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Rule Number(s): 638(3)(b)(ii)Following the running of race 3, Malcolm Wrigley Insurance Services 1200, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638 (3)(b)(ii). The Informant, Mr Williamson, alleged that Mr Coleman used his whip excessively prior to the 100 metres when riding FROZEN. Mr Coleman said that he understood the Rule and ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of race 9, Haunui Farm 1600, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638 (1)(d). The Informant, Mr Williamson, alleged that Mr Kamaruddin allowed his mount KINGS SECRET to shift in when not sufficiently clear of ROBUSTO, RED BEACH and DEEJAY MAC which were all crowded and hampered ...View the full article

Roger That (outside) will contest his seventh Cups race this season at Tauranga on Saturday. Tauranga galloper Roger That has developed a solid strike-rate in Cups races this season, but trainer Antony Fuller is hoping his gelding can finally breakthrough for a win in the Orora Kiwi Packaging Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) on his home track on Saturday. “It’s going to be his seventh start in a cup race this season and he hasn’t finished further back than fourth,” Fuller said. “A fifth-placing is the furthest he has finished back all season. It is very pleasing how consistent he has been.” The six-year-old son of Shinko King ran on well to finish fifth last start on a heavy10 track at Ellerslie over 2200m earlier this month and Fuller is expecting an improved performance on similar track conditions on Saturday. “It was a good run, we were hoping for a better placing,” Fuller said. “It was his first go on a heavy track this time in and he probably got caught out a bit because on a good track he’s got a nice turn of foot, which he doesn’t quite have on a heavy track. “We had forgotten about that because we raced through the summer, so Trudy (Thornton, jockey) will ride him accordingly.” Fuller said Roger That has come through his last start well and isn’t overly perturbed by drawing the outside gate in the 11 horse field on Saturday. “We were very surprised with how well he came through it. He hasn’t missed a beat. “We have had that a few times (outside barrier). I think in his last three races he has drawn out reasonably wide. “Over 2100m it’s not a major hurdle, it’s not a big field. I would imagine he will settle back a bit and hopefully run on at the right end. “It would be nice to win (on the home track). Having contested six previous Cups races this season it would be nice to get him over the line in one of them.” Roger That could potentially press on after Saturday to contest his eighth Cups race of the season next month. “If he races well we will keep going,” Fuller said. “There is the Taumaranui Cup (2200m), but we will get this out of the way first and see how he comes through it.” TAB bookmakers have marked Roger That a $5.50 second favourite for the Kiwifruit Cup behind the Tony Pike-trained Redcayenne at $4. Fuller will also line-up Windy Height in the Rhys Mischefski, Bayleys Premier (2100m) on Saturday, and he could be potentially joined in the race by stablemate Rodmar. “Windy Heights hasn’t been running as well as we would have expected him to, he is certainly working good enough at home though,” Fuller said. “Over 2100m and a heavy track might really be his go, so we are keeping our fingers crossed there. “Rodmar needs a scratching to get in and I think he will run better than what a lot of people think he will, if he gets in. He has improved with each run this time in.” View the full article

M4 Starting at 12:17pm. 7 Race Programme. Multiples Doubles: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7 Trebles: 2-3-4, 5-6-7 Quaddies: 1-2-3-4, 4-5-6-7 Form PDF 2019_06_21_Raci_M4_Mini_A4_colour Download View the full article

