Chief Stipe

Callsign Mav winning at Hastings on Thursday. The ill-fated Atlante sired his first winner at Hastings on Thursday when Callsign Mav took out the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (800m). “It was good to get it done, he is still quite green. Once he changed legs with 100m to go he did it nicely,” trainer John Bary said. Bary, who has fashioned a strong record with juveniles this season, was pleased with his two-year-old heading into the race after a couple of nice jumpout performances. “I was quietly confident,” he said. “I thought he opened up quite short on the tote ($3), but the jumpouts form around him was nice, especially his last jumpout. “He won and beat a nice three-year-old of Guy Lowry’s that had raceday form, and (he did it) in a nice time. “I think he is my fifth individual two-year-old winner on debut this season. Just going off the other ones I have got that have won and gone well, I was quietly confident.” Bary has a lot of time for Callsign Mav and is eyeing a tilt at the Gr.2 Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) with his rising three-year-old gelding. “He is just a lovely animal. He is 530kg and has got a great temperament. It’s all ahead of him,” he said. “Speaking with the owner, he’ll be aimed towards the Hawke’s Bay Guineas and we will work backwards on how we get there. “He just needs another couple of runs to get some ringcraft before he steps up with the big boys.” Atlante also took out the quinella, with another son Riva Capri finishing half a length back in second. The Group One-winning son of Fastnet Rock stood at Mapperley Stud, near Matamata, for two seasons before his untimely death and his oldest crop are rising three-year-olds. View the full article

Smart 2YO Count Me In. Many were taken by Showcasing two-year-old Count Me In’s (NZ) debut win three weeks ago, including trainer David Kok, but the horror gate in Friday’s S$250,000 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) has put a major dent in the camp’s confidence. The colt has drawn 16 from 18 (likely to drop to 14 after scratchings), clearly not the best spot to break from for a horse who showed an abundance of speed at his first Kranji run when only Try Mak Mak (NZ) (Makfi) proved faster and led. Count Me In eased off into the box-seat before powering home. From Day 1, Kok had a good hunch he had a smart sort under the roof. The fifth and final Leg of the Singapore Golden Horseshoe series would be a good race to aim for Count Me In if he performs to expectations. It was quickly locked away after the debut win, even if Kok and Mauritian owner Stephen Tin of Blue Ocean Stable knew full well the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe opposition would be exponentially tougher in a year that has seen a host of exciting juveniles popping out of the nursery. But the odds have slimmed down even further after luck deserted them at the draw. Kok, who also saddles Achieved More (Smart Missile), a worthy debut second to another Aushorse contender Hotshots Slam (NZ) (Swiss Ace), can now only “count” on his charge’s raw ability to defy those drawbacks. “Count Me In has improved from his debut win, but it’s a very strong field this time. Some of them have three times more experience,” said Kok. “The outside gate is not good at all. I was hoping for a good draw, the draw is very important in such big fields (16) in a 1200m race.” Kok would know from past experience. Last year, he saddled one of the better-fancied juveniles in the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe, Autumn Assault (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) (recently transferred to Steven Burridge), but a sticky barrier coupled with an awkward jump saw him caught three wide throughout before wilting to an unplaced finish behind the winner Lim’s Lightning (Lope de Vega). “Last year, I had a good two-year-old in Autumn Assault. I’ve always liked two-year-olds as I feel the good ones go on to become better horses later,” he said. “Unfortunately, Autumn Assault was beaten by the gate. He’s a very nice horse, and I remember I had a few other handy two-year-olds before. “Count Me In is another smart one, but it’ll be tough for him on Friday, even if I know his condition has improved. “He trialled well with Benny (Woodworth) last week. Benny was very happy with the trial. “He’s done all the work on Count Me In as he knows the owner well from his riding days in Mauritius. He will finally get to ride the horse on Friday.” The 50kgs handed as a two-year-old in a Restricted Maiden race ruled the in-form Malaysian jockey out at the first-up run. It was Mohd Zaki who picked up the glory. “The horse has improved after his first win,” said Woodworth. “I liked his trial. Let’s hope he measures up in the big race.” -STC View the full article

Tiffani Brooker is booked to ride Travistee on Saturday. Caloundra trainer Paul Jenkins is considering taking improved staying mare Travistee to New Zealand to chase more black-type. In the space of seven weeks Travistee has gone from winning the Gatton Cup to being a last-start third in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m). Travistee was second in the Provincial Stayers Cup and fifth in the Gr.3 Tattersall’s Cup (3000m) between those runs. She now looms as the local hope to break the domination of the southern stables in the Listed Queensland Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Only two Queensland-trained horses have won the Cup in the past 20 years. The Cup was first run in 1878 and held in November until a decade ago when it was switched to the winter carnival. It is the only 3200m-race in Queensland although there is a suggestion it may be shortened to 2400m and switched back to the spring if the Brisbane Cup goes back to 3200m. Whether that happens is of no concern to Jenkins who has carefully mapped out a genuine staying campaign for Travistee. Jenkins has always believed the mare would get better with age and longer distances. Jenkins won many staying feature races in his native New Zealand with his best horse Bazelle who won the 2005 Group One Auckland Cup. His best winner in Queensland has been King Keitel in the 2001 Group One Doomben Cup. Jenkins has rarely had more than half a dozen horses in work since he moved permanently to the Sunshine Coast in 2012. But he has had plenty of success with 13 winners this season from just 71 runners. Jenkins part-owns Travistee and is keen to get as much black-type for the mare as possible. “She won’t be going to stud this year as she really has only just got up to competing in decent class,” Jenkins said. “She carries plenty of Montjeu blood so she will stay all day.” “There isn’t a lot for her around here after Saturday. I have in the back of my mind that I give her a month’s break and then take her to New Zealand chasing some black-type in some of the distance races. “She can then come back here for the next autumn or winter.” Apart from her stout breeding Jenkins has added faith Travistee will stay the 3200m on Saturday through her run in Tattersall’s Cup. In the Tatt’s Cup Travistee was attacked in the lead for a long way but fought on for fifth while the leader dropped out of the finish. “It was a stout effort and she does settle in her races,” Jenkins said. Tiffani Brooker has been Travistee’s regular rider this winter and will again be in the saddle on Saturday. Brooker has ridden eight winners since being successful on Travistee at her first ride back from injury in the Gatton Cup. “Tiff knows Travistee well and a win would give us both a bit of a kick along,” Jenkins said. -AAP View the full article

