i see at auckland the reason d butcher sacrificed his own drive to assist his stablemate was because  his stablemate got a penalty free win if it won.

the final heat another ripper of a race.Some of the most competitive race driving we have seen in nz for quite a while. mats djuse seems to have been the dark horse and has slipped into 3rd and pushed orange back a place. he has a couple of handy drives coming up so you just never know. Hall keeps nipping at the heels of mcdonald. so iit will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

i'm really enjoying watching these drivers champs as each driver does whats best to get the best possible placing. Punters certainly can't say they haven't got a run for their money with any of them. perhaps one or two have driven beyond the recent form of their horses,but then again some of the drivers have gotten more out of their drives than we normally see by driving them to win. actually as i type this i watched the auckland race and it looked pretty obvious d butcher sacrificed any chance he had to assist his stablemate to get the win.. Good to see that his stablemate didn't win. It defintely was not a good look when you have driving like that. But thats what happens up there more than it ever should and why people like myself say the north island product simply is not as appealing for punters.

had a 2nd placing at Kaikoura in this Championship already , so hope Gary can get the old boy home this time.  He's 20-1 odd too. so well worth a run in a Quinella or trifecta as well. Blair Orange is on the favoured 'Sand Fly Bay' so lets go for a Down-Under Quinella 👍💰

that is amazing achievement by Blair. wins Heat 11 and the commentator said that was 3000 career wins . excellent stuff indeed. he drives all over the place in Big fields sometimes. congrats to him on a fine innings so far !  🏆 my fav Aus driver , who might be at Addington tuesday with Gus in the Dominion, has about 3400 winners and is only 34 years old , so will end up with a huge total ultimately. Pete Mcmullen drives fast Metro class winners that he trains nearly every week but are standard one mile and 2100m races  so a bit 'formulaic' . should of popped him on Don't Stop Dreaming and he would of really 'Livened Up' the Cup on Tuesday  🤣  (hope SamO does ok though )

There’s no bigger race day in this country than IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day at Addington. And to provide you with all the information you need, including previews, selections and backgrounders, we have produced a special Cup day Liftout To see the Liftout click here  View the full article

The fields are now complete for the two $500,000 slot races at Addington Raceway on Show Day (November 14). Always Dreaming, a seven-race winner for Nathan Williamson, will fill the slot taken by Arna Donnelly Racing in the Hill, Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY. He is the 10th and final horse to be confirmed. The two emergencies for the races will be : Berrettini (THE VELOCITY) and Illicit Love (THE ASCENT).             View the full article