Harness Racing New Zealand is thrilled to announce the four finalists for the 2019 Catch Driver Cadet of the Year compe- tition. All four finalists have excelled in all of their regional challenges and we can now announce that representing Canterbury is regional winner, Cameron Kirkwood. Travelling from Southland to contest the title this year will be Oliver Kite, the southern regional winner and the northern regional winner Kaleb Bublitz will also travel to Christchurch to compete in the national final. The competition is in its sixth year, and this year again along with the three regional winners, the next highest scorer from all of the competitors has advanced through to the final. Alana Cameron took these honours and will be joining the regional winners. All four finalists have displayed a comprehensive range of skills in their horsemanship, driving and all-round general knowledge to set the stage for an exciting and competitive final. The final competition has been designed to call on not only the contestant’s equine knowledge but to also challenge the finalists in a diverse range of practical, theoretical and technical tasks. Each phase of the competition will be evaluated and marked and the cadets will earn points for each task based on performance, accuracy and speed. The final will be held throughout Christchurch on Wednesday the 24th of July with the winner announced at the 2019 Annual Harness Racing Awards on Saturday the 28th of September, this year to be held at Addington Raceway. Harness Racing New Zealand would like to sincerely thank Catch Driver for sponsoring the Cadet of the Year competition this year. Founded by Ryan Clements of Canada, Catch Driver is just one Harness Racing game developed by The Farm Ventures with the aim to encourage more participation in the sport by youth world wide. “We are beyond excited to partner with HRNZ in sponsoring the Cadet of the Year. We believe that many of the young men and women we see here competing for the Cadet of the Year will become tomorrow’s stars in the sport,” said Cle- ments. “Our mission with Catch Driver is to engage a younger audience with this incredible sport, so it only makes sense that we partner with the next generation of athletes. We want to wish best of luck to all of those competing- you are the future stars of the sport!” Clements has led the way in terms of developing his company ‘The Farm Ventures’, and was determined to prove that if you can give people the opportunity to play a harness racing game (either as a Catch Driver or in their other harness rac- ing game, Off and Pacing) they will then take an interest in the sport. “Most people who love sports are able to play some sort of game where they can get a virtual experience of being in- volved,” said Clements. “We have developed a game where our players can download the game to their phone for free and drive a horse in a race live against other people from around the world. We even have professional harness racing drivers from around the world playing on a regular basis too meaning fans can race against their idols.” In the game each driver is randomly drawn a horse, and its best attributes are listed in the build up to the live race. This gives the player a chance to study if their horse is quick off the gate, has a quick sprint or has a lot of stamina. “The game is purely about the sport and the art of driving a horse to its best strengths. We have no reference to gambling at all in any of our games,” explained Clements. Catch Driver is available to download and play free to your phone from all app stores. So give it a try today by visiting http://onelink.to/gme7ve Jess Smith HRNZ Marketing View the full article

In a coup for the King family’s Brighthill Farm, Group One performed son of Frankel, Eminent, will retire to their Tauwhare property for the forthcoming breeding season, where he will stand for a fee of $8,000+GST. Eminent becomes the first son of the all-conquering Frankel to retire to stud in the southern hemisphere. Raced by Sir Peter Vela, in conjunction with Hubie De Burgh, Eminent won three of his 14 career starts, prepared predominantly by Martyn Meade before transferring to the care of Olympic Eventer Sir Mark Todd for an Australian campaign earlier this year. A Newmarket winner at his only start at two, Eminent resumed at three with victory in the Gr.3 Craven Stakes (1600m), a race in which Benbatl finished third. He finished fourth in the Gr.1 English Derby (2400m) won by Wings Of Eagles, and Cracksman in third, and stamped himself as one of the best three-year-olds of his year when successful in the Gr.2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (2000m) at Deauville. He signed off from his classic season with a game third in the Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) behind quality older gallopers Decorated Knight and Poet’s Word. Although his four-year-old season did not go to plan, Eminent resumed from a seven month hiatus from the race track to show his class when runner-up to Avilius in the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill. “We’re obviously very excited to have the first son of Frankel to stand at stud in the Southern Hemisphere,” Brighthill Farm principal Nick King said. “It’s an amazing opportunity. We were approached by his owner Sir Peter Vela, who had weighed-up a possible autumn campaign with the horse in Europe, but he decided that that would push him another year before he could come to stud. “We’re now in the process of syndicating him and have enjoyed a great response. “It has literally only been a handful of days since this has come about and to have the likes of Cambridge Stud, Windsor Park, Valachi Downs, Haunui Farm, Hallmark Stud and Curraghmore on board already, just shows you the regard in which the horse is held and what an attractive prospect he is. “With Sir Peter Vela also staying in the horse and pledging to send some quality mares from his Pencarrow Stud, and obviously we’re taking a shareholding and will be supporting the horse, Eminent is going to get every opportunity at stud.” King believes Eminent is very reasonably priced at $8,000+GST and was conscious of the later announcement of his retirement, with a limited number of shares selling for $30,000 via Brighthill Farm or New Zealand Bloodstock. “We wanted to make him affordable and at $8,000 he represents great value,” King said. “There is a lot of quality through his pedigree, race record and physical type. “When you look at the quality of the races that he ran in and the quality of the horse himself, he certainly gets you excited.” The Frankel factor will no doubt be one of the most compelling reasons breeders look to Eminent. A once in a generation racehorse, Frankel has made an exceptional start to his stud career and is the sire of 17.3 percent stakes-winners to runners, seven at Group One level headed by star galloper Cracksman. He is the sire of 31 Group winners, and surpassed the 30-mark faster than any other stallion in history. “For many people he is the best horse they have seen in their lifetime and he is doing an amazing job at stud too,” King said. “He leaves beautiful looking horses and I think when people see Eminent they are really going to be impressed.” King said Eminent was born to be a stallion given the impressive bloodlines on both sides of his pedigree. Eminent’s dam is the Gr.1 Ascot Fillies' Mile (1600m) placegetter You’ll Be Mine, a Kingmambo daughter of Group One winner Quarter Moon, also the dam of Group One winner Diamondsandrubies. “Obviously with Frankel you are miles ahead, but to see the first three dams are by Kingmambo, Sadler’s Wells and Darshaan, they are three of the best broodmare sires in the world,” King said. “It’s a very strong female family and the race records are so strong within those bloodlines.” King highlighted Eminent’s ability to come to hand as an early three-year-old and the fact he had performed successfully in New Zealand’s major export market, Australia, as significant positives for breeders. “With his international pedigree and performance and the fact he boasts a Group One placing in Australia, there is little doubt Australian buyers will have no trouble buying progeny by this sire. We feel he is the perfect fit for New Zealand.” – NZ Racing Desk Eminent from deBurgh Productions on Vimeo. https://player.vimeo.com/video/342476588 https://youtu.be/GB_0jD88JWo