Golden Horseshoe hopeful No Regrets. Jockey Joseph Azzopardi couldn’t be happier with the way things have unfolded at his first Singapore stint – even if it’s not been all beer and skittles at times. The young Perth jockey flew the lids at his first couple of months with a strike rate hovering around the 20% area, but a one-month suspension for foul riding aboard Per Inpower (NZ) Per Incanto) back in April put a spoke in the wheel. Azzopardi has kept the flow of winners going upon his return from the sidelines, even if the intensity has dropped off a notch or two. Though he can’t complain with the support he is garnering, he feels he is just warming the saddle at times. What he said he needed was a good horse, not for a run or two, but right through. Friday’s debuting two-year-old Mr Malek (NZ) (Swiss Ace) might be the one, he thinks. The new Oscar Racing Stable-owned son of Swiss Ace will pit the promising skills he showed at his barrier trial last Tuesday against his own peer group in the S$75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1100m. Azzopardi rode the Lee Freedman newcomer then and even if he still felt raw and unpolished, he has a good gut feel this is some serious cattle. “He’s not really fully screwed down yet, but that’s one horse I’m pretty excited about,” he said. “I rode him in a trial. He was still having a good look around, does a few things wrong, but he wouldn’t surprise me if he comes out and wins quite comfortably. “I’ve ridden a few good horses here, like for the Falcon Racing, but once they win and go well, Vlad Duric jumps on. That’s the way it is, but I’d like to have my own horse here and Mr Malek might be that horse. “I could of course make a complete fool of myself here, but I am confident he will run well first-up.” Azzopardi has also been booked to ride No Regrets (NZ) (Showcasing) for Shane Baertschiger in the S$250,000 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) on Friday night. “It’s an open Aushorse Golden Horseshoe. I don’t know No Regrets much other than what you have already seen,” he said. “I only watched his replays. That will be his biggest test with so many good two-year-olds in it. The Auric Stable-owned son of Showcasing might have finished first at his last two outings, including the third Leg of the Singapore Golden Horseshoe series, the IRT Juvenile Stakes (1200m) on June 21, but he doesn’t win by much.-STC View the full article

Pray tell more?!

M7 Starting at 5:41pm. 8 Race Programme. Multiples Doubles: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Trebles: 2-3-4, 6-7-8 Quaddies: 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8 Place 6: 3-4-5-6-7-8 Pick 6: 3-4-5-6-7-8 Form PDF 2019_07_18_Harn_M7_Book Download View the full article

The Shark goes looking for winners on the final night of the season from Forbury Park in Dunedin. Race 1 8 Clyde: Bit to like about the effort sixth last week in a much stronger field than this. Natural improvement suggest a big run on the cards here. 11 Majestic Rose: Chased hard last week when finishing third. Headed in the right direction. Not a deep field either, has to be a chance. 10 Majicon: Caught the eye a few starts back with a nearly victory on this track. In form driver in the bike so ticking a few boxes. 4 Its Alf: Bit of money about on debut but blew it behind the mobile. Needs to trot, but clearly there’s something there to work with. Selections: 8-11-10-4 Race 2 8 Betterthanbrie: Escapes some pretty strong fields for tonight’s assignment and despite wide draw should take all sots of beating here. 7 Miss Paddy Wagon: Backed up a strong debut effort with a good win last time out. Not a massive step up in grade so should be a decent chance here. 4 Melt Down: Handy wee pacer who’s been given a freshen up for tonight’s assignment. Will improve with racing but a runners chance here. 6 Lydia: Better than a casual glance at the form line would suggest. Can recapture some form here if things fall into place. Selections: 8-7-4-6 Race 3 14 Lei Miss: Went mighty close last time out after finding the front. Might not get there tonight, but still looks a strong chance in an even looking field. 5 The Naenae Express: Form on the board and went down fighting last weekend with a big effort. Good draw here so won’t be far away tonight. 12 Wecandream: Mixture of good and bad in races thus far. Won’t do any work here than what is required and can sneak into it late. 10 Ideal Asset: Spectacular flop last time out. Clearly something not right. Far better than that and can bounce back tonight. Selections: 14-5-12-10 Race 4 3 Pocket Call: Run last week was better than it looks on paper. Stable has clearly turned things around. Can win from the good draw here. 8 Delight Of Texas: Dour run for third last week after good win the week prior. Manners are good so will land handy to the speed and offer a good each way hope. 9 Mr Handleman: Stalked and worked into the race strongly last week. In genuine nick and would have to considered a really strong hope here tonight. 1 Matinee Idol: All around it, but not quite finishing things off at the moment. Good draw again so needs to be respected from the ace. Selections: 3-8-9-1 Race 5 7 My Design: Debut effort wasn’t too bad, especially considering the work done. No harder here and with a little more luck has to be an each way hope. 4 Absolut Russian: Not bad last week but run prior was excellent. Repeat that effort here and it’s game on from the good draw. 13 Leap Of Faith: Respect for the stable who don’t take them unless they think they can win. Can give it a decent shake. 3 Mysistersapoledancer: Not a lot of luck in recent starts to be fair. No luck at all actually. Sweet trip here and it might be time to shake rattle and roll. Selections: 7-4-13-3 Race 6 9 Clifden Clowers: Last start effort was in a much stronger field than this. Genuine competitor who is never too far away. Should offer a nice each way price. 8 Spotlight The Valley: Second behind the rampant Imran Khan last week. That’s form as good you’ll see in these parts at the moment. Can win. 4 Bono Hest: Made up a stack of ground last week from well back in the field. Land closer and get things right and it’s game on here. 11 King Cassidy: Best version of him would show up and give this field a trotting lesson. Just haven’t seen it for a while. Too good to drop just yet. Selections: 9-8-4-11 Race 7 6 Honour The Bet: Can’t fault the form. Can’t fault the trainer. Can’t fault the driver. Everything is pointing towards a big run here. 5 Paul’s Verdict: Gate speed horse with strong form on this track. Ottley gets in the bike too. Should cross them and keep them honest. 2 Alexy: Form has been excellent since joining new stable. Good enough to get handy here and then unleash on them late with any luck. 11 Flaming Jim: Likes to get out and running and will be doing that here. Just might not get it all his own way which makes it a little harder. Selections: 6-5-2-11 Race 8 11 Vigoroso: Looked very unlucky here last week and meets a field no stronger. Better shot at them this week and the win can come. 6 The Red Robber: Bounced back with a bold effort last week and if anything cost himself late. Orange in the bike so gets up another level. 2 Theboyz Toyz: Facing a drop in grade this week and gets a good draw with in form driver in the bike. That ticks a couple more boxes than usually needed. 5 Glacier Coaster: Sharp effort last week after working into it. A little easier run here and there’s no reason why things can’t turn around. Selections: 11-6-2-5 BEST: 8 Betterthabrie (Race 2) NEXT: 6 Honour The Bet (Race 7) VALUE: 11 Vigoroso (Race 8) View the full article