After recording her 1,000th win in the saddle in September, veteran jockey Kylie Williams had just one final goal she wanted to achieve before hanging up her riding boots – ride against her son, Logan Bates. That dream will become a reality at her local track of Riccarton Park on Saturday, with Australian-based Bates returning home to ride during New Zealand Cup Week in Christchurch. The 24-year-old hoop landed back in New Zealand on Friday afternoon and he is looking forward to competing against his Mum. “The main reason (to come back to New Zealand) was to ride against mum,” Bates said. “The timing worked perfectly being the first day of Cup Week. “I am very proud of her. To have three kids and to span a career of over 28 years and to ride 1000 winners is an enormous effort.” While Bates was always intrigued about following is mother into a career as a jockey, pursuing that vocation wasn’t always on the cards. “It was in the back of my mind growing up,” he said. “I wasn’t great in school, so I left early when I was about 14. It gave me the time and the ability to try different things. “I did carpentry for a bit and figured I was too small for that. I worked with greyhounds and Craig Roberts for a few years and got some good knowledge and that helped ease me into racing. “I went over to Australia and worked in the stables with Cindy (Alderson, trainer) but came back and drove trotters for Paul and Graham Court (in Canterbury). I learned a lot of hands-on skills with the horses working for them, it gave me a good grounding.” It was while working for the Courts that the opportunity arose to return to Australia and commence a jockey apprenticeship with Alderson, and Bates took it with both hands. “When the opportunity arose that I could become and apprentice in Melbourne it was pretty silly not to give it a crack,” he said. “I fell in love with it and I am very lucky to have the people I do around me. The likes of Mum and Dad, the Alderson family, the jockey coaches at Racing Victoria of Darren Gauci and Alf Matthews, and also the jockey ranks in Melbourne and some of the people you can be around. “I rode at Flemington yesterday (Thursday) and you had the likes of Joao Moreira, James McDonald, Tommy Berry, Mark Zahra, Damian Lane and all those boys around you. You can pick a few things off them that helps in the steps going forward in your own career.” Bates was delighted to get the opportunity to ride on Oaks Day at Flemington, where he partnered Statuario to a runner-up result in the popular greys only race, the Subzero Handicap (1400m), behind Geatafix and fellow expat Kiwi jockey James McDonald. “It is a special race the greys race,” Bates said. “I was fortunate enough to have quite a nice ride for David and Emma-Lee Browne. They gave him a little freshen-up and it was good to see him hit back into a bit of form. He hit the line well carrying a big weight. It took a pretty sensational ride from James McDonald to beat me. It was a good day to be a part of.” Bates has had a stellar spring in Melbourne, highlighted by his Yarra Valley-The Valley double last month where he rode Empire Song in the opening race at the former venue before hopping in his car to drive to The Valley an hour and a half away to ride Jigsaw to victory in the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) for his employer on Cox Plate Day. “I have been pretty lucky right through the spring carnival with some of the days I have ridden at,” Bates said. “I rode a winner early in the season on a Group One day at Caulfield and then was able to burn down the road and get to Moonee Valley from Yarra Valley on the last Cox Plate Day and ride a winner, which was pretty special. “It would be a rare move to even think to ride at Yarra Valley and then drive to Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day and try to get there for a Group Two. I was fortunate enough to win both of them, which was pretty cool. “To be a part of that last day at Moonee Valley and to knock off my first Group Two for my boss Cindy on that horse that I have had a bit to do with, was great. “You know you have done something pretty well when you have got Luke Nolen coming up next to you and giving you a pat on the back after your first Group Two win, so it was a special day.” Bates has continued to build on a breakthrough season last term where he won 59 races in the country and was subsequently crowned Country Racing Victoria Apprentice Jockey of the Year. “I was able to pick that up, which was cool,” he said. “I rode 59 winners in the country and altogether in the state I got 79. I was also able to take out the Rising Star Award, which is voted by all the other jockeys. It was another special moment to be well-respected by my peers so early in my career. It was very humbling.” Fresh off competing in the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Bates is excited to have his first rides in his homeland during his hometown’s biggest week in racing. “It is a great week and the first time I am going to be a part of it, albeit just the first day because I have got to get back to duties back in Melbourne,” he said. “To come over early in my career and have 10 rides on the first day of New Zealand Cup Week is pretty cool.” Four of those rides are for local trainer Lyn Prendergast, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Enterprise in the One Good Horse At Avonhead Tavern Premier (1100m) and Giannis in the Scenic Hotel Group Premier (1200m). “I am lucky enough to pick up a couple off mum from Lyn Prendergast, which was nice of her,” he said. “I do like Enterprise. He has been running around in that sort of grade. He draws a tricky gate (7), there looks to be a bit of speed in the race. He is in good form and gets a kilo off in the weights. If we can get a soft run in transit, he will be right in the finish. “Giannis finished well (for second) with Mum on last start. He strikes a similar sort of field and I think he will be there in the finish.” Bates will also compete in all four stakes races on the card where he will ride Slipper Island in the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m), The Entertainer in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Just Charlie in the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m), and Bona Sforza in the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “I am very grateful to get the opportunity to ride for Tony Pike in the Pegasus Stakes with a pretty smart horse (Slipper Island),” Bates said. “He looks to have come back alright, gets a soft draw (5) and will get a soft run, and hopefully he runs well. “I will ride The Entertainer for Anna Furlong in the Breeders’. She has been a model of consistency this prep. She has drawn a soft gate (2) and if we can look for a couple of splits up the straight, we should hopefully be alright. “The main one that I am looking forward to is one for Kevin Myers – Just Charlie. He looks a nice stayer, he is a big horse, he carries 55.5kg and it looks like he is proven at the trip. He looks a nice ride in what looks a nice race for him. I see he holds a nomination for the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m), which he ran fourth in last year, so I am pretty excited to ride him and hopefully he can run up to his best. “I am very grateful to pick-up a ride on Bona Sforza in the Group One for Samantha Finnegan. She won her first start quite impressively and ran well second-up. She just got caught deep and didn’t have much luck last start. “She does look a little keen, but from the five (draw) we should be able to lob into a nice midfield position with a bit of cover. It looks a strong race, and the favourite looks pretty hard to beat, but if we can get that horse to switch off and relax for the first part of the race, I think we will see her true colours. She does possess quite a nice finish, but we just need things to fall into place.” View the full article

Cambridge trainer Roger James is already the most successful trainer in the history of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with six wins to his credit, and on Thursday he and training partner Robert Wellwood unveiled another Classic type when Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) swept to victory at Avondale. The three-year-old son of Circus Maximus relished the step up to 1400m when winning the Funtime Catering Maiden after finishing seventh over 1200m on debut at Ellerslie in October.  “We said at the end of his two-year-old preparation that we thought he was potentially a Derby horse for next year,” James said.  “We weren’t disappointed by the first run at all. We thought he might have to go a mile before he broke maiden ranks, but he was quite impressive at Avondale. He ran a good time and won by a good margin and there was quite a margin back to the third horse. “He’s still feeling his way and he’s got a lot of upside. He relaxes beautifully, breathes beautifully and he trotted up this morning nice and free.” Road To Paris is now likely to step into Group company as he extends in distance. “He surprised us yesterday, very pleasantly, so the Derby is certainly firmly in the back of our minds,” James said. “He’s probably the sort of horse that won’t take a lot of runs, but having said that if all goes well, we will step him up to a mile next start at Otaki in the Gr. 3 Wellington Stakes (1600) on November 30. “That gives him a nice break until then, and then he’ll progress quietly from there. He’s a quality animal and we are lucky to have him.” Bred and raced by Ron and Judi Wanless, Road To Paris is out of the four-time winning Savabeel mare Spirit Of Heaven, who is a three-quarter sister to Gr.1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) winner Lights Of Heaven. Road To Paris is by Windsor Park Stud’s promising young sire Circus Maximus, a triple Group One winning European miler by Galileo. “Ron and Judi are quite involved in New Zealand and have a number of broodmares over here and we have always had an association with them, we buy the odd one for them,” James said. “They breed to race and this guy was just one that they sent us last year and Ron’s got a philosophy that if they’re not up to Group company in New Zealand, he’ll take them to Queensland, where he lives. “But you would think this one would stay. We had a horse last year in Oceana Dream who went to the Derby as second or third favourite for them after placing in the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m). “Unfortunately he choked down at about the 600m and didn’t take another breath and dropped out.  “We thought he was a big hope and things didn’t go right. We’d love to win a major for them and hopefully this is the horse that can do it.” View the full article