Eminent winning the Gr.2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (2000m) at Deauville under Ryan Moore In a coup for the King family’s Brighthill Farm, Group One performed son of Frankel, Eminent, will retire to their Tauwhare property for the forthcoming breeding season, where he will stand for a fee of $8,000+GST. Eminent becomes the first son of the all-conquering Frankel to retire to stud in the southern hemisphere. Raced by Sir Peter Vela, in conjunction with Hubie De Burgh, Eminent won three of his 14 career starts, prepared predominantly by Martyn Meade before transferring to the care of Olympic Eventer Sir Mark Todd for an Australian campaign earlier this year. A Newmarket winner at his only start at two, Eminent resumed at three with victory in the Gr.3 Craven Stakes (1600m), a race in which Benbatl finished third. He finished fourth in the Gr.1 English Derby (2400m) won by Wings Of Eagles, and Cracksman in third, and stamped himself as one of the best three-year-olds of his year when successful in the Gr.2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (2000m) at Deauville. He signed off from his classic season with a game third in the Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) behind quality older gallopers Decorated Knight and Poet’s Word. Although his four-year-old season did not go to plan, Eminent resumed from a seven month hiatus from the race track to show his class when runner-up to Avilius in the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill. “We’re obviously very excited to have the first son of Frankel to stand at stud in the Southern Hemisphere,” Brighthill Farm principal Nick King said. “It’s an amazing opportunity. We were approached by his owner Sir Peter Vela, who had weighed-up a possible autumn campaign with the horse in Europe, but he decided that that would push him another year before he could come to stud. “We’re now in the process of syndicating him and have enjoyed a great response. “It has literally only been a handful of days since this has come about and to have the likes of Cambridge Stud, Windsor Park, Valachi Downs, Haunui Farm, Hallmark Stud and Curraghmore on board already, just shows you the regard in which the horse is held and what an attractive prospect he is. “With Sir Peter Vela also staying in the horse and pledging to send some quality mares from his Pencarrow Stud, and obviously we’re taking a shareholding and will be supporting the horse, Eminent is going to get every opportunity at stud.” King believes Eminent is very reasonably priced at $8,000+GST and was conscious of the later announcement of his retirement, with a limited number of shares selling for $30,000 via Brighthill Farm or New Zealand Bloodstock. “We wanted to make him affordable and at $8,000 he represents great value,” King said. “There is a lot of quality through his pedigree, race record and physical type. “When you look at the quality of the races that he ran in and the quality of the horse himself, he certainly gets you excited.” The Frankel factor will no doubt be one of the most compelling reasons breeders look to Eminent. A once in a generation racehorse, Frankel has made an exceptional start to his stud career and is the sire of 17.3 percent stakes-winners to runners, seven at Group One level headed by star galloper Cracksman. He is the sire of 31 Group winners, and surpassed the 30-mark faster than any other stallion in history. “For many people he is the best horse they have seen in their lifetime and he is doing an amazing job at stud too,” King said. “He leaves beautiful looking horses and I think when people see Eminent they are really going to be impressed.” King said Eminent was born to be a stallion given the impressive bloodlines on both sides of his pedigree. Eminent’s dam is the Gr.1 Ascot Fillies’ Mile (1600m) placegetter You’ll Be Mine, a Kingmambo daughter of Group One winner Quarter Moon, also the dam of Group One winner Diamondsandrubies. “Obviously with Frankel you are miles ahead, but to see the first three dams are by Kingmambo, Sadler’s Wells and Darshaan, they are three of the best broodmare sires in the world,” King said. “It’s a very strong female family and the race records are so strong within those bloodlines.” King highlighted Eminent’s ability to come to hand as an early three-year-old and the fact he had performed successfully in New Zealand’s major export market, Australia, as significant positives for breeders. “With his international pedigree and performance and the fact he boasts a Group One placing in Australia, there is little doubt Australian buyers will have no trouble buying progeny by this sire. We feel he is the perfect fit for New Zealand.” – NZ Racing Desk Eminent from deBurgh Productions on Vimeo. View the full article