Our Uncle Sam. TRAINER Chris Frisby sick of chasing Tiger Tara with his stable star Our Uncle Sam. In four meetings, Our Uncle Sam is yet to beat Tiger Tara home, but everything favours Frisby’s pacer to turn the tables in Saturday night’s $250,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park. “This is our chance the way the barriers have fallen and how well we’ve got ‘Sam’ going into the race,” Frisby said. “If we can find the lead, and I think there’s a great chance we can, we won’t be handing-up to Tiger if he comes attacking. We’ll make him do all the work.” Our Uncle Sam has run second to Tiger Tara at their past three meetings, including in the Inter Dominion final and Hunter Cup. “But the difference this time is Tiger is drawn the back row and we’ve drawn so well (gate two),” Frisby said. “I also really believe we’ve got ‘Sam’ as good as we can have him. “We were really confident heading into the Sunshine Sprint last week, but Alta Orlando wiped us out at the start and that was the end of that. “We were due for some luck and we’ve got it with the draws this week. And the 2680m suits him better than sprint racing as well.” Aussie TAB punters agree with Frisby’s confidence, having quickly backed Our Uncle Sam from $3.60 into $2.80 since Tuesday morning’s barrier draw. He could challenge for favouritism with Tiger Tara already easing from $2.40 to $2.60. Tiger Tara’s trainer Kevin Pizzuto remains confident despite the barrier draw blow. All of Tiger Tara’s three Group 1 Aussie wins have come from front row draws. “The draw makes it harder, but I’ve got the horse where I want him. That (Menangle) win the other night was easy and it topped him off nicely,” he said. “Everything tells me he’s at least as good, if not better, than last time in work.” Queensland’s pin-up horse Colt Thirty One is the other major player as a $4.80 shot from the back row (gate 11). He was beaten after burning to hold the front last week, but it again showed he’s at his most lethal coming from off the speed. View the full article

Michael House. Inter-island trainer Michael House will attempt to back up his record-breaking efforts of the past week at Forbury Park on Thursday night. The starting point for House producing winners at each of last week’s four domestic harness racing meetings came at the Dunedin track last Thursday. House will attempt take his first steps towards completing the same feat when he returns to Forbury Park, this week, with what look to be three strong winning chances. House’s night starts in race 3, where he will start All Money for the second run of her campaign. The 5yr-old goes in to the 2200m event on the back of a gallant fourth placing in her first start for more than a year, at Forbury Park, early this month. “She was pretty hard on herself, she pulled hard out of the gate and pulled hard during the running,” House said. “It was probably a pretty good job to run fourth, really.” House said All Money should strip a fitter horse this week, which should make her hard to beat. Delight In Texas goes in to race 4 on the back of a solid third placing House behind Loma Jaccka for House at Forbury Park, last week. House is backing the mare up again quickly in the hope of cashing in while she is sound and in good form. “She had some lameness last year and she broke down, so I thought while she is going good we will make hay while the sun is shining.” “I’m hopeful she will go another good race, it doesn’t look any harder than last week.” Honour The Bet will attempt to continue his brilliant form at Forbury Park over winter in race 7. The 5yr-old has produced a win and two second placings in three starts at the track after a successful Manawatu campaign. House said he expects Honour The Bet to go another excellent race on Thursday night. However, the trainer is concerned that backing the horse up quickly could have an effect of his performance. “He is on the backup from last week.” “I have not done a lot with him since last week and the last time I did that with him I was disappointed with the way he found the line.” “So, I may have made a tactical error with him or he may just come out and go a great race.” House has runners at Addington and Alexandra Park that could help him continue his feat of producing winners across the country last week. The trainer has one runner at Rangiora on Sunday in Rake. View the full article

