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Arguably the best track we have seen in the country over the last few weeks has been Timaru. And yet they are a totally despised club, only just hanging in there while some of the greatest intellects the game has ever seen are desperate to move all their meetings to the Riccarton AWT. Strange old world. -
By TAB For Ever · Posted
Messara said 'not one decent track' , I refer to a comment/query above from Wingman about Saturday's Two year old race.He asked was it another 'dodgy' track.........I think you started this paranoia Chief. A group of us looked at Auckland facilities these past couple of days. You will be pleased to know Chief ,Alex Park looking good but more importantly Ellerslie track looked amazing and the grass surface looked superb. By spring it will perform brilliantly .2024-25 season gonna be a cracker ! -
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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Talented hurdler English Gambler (Casino Prince) extended his impressive front-running record over the fences in Saturday’s Modern Transport Group Hurdle (2800m) at Te Rapa. The Lauren Brennan-trained son of Casino Prince has a reputation for putting a sizable margin on his rivals early, and the restricted-open contest proved no different as he extended his lead to near 20 lengths by the winning post on their first occasion. Regular jockey Hamish McNeill was able to steady the nine-year-old down the back straight, and after resuming a slick pace at the 800m, was too strong and held out a game Mont Ventoux by 1 ¼ lengths. The victory was English Gambler’s fourth over the hurdles in twelve starts, with his most impressive to date a dominant performance in the open hurdle on Pakuranga Hunt Day last August, warranting his $2.00 TAB favouritism. Cambridge-based Brennan was pleased with the effort post-race, particularly under the 70.5kg top-weight. “His gallops have been really solid and he hasn’t really put a foot wrong,” Brennan said. “He jumped really well today, he hasn’t schooled this time in so that was his first for the whole season. “I wasn’t sure about the weight, I took the saddle back and nearly needed a wheelbarrow, but the horse has been training really well. “Hamish has ridden him enough times that he knows his quirks, and knows what he can and can’t do on him.” English Gambler’s pace in front has also proved his Achilles heel when contesting the longer staying efforts in the likes of the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m), and Brennan indicated she will be wary of that this preparation. “We just take it race by race with him, we know he doesn’t stay much further than 3200m and we want a half-decent track for him. We’ll just see what weather conditions come up and go from there,” she said. “We’ll probably incorporate a few flat runs between jump races, because they’ll probably be few and far between. He can go on the flat over ground.” McNeill has mixed his jumping commitments with riding on the flat in recent seasons, and had plenty of confidence in the gelding’s ability over the shorter distance. “Just look at what he did in the Pakuranga last year, especially over 2800m on a good track,” McNeill said. “He’d switched off by the top of the straight once he’d jumped the first. I was surprised how far they let me get in front when I looked back at the winning post, but he’s a machine of a horse. “The last came up really long, but he took a short one instead of taking off last he did last year. “It’s just a shame he can’t see a trip out, but you never know what could happen this year, he is a year older.” English Gambler was bred by New South Wales-based nursery Stratheden Stud, and was originally a $34,000 purchase at the 2016 Magic Millions Yearling Sale out of Vinery Stud’s draft. With 45 starts under his belt, the gelding has now accumulated 9 victories, 13 minor placings and $215,007 in stakes for Australian syndicator Roll The Dice Racing, alongside Brennan’s Monacurragh Lodge and Richard McIntosh. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Michael and Matthew Pitman’s outstanding carnival continued on Saturday at Riccarton Park, with handy sprinter Zoulander (NZ) (Zoustar) pulling off a tough victory in the Bush Inn Tavern Open Sprint (1200m). The local father-son training partnership collected a myriad of victories and placings through Riccarton Park’s autumn season, and snatched a further four at the final meeting with Star Ballot, Motiontime, Ocean Light and the seasoned son of Zoustar saluting. Zoulander recorded his last success in late February over the course and distance beating subsequent stakes-winner Our Echo, but was among the lesser-rated gallopers in Saturday’s contest sitting a $10.80 chance. In-form race favourites Sassy Merlot ($2.60) and Spartan ($3.10) headed the field as joint-pace makers from the jump, with jockey Kylie Williams hugging the rail aboard Zoulander midfield. As the pressure came on, Spartan led for majority of the long Riccarton straight and continued to fight hard after Zoulander drew level at the 100m, but the Pitman’s charge stuck his neck out and got the victory by a long head, with stablemate Benaud running into third. Southern-based hoop Williams has partnered Zoulander on seven occasions for two victories and two minor placings, and showed clear fondness for the six-year-old post-race. “He’s like your best friend, he’d give you the shirt off his back and he tries all the time,” she said. “Ideally, I didn’t want to be amongst them because he’s not that brave, but today he fought really hard and pushed his way out. “I travelled up quite nicely and so did Amberecho, so I just needed a bit of a gap and he’s come to that horse (Spartan) quite easily. He really wanted to win today.” Zoulander was bred by Gerry Harvey, and was originally purchased by Rogerson Bloodstock for $240,000 at the 2019 National Yearling Sale at Karaka. The six-year-old commenced his career with Team Rogerson, and Graeme Rogerson remained in the ownership when he was transferred to the Pitman’s base in mid-2022, accumulating $149,527 in stakes in total. Progressive sprinter Motiontime (Showtime) continued her affinity with the chute with a second victory at the course under Kavish Chowdhoory, defying her 30/1 odds in the Rating 75 1200m contest. In the final event of the day, Ocean Light (NZ) (Ocean Park) was marked higher in the betting at $5.70, and delivered in style with a scorching outside run to claim the Pitman’s fourth win under Lisa Allpress, who also snatched a hattrick in her southern mission. View the full article
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