“The revitalisation of this industry is underway,” says Racing Minister Winston Peters as the Racing Reform Bill passed its third and final reading in Parliament today. The Bill, which comes into force on 1 July, opens the starting gate for the transition of the New Zealand Racing Industry into a financially sustainable future. The Bill reconstitutes the New Zealand Racing Board as the Racing Industry Transition Agency, (RITA). RITA will have a new membership and a legislative mandate to manage the changes needed to revitalise the industry as well as to carry out business-as-usual functions. The Bill also addresses the industry’s need for additional revenue. The totalisator duty currently paid to the Crown will be phased out, with the revenue returned to the industry and a portion retained for harm minimisation. The Bill also introduces two new charges on overseas betting operators to help ensure they contribute to the New Zealand racing and sports codes from which they benefit. The Bill permits RITA to offer betting on a wider range of sports where an agreement is reached with Sport New Zealand. The formula for distributing payments to sporting and racing codes will be placed into regulations, so they can be more readily changed when needed by the industry. “This Bill is an important first step. However, while the race has begun we are still far from the finish line” says Mr Peters, who intends to introduce a second Bill later this year to build on these initial reforms. The second Bill will establish post-transition governance arrangements and other changes deemed necessary to ensure the revitalisation of the industry. “As a whole, these reforms serve to emphasise the value of racing in New Zealand,” Mr Peters says. “The Racing Reform Bill lays out an opportunity to deliver real results, to grow this industry for the benefit of our regions, our communities, and our economy.” -NZ Government

“The revitalisation of this industry is underway,” says Racing Minister Winston Peters as the Racing Reform Bill passed its third and final reading in Parliament today. The Bill, which comes into force on 1 July, opens the starting gate for the transition of the New Zealand Racing Industry into a financially sustainable future. The Bill reconstitutes the New Zealand Racing Board as the Racing Industry Transition Agency, (RITA). RITA will have a new membership and a legislative mandate to manage the changes needed to revitalise the industry as well as to carry out business-as-usual functions. The Bill also addresses the industry’s need for additional revenue. The totalisator duty currently paid to the Crown will be phased out, with the revenue returned to the industry and a portion retained for harm minimisation. The Bill also introduces two new charges on overseas betting operators to help ensure they contribute to the New Zealand racing and sports codes from which they benefit. The Bill permits RITA to offer betting on a wider range of sports where an agreement is reached with Sport New Zealand. The formula for distributing payments to sporting and racing codes will be placed into regulations, so they can be more readily changed when needed by the industry. “This Bill is an important first step. However, while the race has begun we are still far from the finish line” says Mr Peters, who intends to introduce a second Bill later this year to build on these initial reforms. The second Bill will establish post-transition governance arrangements and other changes deemed necessary to ensure the revitalisation of the industry. “As a whole, these reforms serve to emphasise the value of racing in New Zealand,” Mr Peters says. “The Racing Reform Bill lays out an opportunity to deliver real results, to grow this industry for the benefit of our regions, our communities, and our economy.” -NZ Government View the full article

