner Quintessa will be first-up in the Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Sandown, while Group Three performer It’s Business Time will make her Australian debut in the John Moule Handicap (1200m). “Quintessa won first-up in the spring and then struck wet tracks and nothing went right,” Walker said. “We are looking forward to seeing her back at the races. Whether she can win over 1200m, I am not sure. She did last prep but being that bit older she might be better off second-up at 1400m. “It’s Business Time came over in the spring and got an eye injury, which required time out. It has taken a bit longer to get her back to the races, but we are certainly looking forward to seeing her run. “She has got to carry a big weight (60kg), that is our only concern. We felt we would use Blake (Shinn, jockey) and get his experience and wisdom, and we then know where we are at with her.” Back in New Zealand, exciting juvenile Return To Conquer will be out to continue his unbeaten record in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m) at Ellerslie, where he will be joined by stablemate Dare to Proisir. “Return To Conquer is a very high-class colt with a great brain on him. He is an exciting prospect,” Walker said. “Dare to Proisir didn’t have everything go right last start but he hit the line well. He is not there making up the numbers, that’s for sure.” Later on the card, Cognito will attempt to add to his stakes record in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m), a race he placed in two years ago. “It is a pity about the draw (14), which makes it tough,” Walker said. “We have just got to ride him back and hopefully they run along and then we can be finishing strongly.” Further south, at New Plymouth, Walker will be keeping a close watch on the weather ahead of Midnight Blue’s attempt at the Gr.3 Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup (1800m), while Crown Princess will contest the Listed Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude (1800m). “It will be a bit of a weather watch there with Midnight Blue,” Walker said. “He only runs on dry ground, so we have got to work out what the weather is doing. “I think Crown Princess is a good chance. 1800m will be really good for her.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
With his eighth Group One assignment just around the corner, El Vencedor will head to Ellerslie on Saturday for a final tune-up in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m). El Vencedor has competed at Group One level in seven of his last nine starts, starting with a second in the Thorndon Mile (1600m) in January of last year. He went on to run fourth in the Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m), then ran his rivals into the ground to score a superb front-running upset win in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) in March. The son of Shocking was unplaced in his first three starts at the elite level this season, in the Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m), Livamol Classic (2040m) and TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m), but turned that form around with an outstanding last-start third behind Snazzytavi and La Crique in the Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day. “He ran a huge race in the Zabeel and it took a couple of top-class mares to beat him that day,” trainer Stephen Marsh said. El Vencedor’s next target is the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 8. Marsh kept him up to the mark with a six-length trial win at Matamata on January 14, and the six-year-old gelding will cap his preparation in Saturday’s $100,000 feature at Ellerslie. His three previous starts at the Auckland track have produced wins in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes and Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m), along with that last-start Zabeel Classic placing. “We’ve been very happy with the horse since Boxing Day,” Marsh said. “He was great in that trial. We’re mainly treating this race as a pipe-opener for the Herbie Dyke. But even though it’s a step down in distance and he’s got a big weight (61kg), he’s in such good order and goes so well at Ellerslie that I wouldn’t be surprised if he was very competitive.” El Vencedor will be joined in the Fulton Family Stakes field by promising stablemate Merchant Queen, who recorded the fourth win of her 10-race career with a dominant last-start victory over 1300m at Pukekohe. “We also entered Doddle, but she drew 19 and won’t run,” Marsh said. “Merchant Queen is a promising mare that we’ve got a fair bit of time for. We’re stretching her out over a bit more ground here, which I think she’ll cope with. She’ll jump, put herself on the speed and I don’t think she’s without a chance of picking up some black type.” Marsh’s Ellerslie contingent is rounded out by last-start winner Lovaci in the TAB (1600m) and recent placegetters Miss Rockette in the Barfoot & Thompson (1200m) and Andiamo in the Auckland Co-Op Taxis (1600m). “Lovaci was very good in that win over 1400m last time,” Marsh said. “She’s another one that’s stepping up in trip on Saturday, and she has to do it from a bit of a sticky gate (eight). But she has early speed and can hopefully get herself out of trouble. She can be right in that race if she gets a suitable run. “Miss Rockette’s racing well. That last-start second at Ellerslie was the first time she’s shown that she can be competitive right-handed as well as left-handed, so I was pleased to see that. That was over 1300m and we’re going down to 1200m for this, when I probably would have preferred to stay at 1300m or go up to 1400m. But she’s drawn the inside and certainly has the ability to figure in the finish. “Andiamo ran a lovely race for second on debut and has only taken more confidence and improvement out of that. She’s drawn a little awkwardly in gate 10, but the mile suits and she’s really gone the right way since that first-up win.” Marsh also has Skyman entered for the Gr.3 Denis Wheeler Earthmoving Taranaki Cup (1800m) at New Plymouth on Saturday. Despite winning nine races and having the equal highest rating in the field with 98, the Mukhadram gelding will carry only 55kg. “Set weights and penalties conditions really suit him,” Marsh said. “He’s drawn the outside gate, which isn’t ideal, but as long as he’s able to jump cleanly and take up a reasonable position, he can be very competitive in this sort of grade.” Saturday’s runners will attempt to cap a rewarding week for Marsh, who won the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie last weekend with Ardalio and went on to secure a number of well-related yearlings at Karaka. His 11 purchases were headed by a $450,000 colt by Dundeel that came from the draft of the sale’s leading vendor Curraghmore. “I’m very happy with what we’ve come away with,” Marsh said. “We bought 10 from Book 1 and one from Book 2. They’re a lovely group of horses, and we have plenty of shares available for anyone who might be interested in getting involved.” View the full article
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