Never Mind and Owners. Most people go months and even years before getting their first runner at the races, let alone their first winner. But when Never Mind scored at Ashburton on Sunday, four first-time owners got the spoils with their very first starter. And, what’s more, they only had to wait a matter of weeks to do it. The rising six-year-old son of Muscle Mass showed a real turn of foot to reel in Sierra Gold right on the line in what his first start for a new ownership group and new trainer, Trent Yesberg. Rolleston’s Peter McDermott, along with Yesberg, was the one behind the sale and their partners, Nikki Chalmers and Sarah Yesberg, are two of the first-time owners. “I actually work mornings on the farm for James Geddes, who used to own and train the horse,” said McDermott. “He’d one a good job with it but was looking to move it on and I thought that he might be a nice one to race on, being a maiden. “Trent and I crossed paths when we worked at Wai Eyre Farm years ago and I’d been keen to get in to a horse with him since he started training. “He’s been going really well and his strike-rate is excellent. “So, I told him it would be a good one to buy and that I’d take whatever he couldn’t syndicate amongst his other owners.” Yesberg drafted in some clients, including first-timers Jaron and Ryan Chamberlain from Geraldine, and his wife Sarah, and stable newcomers Brian and Trish Cross, and McDermott took the rest. “I ended up with 40 percent, but then I realised Nikki’s birthday was coming up and I hate shopping. “So, I gave her a share as a birthday present.” Chalmers, who is from Ashburton, didn’t have to wait long for that gift to yield a return – less than three weeks. And she was on course for the win, along with her family, who were taking part in the well-publicised farming family day. McDermott says he was surprised at the speed shown by Never Mind in the run to the line. “It was actually his toughness that made me like him; he hadn’t actually shown a lot of speed before. “So full credit to Trent for harnessing that.” It’s Addington next for Never Mind, and a crack at the time-honoured Darren DeFilippi Memorial race for junior drivers. McDermott, who doesn’t mind a punt, just hopes he will be able to put to put more money on the horse next time. As a part-owner, he couldn’t understand why he was so heavily restricted from backing the horse at Ashburton. “I was only able to bet $88 on him when he was paying $2.70, using my account. “Which is pretty stupid if you ask me.” View the full article

Stakes-winning filly London Express. New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock will have a strong hand at his local meeting on Saturday, led by a trio of fillies in the Seaton Park 3YO (1400m). Sharrock will line-up juvenile stakes winner London Express, and promising gallopers Akerra and Penelope Cruise in the three-year-old contest. Akerra is proving an exciting prospect, having won on debut at Awapuni in May and stormed home late to finish runner-up over 1200m at the same track earlier this month, beating stablemate London Express into third. Sharrock has been pleased with her progress since then and he believes her wide barrier of seven will be ideal on the Heavy11 track. “She has worked really well in blinkers and she will run out a strong 1400m,” he said. “She has done everything terrific since her last start, I am really happy with her. “I have never seen it wetter here, so the wider out you are the better you will be. “She is a nicely bred filly, she is bred on the same cross as Shez Sinsational. I think she is going to be a filly that goes up a level.” While Sharrock is expecting a strong showing from Akerra, he believes Ocean Park filly Penelope Cruise is the one to watch heading into the race. “She is a very good filly,” he said. “She is crying out for 1400m. I ran her over 1200m to fitten her up for this race (last start when finishing fourth) and she hit the line really strongly.” Sharrock’s other runner in the race is stakes winner London Express, however, the daughter of Shamexpress is a dual acceptor and could potentially start in the Revital Fertilisers 1400. “I haven’t made a decision on her as to whether she runs in the three-year-old or the other field, which lacks a bit of depth,” he said. “I am still leaning towards the three-year-old race, at this stage, because they are all babies.” While beaten into third by stablemate Akerra last start, Sharrock wasn’t disappointed with London Express’ run and thinks she has taken a lot of improvement from it. “She is probably the one who has progressed more out of her last start than Akerra,” he said. “She hadn’t raced for a while, so I expect her to be at concert pitch on Saturday. “I thought she would win (last start), but it didn’t disappoint me. She overraced, they dropped anchor in front and she got pulling at the back. “She then had to work around the field, she looked beaten on the corner, but she has only been beaten 0.9 (lengths) and was probably doing her best work at the finish as well. Sharrock will also have a number of other chances at his home meeting on Saturday, with Mars Bars, Come Sei, Foiling and Beckidboo all pleasing him in the lead-up to Saturday. “Beckidboo was really impressive winning her maiden (over 1200m last start),” he said. “She has trained on beautifully and 1400m will be right up her alley, and a wet track, she is one of my stronger chances. “Come Sei, he has done nothing but impress me since he last raced (winning on debut at New Plymputh). He will eat up the 1800m and will be very hard to beat. “Mars Bars ran second to John Bell’s Guillotine horse (Helena Baby) last start. That should be good form for a (rating) 72. “Foiling is dropping back from (rating) 72 to 65 and the last two runs have been quite good, even her sixth last start, she made a lot of ground, so 1800m should be better than a mile for her. “All-in-all, on paper, it looks like I’ll have a good day.” View the full article

Pacorus will be one of four runners for trainer Chris Wood at Te Rapa on Saturday. Cambridge trainer Chris Wood has four runners engaged at the Waikato Racing Club’s meeting at Te Rapa on Saturday, headlined by nine-time race winner Parcorus. The seven-year-old gelding has been disappointing in three runs this preparation, but Wood is hoping some alternative therapy might be able to get him back on track. “He hasn’t really fired this time in to be honest,” Wood said. “But I’ve had a little bit of acupuncture work done on him this week and he just had a few little niggles so hopefully that helps things. “I am happy with him condition wise, his fitness should be good, and he has won races at Te Rapa before so hopefully he can put his best foot forward on Saturday. “I haven’t done acupuncture before, but I’ve just found a new lady around Cambridge who is very good, and she treated quite a few of mine on Tuesday, so we will see what happens.” The son of Tavistock is the top-rated horse in the BGP Battlers Cup (2200m), but he will receive weight relief with two kilogram claimer Darren Danis booked for the ride. Another runner to have received acupuncture treatment this week is last start winner Wooden Edge who contests the Staphanos @ Novara Park (1600m). “He shouldn’t be too far away again on Saturday,” Wood said. “He’s come through that last run well and he’s just continued with a little bit of schooling to keep him up to the mark, so hopefully he puts his best foot forward. “It was good to see him return to form last start and show well and truly what he’s capable of.” Wood will also be represented by Mr Incredibull in the Signature Homes (1400m), an impressive maiden winner at Waipa last month, but he could only muster a seventh at Te Aroha last start on the heavy11 surface. “He didn’t go so good last start,” Wood said. “He got down on the inside in the worst of the ground and he didn’t really cope with it, so Te Rapa should be a little bit looser on Saturday and he should be able to handle that alright.” Wood’s final runner on Saturday, three-year-old Voltaire Secret, is making his race debut after seven trials. “He’s stumped me a little bit because he’s been slow to mature,” Wood said. “He will have his first start with blinkers and a tongue tie on, which are things I think he needs. “But he’s worked up nicely and I know he’ll handle the wet track.” View the full article