“The revitalisation of this industry is underway,” says Racing Minister Winston Peters as the Racing Reform Bill passed its third and final reading in Parliament today. The Bill, which comes into force on 1 July, opens the starting gate for the transition of the New Zealand Racing Industry into a financially sustainable future. The Bill reconstitutes the New Zealand Racing Board as the Racing Industry Transition Agency, (RITA). RITA will have a new membership and a legislative mandate to manage the changes needed to revitalise the industry as well as to carry out business-as-usual functions. The Bill also addresses the industry’s need for additional revenue. The totalisator duty currently paid to the Crown will be phased out, with the revenue returned to the industry and a portion retained for harm minimisation. The Bill also introduces two new charges on overseas betting operators to help ensure they contribute to the New Zealand racing and sports codes from which they benefit. The Bill permits RITA to offer betting on a wider range of sports where an agreement is reached with Sport New Zealand. The formula for distributing payments to sporting and racing codes will be placed into regulations, so they can be more readily changed when needed by the industry. “This Bill is an important first step. However, while the race has begun we are still far from the finish line” says Mr Peters, who intends to introduce a second Bill later this year to build on these initial reforms. The second Bill will establish post-transition governance arrangements and other changes deemed necessary to ensure the revitalisation of the industry. “As a whole, these reforms serve to emphasise the value of racing in New Zealand,” Mr Peters says. “The Racing Reform Bill lays out an opportunity to deliver real results, to grow this industry for the benefit of our regions, our communities, and our economy.” -NZ Government View the full article

A new era in international racing got off to a strong start on day one of Royal Ascot (June 18) with the Hong Kong Jockey Club reporting a significant increase in turnover compared to the corresponding day in 2018. In partnership with Ascot and Totepool, the HKJC has created the first ever pari-mutuel-based World Pool in which overseas wagers from the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Europe and the USA are commingled into Hong Kong’s pools directly or via Totepool to ensure maximum liquidity for a growing international audience. Hong Kong has traditionally offered strong pools for Britain’s most famous Flat fixture but opening the market to international customers created significant extra interest, with total turnover on the six-race card up from HK$163.2m (NZ$31.8m) to HK$223.9m (NZ$43.6m). The year-on-year increase of 37 percent resulted in almost HK$50m (NZ$9.7m) wagered on the Gr.1 St James’s Palace Stakes (1400m) alone as Circus Maximus was returned at 11/1 to complete a double for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. “It was a very encouraging start, with total turnover of HK$223m (NZ$43.4m) including HK$52m (NZ$10.1m) from our international commingling partners,” HKJC chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “Our thanks go out to all those who have worked so hard to make our joint vision of World Pools come true and I am convinced that we have a very strong foundation to build on.” Ascot CEO Guy Henderson was also pleased with the success of the pool. “It is a tremendous honour to provide the focus for the world’s first truly global pool,” he said. “It is gratifying to see such increased engagement with the Hong Kong audience.” At this stage, the World Pool consists of four markets, namely those for Win, Place, Quinella and Quinella Place. However, Engelbrecht-Bresges feels the scope for expansion is notable. “In time I hope our next step is to also open up our exotic bets to the World Pool,” he said. “Exotic pools such as the Tierce (first three in correct order) and Quartet (first four in correct order) offer high liquidity with large dividends and these areas represent another significant growth opportunity.” le text here. View the full article

A new era in international racing got off to a strong start on day one of Royal Ascot (June 18) with the Hong Kong Jockey Club reporting a significant increase in turnover compared to the corresponding day in 2018. In partnership with Ascot and Totepool, the HKJC has created the first ever pari-mutuel-based World Pool in which overseas wagers from the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Europe and the USA are commingled into Hong Kong’s pools directly or via Totepool to ensure maximum liquidity for a growing international audience. Hong Kong has traditionally offered strong pools for Britain’s most famous Flat fixture but opening the market to international customers created significant extra interest, with total turnover on the six-race card up from HK$163.2m (NZ$31.8m) to HK$223.9m (NZ$43.6m). The year-on-year increase of 37 percent resulted in almost HK$50m (NZ$9.7m) wagered on the Gr.1 St James’s Palace Stakes (1400m) alone as Circus Maximus was returned at 11/1 to complete a double for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. “It was a very encouraging start, with total turnover of HK$223m (NZ$43.4m) including HK$52m (NZ$10.1m) from our international commingling partners,” HKJC chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “Our thanks go out to all those who have worked so hard to make our joint vision of World Pools come true and I am convinced that we have a very strong foundation to build on.” Ascot CEO Guy Henderson was also pleased with the success of the pool. “It is a tremendous honour to provide the focus for the world’s first truly global pool,” he said. “It is gratifying to see such increased engagement with the Hong Kong audience.” At this stage, the World Pool consists of four markets, namely those for Win, Place, Quinella and Quinella Place. However, Engelbrecht-Bresges feels the scope for expansion is notable. “In time I hope our next step is to also open up our exotic bets to the World Pool,” he said. “Exotic pools such as the Tierce (first three in correct order) and Quartet (first four in correct order) offer high liquidity with large dividends and these areas represent another significant growth opportunity.” le text here. View the full article

