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Dont imagine to much, talked a few horses. -
By Murray Fish · Posted
well that has got my imagination going!!! -
I got close to him once, was about 1989 the Friday night before the Kumara races, think from memory was stood down after a couple of rides, the memories and the good old days, things quite different these days, what a top rider, always got the best out of a horse in a tight finish, his other national was on Kid Columbus, a very good jumper that we never seen the best of, was heading to Australia was the Last i ever heard of him, injured maybe, his trainer M Hamilton who also had harness horses from memory, must have retired, had a number of horses, remember my uncle backing Kid when he won a flat race paying over 100 to win.
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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Chris Wood acknowledges his emerging three-year-old That’s Gold (Lucky Vega) will have a fight on his hands in the Gr. 2 Jimmy Schick Shaw’s Auckland Guineas (1400m), but he’s still taking a positive approach to the Boxing Day challenge. The Ellerslie feature is dominated by unbeaten filly Well Written, who heads the TAB final field market at $1.35 with course specialist Affirmative Action at $4.20, while That’s Gold, chasing a hat-trick after his last-start win in the Gr. 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), is the $16 fourth favourite. “This is pretty much a benchmark race up against horses like Well Written and Affirmative Action, but I’m happy to see him there,” Wood said on Tuesday. “I’ve always liked him, he’s one of those horses you hang your hat on and I expected him to win a race at two, but he had a good break and came out and won his maiden then stepped up and won the Bonecrusher. “I always knew he had something under the bonnet and it’s very satisfying when a horse that you rate delivers.” While Wood is realistic about the winning chances of That’s Gold, the $270,000 stake on offer in the Auckland Guineas is still very attractive. “Even allowing for the two standouts, I’m surprised it’s only an eight-horse field with such a good stake that pays decent money past the main placings. “Mind you, you could say the same about some of the other races on the card. Take the Pearl Series race with just seven starters for 90 grand – I know if I had a mare I thought was good enough she’d be there.” Beyond this assignment, Wood will have to explore his options with That’s Gold, who being Australian-bred and purchased, is ineligible for the Karaka Millions 3YO and NZB Kiwi. “I got Paul Moroney to find me a nice yearling in Melbourne and he came up with this guy at a typical P Moroney bargain price, around $57,000 from memory. “Once again Paul has proven what a good judge of a horse he is.” That’s Gold has yet to win past 1400m, but his trainer is keeping an open mind as to his future over longer distances, with the long-term option the Gr. 1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on the same Ellerslie programme as the NZB Kiwi in March. “He’s got a sprinter’s pedigree, but the way he relaxes and finishes his races off, I can’t see why he wouldn’t run a trip, so the idea heading into the New Year will be to press on as far as I can with him.” Interestingly from a pedigree perspective, Boxing Day will mark the 39th anniversary of the New Zealand Derby win by Tidal Light, who features as That’s Gold’s fifth dam. From unraced maiden as a spring three-year-old, the Jim Gibbs and Roger James-trained filly swept all before her – bar second place in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas – capped by victory in the Ellerslie classic, which back in 1986 was contested on Boxing Day. In the autumn she downed the country’s best weight-for-age horses in the Gr. 1 Air New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie and added the Gr. 1 Canterbury Guineas (2000m) in Sydney, after which she claimed the New Zealand Horse of the Year title. “I was aware that Tidal Light figured in my horse’s pedigree and it’s interesting that she performed well at shorter distances before stepping up over ground, so that’s further food for thought,” Wood said. The Cambridge trainer, who transitioned from successful jumps jockey to training in the late 1980s, has a notable milestone beckoning, with his tally of New Zealand wins standing at 498. “I also trained close to 80 winners when I had a stable in Australia but it would be special to get to 500 in New Zealand, especially when I’ve never had a big team” he said. As well as That’s Gold, other Wood-trained prospects with the potential to aid the cause over the holiday racing period include Emmy Dazzler and What A Yarn in support races on Boxing Day, along with You Say D’Orsay and Watch Me Go at Taupo on Sunday. New Zealand Cup placegetter Canheroc is also penciled in for the Gr. 3 Queen Elizabeth ll Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Promising two-year-old Ka Ron (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) was unfortunate not to have made the perfect start to his career and will have the opportunity on Boxing Day to make amends. The Allan Sharrock-trained youngster was narrowly beaten on debut and will bid to go one better in the SkyCity 2YO (1100m) at Ellerslie and in the process book a return for a far more lucrative prize at northern headquarters. Ka Ron currently sits in 15th spot in order of entry to the Karaka Millions (1200m) to be run for $1 million purse on January 24. “He should probably have won first-up at Otaki, he was green and only just got beaten,” Sharrock said. “He’s one of those sleepers and just keeps getting better and better, other than Johno Benner’s horse (De Armas) there’s no stand-out for the Millions I don’t think. “He’s quite a dude, very laid back and we snipped him out of Book One and his half-brother by Grunt (The All Out) won his first two starts in Hong Kong.” By Hello Youmzain, Ka Ron was purchased from Cambridge Stud’s draft at Karaka for $40,000 and is out of the Savabeel mare Sistabeel who won four times up to 1200m. Ka Ron will be accompanied north by quality mare Loch In Ora (NZ) (Pierro), who returns from injury in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m). “She is a good horse and it’s a nice kick-off point for her,” Sharrock said. “She got black type last prep and then cracked a canon bone and that’s why she’s had such a break between races.” The Pierro six-year-old has won five of her 10 starts and finished third in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) and hasn’t run since fifth in the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m) in February. “She’s done plenty of work and I expect her race really, really well up there,” Sharrock said. He will also have three strong chances at Otaki on Friday with Bridal Train (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) in the Otaki Tyre Repairs Handicap (1600m), Belle Tribute (NZ) (Contributer) resumes in the Cavallo Farms & Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1400m) and Tullamore Dew (NZ) (Darci Brahma) in the fastinternet.nz Handicap (1200m). “I think Bridal Train will give them all they want off the minimum (54kg) in the Open, its not normally something I do but I think it’s the right race for her,” Sharrock said. “She’ll end up in the Taranaki Cup or the Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes (Listed, 1600m). “Bella Tribute is kicking off, and she has had enough jump-outs to be competitive, she’s got a bit of quality.” Successful in three of her nine starts she is a half-sister by Contributor to Sharrock’s multiple Group winners Tavi Mac and Darci La Bella. Tullamore Dew will be back on track following a break after the Darci Brahma mare was a smart debut winner at Hawera in the autumn. “It’s my favourite scotch, I wouldn’t waste the name on a slow horse. She’s a good mare and no surprise she won first time out,” Sharrock said. View the full article
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