Yourdeel winning the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). Horowhenua horseman Chris Rutten has confirmed the sale of dual Group One winning two-year-old, Yourdeel, to Hong Kong. Prepared by Te Akau Racing’s Jamie Richards, Yourdeel fashioned an impressive record of four wins and two placings from his six juvenile starts for Rutten and fellow owners John Norwood and Rod Preston. The Dundeel gelding joins an esteemed honour role of top racehorses selected by Rutten, which includes Champion New Zealand Two-Year-Old of his year Vespa, Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) placegetters Touche and Kingsman, and last year’s Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) winner Scott Base. While Rutten resisted selling his stars in previous years, a substantial seven-figure offer from Hong Kong for Yourdeel proved too much to resist for Rutten and his co-owners. “Racing in New Zealand, it is pretty hard to justify keeping him really,” Rutten said. “We haven’t sold horses in the past, like Vespa and Scott Base, and things can go wrong, so this time we are being a bit realistic.” New Zealand-breds have had a strong run in the Hong Kong Derby (2000m), winning six of the last ten, and Rutten believes Yourdeel is ideally suited to Hong Kong’s most prized race. “I think he is going to adapt really well to Hong Kong,” Rutten said. “He is a relaxed horse. He eats well and settles in really well. “He is going to get stronger as he gets a bit older and the distance of the Derby shouldn’t be a problem for him, it should be right up his alley.” Rutten, who casts his eye over thousands of yearlings every year, has liked Yourdeel from the moment he inspected him before the Book 1 session of the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales. “He looked like he could run at two, which Dundeel’s are not really renowned for,” Rutten said. “He had the possibility there and I was really looking for him to go on, not just be a two-year-old. “(I liked) the strength of him, his type, balance, and just the way he walked and his action. After seeing thousands you get to know.” Rutten put his hard-earned on the line, going to $100,000 to secure the then colt out of Little Avondale’s draft. Chris Rutten in action at Karaka. Michael Rist His purchase quickly reinforced Rutten’s assessment of him during his early education at his property near Otaki. “He was a very nice mover,” Rutten said. “He did feel good the way he moved. You spend a lot of time on the ground getting them going before you break them and you get a good idea looking at them as well, and riding, I actually rode him myself too.” After breaking in Yourdeel, Rutten sent him north to be trained by Richards, who was entering his first season as a solo trainer after previously training in partnership with Stephen Autridge. Rutten said the son of Dundeel didn’t show any early signs of brilliance in his trials and gelding was the making of the horse. “At the trials he was going alright, but he wasn’t showing too much there for a while and all of sudden he came home well in the trial before his first race. “The way he won his first start at Te Rapa was quite exciting.” Yourdeel went on to post a runner-up performance at Ellerslie behind stablemate Probabeel before continuing Rutten’s fond association with the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) when dead-heating for third with Appellant in the rich race. While pleased with the way his juvenile was progressing, Rutten said it was just after the Karaka Million that Yourdeel hit a turning point and began to show his brilliance. He went on to win the Gr.3 Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m) on his home track at Matamata before winning the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie and stormed home late at Awapuni to score in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1200m). “He was improving the whole time,” Rutten said. “After the Karaka Million he had a really good gallop and there was a big improvement before the Matamata Slipper, that was where he was probably starting to turn the corner. “It was exciting to even be placed in the Karaka Million and getting the two Group Ones, it’s quite a big achievement, it was awesome.” Rutten was delighted with what Yourdeel achieved as a juvenile, but believes he will develop into a nice three-year-old. “He is a very exciting horse, we have had a lot of fun. We didn’t expect him to be doing what he did at two really,” Rutten said. “Opie (Bosson, jockey) has always said that he is going to be better at three, the whole time.” Rutten was full of praise for Jamie Richards, Te Akau principal David Ellis and their Matamata team and is looking forward to furthering his association. “I couldn’t speak more highly of the Te Akau operation, from David Ellis and Jamie Richards, to Mark Walker in Singapore,” he said. “Jamie Richards has done a superb job and it’s been a pleasure working with them. “It started off with Kingsman. We went to Te Akau because he didn’t like the heavy, wet tracks here. “We wanted to race on firmer tracks and it seemed to be raining all that summer, so we thought, right we’ll go to Singapore, and he went to Mark Walker. “After that David approached me about sending some more horses to him. Going the way Jamie was and the way he was training, I thought why not?” Rutten was once again active at the Karaka sales in January, attempting to unearth his next star. However, this year was a little different, with Rutten’s expert eye utilised by clients for the first time. He purchased a Contributor colt out of Mapperley Stud’s Book 2 draft for clients for $50,000, while he also dipped into his own pockets once again to secure a Bull Point colt out of Brighthill Farm’s Book 1 draft for $100,000, and he is pleased with his progress thus far. “The Bull Point is looking awesome, Jamie (Richards) has got that one and we are very happy,” he said. “He is in work at the moment, so he is going through the motions.” While still operating his agistment property Cavallo Farm, Rutten is slowly entering into the realm of bloodstock work and has already travelled to a few sales in Australia this year. “I’m not just buying for myself, I’m now buying for other people,” he said. “That’s going to be quite interesting. “I have been over to Australia looking at yearlings. I have still got the operation here, it’s just another avenue really, getting into bloodstock (work) as you get a little older.” View the full article

Helena Baby is the $2.40 favourite for Saturday’s Listed Powerworx Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth. Promising galloper Helena Baby has won four of his six career starts and will get his first opportunity at stakes level at New Plymouth on Saturday when he contests the Listed Powerworx Opunake Cup (1400m). Bell is pleased with his gelding heading into Saturday and believes the $2.40 fixed odds favourite is well in at the weights. “He is working very well,” Bell said. “He will have 53kg, so it is no surprise he is one of the favoured runners.” While Helena Baby could add a first stakes win to his record on Saturday, he will have at least one more opportunity next month in the Gr.2 US Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa. The son of Guillotine is also nominated for the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), but Bell said his charge would likely either have to win or finish runner-up in the Foxbridge Plate in order to make the Hastings field. “He is a class horse, he is a Group One type horse, and is an amazing animal to do anything with,” he said. Bell will also take Athena Baby and Silk down to Taranaki this weekend and he likes the chances of both runners. “We are very pleased with Silk, there’s no form, but she is a gutsy mare and I am really quite happy with her,” he said. “Athena Baby is just coming into form. He likes the kick out of the ground and he is an older horse and a staying type. “I am very pleased with him. He has come back from Hong Kong and has won half a million. He’s a lovely horse, a gutsy horse.” Both Helena Baby and Athena Baby carry the Baby suffix of part-owner CY Lee, who has been a strong supporter of Bell’s. “CY Lee, he owns these horses,” Bell said. “CY has about four daughters and Helena Baby is named after his wife, Athena Baby after one of his daughters, plus there are whole bunch in Hong Kong.” Meanwhile, Bell will line-up Awesome Babe in the Happy 60th Birthday Andy 1400 at Te Rapa on Saturday and he is confident that she can improve on her fifth-placed debut performance. “She came to us from another stable,” he said. “We gave her a nice trial and changed a few things with her. “She has got a little bit of class. She ran fifth in her last start, which was quite an encouraging run. “I think with Trudy (Thornton, jockey) on her, a decent draw (gate 5), and if she places her right and doesn’t get any kickback from the sandy surface at Te Rapa, she should go quite nicely.” View the full article

Gold Edition. Enigmatic gelding Gold Ambition gets a chance to win his first stakes race on Saturday – three years after many thought he would be an elite-level winner. An impressive last-start win has earned Gold Ambition a chance in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Despite a slow early pace, Gold Ambition came from near last to win a 1600m benchmark race at Doomben and once again showed on his day he has terrific final burst. However, to say Gold Ambition has had a varied career would be an understatement. He will be having his 50th career start on Saturday which has produced five wins but much more was expected early in his career. Originally trained at Warwick Farm by Bjorn Baker, Gold Ambition showed plenty of promise when he won a two-year-old race on his home track. He continued to show form as a three-year-old and was third behind top gallopers Le Romain and Press Statement in the 2016 Group One Randwick Guineas. Gold Ambition then failed in the Group One double of the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby. His form dropped away because of a few issues and his only other win for Baker was at Bathurst before being sent to Michael Costa on the Gold Coast last year. Baker believed a change of scenery would help Gold Ambition and recommended Costa who had trained previously at Warwick Farm. Costa has done a good job with Gold Ambition who has won three races and run five minor placings since joining his stables. But Costa admits the horse can be a test to train at times. “I said after his last-start win he is a weird horse. He has a mind of his own but you saw what he could do last time when he is switched on,” Costa said. One thing Costa has confirmed about Gold Ambition is his pet distance range. “We have tried him at a bit of distance but really around 1600m looks his best. He should be suited on Saturday,” he said. View the full article

They're NOT bookies! They are too risk adverse.

Are you taking the piss Yankiwi or is this for real?

Rule Number(s): Rule 869(3)(b)Following the running of the S.O.T.B. GOES R50+25K FRANKLIN CUP 19/7 MBL PCE an Information was lodged by Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr JM Muirhead against Open Horseman Mr A Poutama alleging that Mr Poutama as the Driver of CORBEAUX failed to make sufficient effort in preventing his horse from shifting ...View the full article

Jackfrost has been retired after suffering an injury in Australia. Top jumper Jackfrost’s racing career has come to an abrupt end after suffering an injury in Australia. The Brian and Shane Anderton-trained gelding was preparing for an Australian jumps campaign, but will now return home to undergo rehabilitation in preparation for an alternative career. “He’s done his suspensory,” Brian Anderton said. “The vet said he would want 12 months and he didn’t think he would come back as a jumper. “The boys (owners) are doing the right thing by him. They are going to bring him home, he is going to go to Coaster Howes, then we’ll put him up the farm for six months and then it is up to the boys to make up their mind what they want to do with him. “He could be a clerk of the course, a show horse, or whatever.” Jackfrost has come to mean a lot to Anderton, with the son of Gallant Guru winning the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) last year, a race that had eluded his trainer. “It was great for Shane, but it was always one of my ambitions to win a Northern,” Anderton said. “I got placed in steeples and hurdles, but I couldn’t win one. But he bagged that for us, so that was a hell of an achievement for me at my twilight.” Jackfrost won six of his 43 starts on the flat, but it was over hurdles that he showed his true talents. He won five of his nine starts over hurdles and was runner-up in his four other races. His biggest wins included the Great North Hurdle and the Grand National Hurdles (4200m). While Anderton is disappointed in losing one of his stable stars, he is looking forward to Oamaru on Sunday where Raise You Ten will compete in the Crombie and Price Ltd Oamaru Cup (1600m). Anderton is pleased with his gelding after his runner-up performance over 1400m at Ashburton earlier this month, but said the current Good2 track conditions are a slight concern for the five-year-old son of Raise The Flag. “He’s very well. I would just like to see him settle a bit more in his races. We put the blinkers on him because we felt that he was too switched off,” Anderton said. “The thing that worries me is that he likes a bit of soft ground and it’s going to be pretty hard there on Sunday. “But he is well and I can’t get him any better.” View the full article

11. Privacy Act 1993 11.1. By establishing an account you agree to these provisions governing privacy of information and security. When you contact the Board, open your Account, operate your Account, use the Board’s website and/or the TAB app, and/or place bets with the Board, the Board is collecting personal information from you for the primary purpose of establishing and maintaining the relationship between you and the Board. The Board may not be able to open an Account for you if all the requested information is not provided. 11.2. The Board may collect personal information about you, including but not limited to the following types of information: (a) Personal details (including but not limited to name, date of birth, gender and contact details); (b) Identity verification information; (c) Recordings of telephone calls and records of written correspondence; (d) Website or TAB app activity (including but not limited to deposit, withdrawal or betting transactions); (e) Financial information (including but not limited to bank account numbers, credit card information, or debit card information); (f) Activity preferences; (g) Your location (including your IP address); and (h) Your appearance. Last updated: 7 December 2018 11.3. The Board may collect such personal information: (a) From you directly, including during the establishment of your account; (b) By reviewing your activity and/or transactions on the Board’s website, on the TAB app, and/or at TAB venues (including but not limited to race tracks); (c) From any identifiable individual; (d) From any other agency (as defined by the Privacy Act 1993); and (e) From any third party. 11.4. Information collected and held by the Board about you may be used by the Board from time to time to (a) assess your credit-worthiness; (b) confirm that your Account is being used in accordance with these General Terms (and, in particular, that it is being used solely for the purposes of betting with the Board); (c) provide you with Account related support, notifications, reminders and offers (including Account deposit, Account withdrawal, Account balance and Account activity) during the establishment and on-going use of your Account; (d) manage your Account and assess your eligibility to receive specific products and services; (e) offer you products or services that the Board considers may be of interest to the you; (f) provide a customer experience specific for you; (g) assess your eligibility for participation in any promotional events which the Board may be running; (h) deal with your requests, enquiries or complaints and other customer related activities; (i) carry out market research and analysis relating the Board’s products and services generally; (j) monitor Account activity in order to detect and prevent corruption in sport and racing and; (k) comply with its obligations under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Racing Act 2003 relating to problem gambling, harm prevention and minimisation. 11.5. Pursuant to the Privacy Act 1993, you have the right to view and correct personal information held by the Board. (a) Personal information may be disclosed by the Board to third parties in connection with any of the purposes stated under clause 11.1 provided that the recipient of the Last updated: 7 December 2018 information is subject to an obligation of confidentiality in relation to the disclosed information. (b) Notwithstanding (a) above, the Board may disclose your personal information to particular organisations both within New Zealand and overseas for the purposes of investigating and/or detecting breaches of the Rules of Racing or any relevant legislation of New Zealand, or of another jurisdiction. 11.6. A list of authorised bodies with whom the Board has an agreement to share information with is available from the Board’s Privacy Officer.

What are the privacy rules the TAB have? That is can they pass on this information to government agencies outside of racing?

Burgundy filly Saone. Kiwi import Saone broke maiden ranks in impressive style on Tuesday when winning over 1400m at the Ballarat Synthetic meeting. Prepared from the Warrnambool base of Western Australian trainer Lindsey Smith, the daughter of Burgundy had previously run third on debut at Bendigo where she produced slick closing sectionals after being forced to travel wide from barrier 16. Despite resenting the kick-back from the newly laid synthetic surface, Saone motored home once angled into the clear by jockey Dean Yendall. “She’s a nice filly. She is only two and she is looking for 2000m and that will come to her,” Smith said. “She is a really nice horse and has got a good future. She came to me from the breakers and pre-trainers in New Zealand and she has done a lot in her short life. “We will give her a freshen-up and try and find some three-year-old races when she comes back.” Yendall concurred with Smith’s assessment, with the filly viewed as a potential Oaks prospect. “She is a good staying-type and going places,” he said. Saone was purchased privately after winning a Cambridge trial last October for Chad Ormsby, with prominent syndicator Brad Spicer and Craig Pearce’s Princeton Thoroughbred Stud amongst the new ownership group. Ormsby initially bought the half-sister to stakes winner Respin and Group Three-placed Dame Margo Fonteyn for $110,000 from the Book 1 draft of Cambridge Stud at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales. View the full article

Our Flight after his victory in the 1982 Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). New Zealand racing is set to farewell another member of the Skelton family with the sudden death of Errol Bryan Skelton. Skelton, just a month short of his 82nd birthday, passed away last Friday at home in Levin and a celebration of his life will be held at the Salvation Army Worship and Community Centre in Levin on Thursday at 2pm. The five Skelton brothers – Bill, Frank, Bob, Errol and Max – are synonymous with New Zealand racing, original West Coasters hailing from Cobden in Greymouth and all enjoying success as jockeys, though Errol’s main highlights came as a trainer. The brothers rode a total of 4581 winners in New Zealand with Bill setting the benchmark and becoming the first New Zealand jockey to notch 2000 wins, while Bob included a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Van Der Hum among his host of victories and Max also enjoyed success overseas. Both Bill and Bob Skelton passed away in 2016, several years after brother Frank, and now with the death of Errol, Max Skelton (living in Christchurch) is the sole survivor of the famous five and feeling the latest loss. “We were all good mates – competitive on racedays, but we thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company,” Max Skelton said. “Errol’s death has left a big hole. We were pretty close. He was quite a character, often funny without trying to be, and he loved helping people. He was all set to come for the Grand National meeting next month.” While overshadowed by his brothers as a jockey, Skelton still managed to ride 37 winners from 1955 before increasing weight and injuries from a fall saw him switch to training in 1964. His most memorable win as a jockey was the 1963 Otago Steeplechase on Tarmine. Skelton retired from training in 2006 with 296 wins in New Zealand, the latest being Royal Shaka at Wanganui in September 2004. He never had a big team in work and in the twilight years of training he pottered around with just a few horses. But the statistics don’t tell the whole story. Within his 40 years of training he saddled up some of the best horses in the country and his success spilled over to Australia. “He was so casual with his horses and they responded so well to him,” Max Skelton said. “Some thought he was too casual, but he got results. Errol Skelton Race Images “One of the biggest thrills Errol got was winning the Greymouth Cup. Brother Bill was there and his son, David, rode him, and Frank, my other brother, had a share in him.” To go back to his hometown and win that 1994 Greymouth Cup was indeed special for Skelton and Grey Raider went on three starts later to also win the Kumara Gold Nuggets (2000m) for the same combination. Skelton initially rose to prominence in the early 1970s with the versatile Frederik, who won 11 races, including the 1971 Listed Parliamentary Handicap (2200m), the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) twice, the Wellington Steeplechase (5400m), the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles (3100m) and the McGregor Grant Steeplechase (4900m). Rose Mellay then emerged to win the 1974 Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) with Bob Skelton aboard after being runner-up the previous season in both the (then Gr.2) New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) when they were run at Riccarton for the last time. Skelton later produced his top filly Our Flight, who won the 1982 Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie after just failing to land the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) – New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) double at Riccarton when going down by a mere nose to Clansman in the first leg. Our Flight’s eight wins that season also included Skelton’s hometown feature, the Gr.1 Bayer Classic (1600m), and she was third in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), winding up the 1982-83 New Zealand Filly of the Year. Sly Wink was the top filly on the 1976-77 New Zealand 2YO Free Handicap for Skelton. She won 13 races, was Group One runner-up in the 1978 Telegraph Handicap (1200m) and 1977 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and third in the Gr.1 Railway Handicap (1200m). Rose And Thistle was a hardy performer, winning 10 of his 106 starts, including the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth Handicap (2400m) at Ellerslie and was runner-up in the 1981 Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the Gr.1 New Zealand St Leger (2800m). Skelton regularly took Rose And Thistle to Australia, where his many fine efforts included a second in the Gr.3 VATC Herbert Power Handicap (2400m) and thirds in both the 1984 Gr.1 Brisbane Cup (3200m) and Gr.2 P.J. O’Shea Stakes (2232m) and probably the most memorable of all, a fourth in the 1984 Melbourne Cup when ridden by Bob Skelton after being among the tailenders in the 1982 edition with the same rider. In 1990 Skelton won the O’Shea Stakes – Brisbane Cup double with Shuzohra, a dual Group Three winner in New Zealand who went on to finish third in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), the Gr.2 Turnbull Stakes and the Sandown Cup (2400m) and was unplaced in the 1990 Melbourne Cup. Shuzohra ended her career with a second in the 1991 Gr.1 STC BMW Stakes (2400m) after being runner-up to Castletown in both the Gr.1 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2400m). Other top performers for Skelton included Asheen (Gr.2 Cuddle Stakes, 1600m, second Gr.1 Easter Handicap, 1600m), Kosha (10 wins; Gr.2 ARC Flag Inns Trophy, 1600m, second Gr.1 Telegraph Handicap, 1200m) and Fairfield Lad (11 wins; Gr.3 CJC Winter Cup, 1600m). View the full article

Rachael and Stephen Harney of Harney Stone Racing. Emerging Australian syndicators Harney Stone Racing celebrated an impressive winning double at Murtoa on Monday with a pair of New Zealand recruits. The smart victories bookended the nine-race programme at the Victorian track. Hapaira opened the day with a five-length win in the Horsham Doors & Glass Maiden Plate (1100m), then Cataracta romped to victory by six lengths in the CHS Group Horsham BM58 Handicap (1100m). Both horses are trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, and the winning jockeys were Harry Coffey and Linda Meech respectively. “They both won very impressively,” said Stephen Harney, who founded and runs Harney Stone in partnership with his wife Rachael. “They were pretty dominant. They both went straight to the front and never gave the others a chance from there. They’re promising horses and we were really thrilled with both of their performances.” Hapaira is a three-year-old filly by Darci Brahma. She was bred by The Oaks Stud and carried their colours to a trial win at Rotorua on May 5, when she was trained by Stephen Marsh. She is a half-sister to the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) placegetter Show Up. Four-year-old Niagara mare Cataracta was previously named Gravity Falling. She was bred by Mark Lupton and Bill Thurlow, and the latter trained her to win a trial at Waverley in August of 2017. She is related to a New Zealand racing legend, with her second dam being a half-sister to the eight-time Group 1 winner Veandercross. Hapaira winning at Murtoa on Monday Supplied Monday’s win at Murtoa was the first raceday appearance of Hapaira’s career, while Cataracta now has two wins and a placing from her six starts. The pair have provided the perfect start for Harney Stone in their policy of identifying promising New Zealand fillies and mares with trial form. “They’re the first two horses we’ve brought over,” Harney said. “Hapaira was on debut and Cataracta has now won two from only a few starts, so we couldn’t really ask for better results so far. “Our reason for sourcing these sorts of horses from New Zealand is that I’ve always loved the breeding programme over there and the quality of horses bred there. We saw it as a great opportunity to tap into the filly market, bring them across and look to get them up over a bit of ground – around 1600m to 2000m. That’s traditionally a real strong point for the Kiwi-bred fillies and mares. “We’ve worked with Phill Cataldo (bloodstock agent) in securing both of these girls for us. He’s been terrific to work with.” With a spring in his step following Monday’s results, Harney will be on the lookout for more potential recruits in the weeks and months ahead. “We’ll absolutely be looking to bring some more horses over,” he said. “You have to try to strike while the iron is hot. “The right horses will need to come along of course, but we’d certainly like to think it’s onwards and upwards from here.” View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(3)(b)Following the running of Race 5, the Morgan Fencing Fillies & Mares Mobile Pace, an information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mrs C Tibbs, against Open Driver Mr B Weaver alleging that. “He drove carelessly near the 1300 metres when failing to concede his position to IDEAL RULE (K Butt) which resulted ...View the full article