Riodini. The Nigel Tiley-trained Riodini kicked-off his raceday career in perfect style at Counties on Thursday, winning the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m). The two-year-old son of Proisir headed into the race off the back of a 935m trial win at Cambridge last month and Tiley was pleased with his first-up effort, winning by three lengths over Sai Fah, with a further three lengths back to Ruby Negroni in third. “He got to the line very well. I think he is a nice horse with a future, he’s really starting to go places. I look forward to him as a three-year-old,” Tiley said. “He has just been a bit slow to mature and he has been shin sore a couple of times. “We will give him a little break and get him back for the spring. He’s a horse that is just going to get better with time.” Jockey Sam Collett shared the same sentiments as Tiley and believes Riodini will mature into a nice three-year-old. “He ran really well and I think he still had plenty left to offer me,” she said. “The one draw was the biggest assist today, but he has been very well educated, which makes it easy. “He was able to hop out and travel pretty willingly in the trail. I weighed my options up at the 600m with him, (with them) being three-wide in front, and I didn’t want to get stuck without getting a run, so I opted just to pop off and give him his chance to find the line. He was strong to the line, it was good. “He has done a good job and I think he’s the kind of horse that will go on at three and be competitive in those good early three-year-old races.” View the full article

Riodini. The Nigel Tiley-trained Riodini kicked-off his raceday career in perfect style at Counties on Thursday, winning the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m). The two-year-old son of Proisir headed into the race off the back of a 935m trial win at Cambridge last month and Tiley was pleased with his first-up effort, winning by three lengths over Sai Fah, with a further three lengths back to Ruby Negroni in third. “He got to the line very well. I think he is a nice horse with a future, he’s really starting to go places. I look forward to him as a three-year-old,” Tiley said. “He has just been a bit slow to mature and he has been shin sore a couple of times. “We will give him a little break and get him back for the spring. He’s a horse that is just going to get better with time.” Jockey Sam Collett shared the same sentiments as Tiley and believes Riodini will mature into a nice three-year-old. “He ran really well and I think he still had plenty left to offer me,” she said. “The one draw was the biggest assist today, but he has been very well educated, which makes it easy. “He was able to hop out and travel pretty willingly in the trail. I weighed my options up at the 600m with him, (with them) being three-wide in front, and I didn’t want to get stuck without getting a run, so I opted just to pop off and give him his chance to find the line. He was strong to the line, it was good. “He has done a good job and I think he’s the kind of horse that will go on at three and be competitive in those good early three-year-old races.” View the full article

Ticket To Ride. The Keith Opie-trained Ticket to Ride secured her fourth career victory at Counties on Thursday when taking out the Lone Star Pukekohe 1600. There was an early injection of speed in the race, with four horses contending for the lead. After initially sitting parked, jockey Darren Danis pressed forward to take control of the race at the 900m. Ticket to Ride went clear in the straight to record a 2-1/4 length victory over Rippin, with Tipical a further half a head back in third. Opie thought his mare would improve from her fourth-placing at Ellerslie earlier this month and that proved to be the case. “Auckland the other day was a really good run and I thought today was her race to lose,” Keith Opie said. View the full article

Ticket To Ride. The Keith Opie-trained Ticket to Ride secured her fourth career victory at Counties on Thursday when taking out the Lone Star Pukekohe 1600. There was an early injection of speed in the race, with four horses contending for the lead. After initially sitting parked, jockey Darren Danis pressed forward to take control of the race at the 900m. Ticket to Ride went clear in the straight to record a 2-1/4 length victory over Rippin, with Tipical a further half a head back in third. Opie thought his mare would improve from her fourth-placing at Ellerslie earlier this month and that proved to be the case. “Auckland the other day was a really good run and I thought today was her race to lose,” Keith Opie said. View the full article

Te Toro Pearl will contest Saturday’s Listed Ultimate Ford And Mazda Tauranga Classic (1400m). Never-say-die Bullbars mare Te Toro Pearl has Cambridge trainer Jon Miller daring to dream big ahead of Saturday’s Listed Ultimate Ford And Mazda Tauranga Classic (1400m). Miller will produce his stable star in the weight-for-age fillies and mares feature not only with the aim of winning but also with a view to assessing her prospects for next season’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings. Entries for the first Group One race of the new season close on July 16 and provided Te Toro Pearl continues to please Miller, she is likely to be among those aimed at the August 31 showpiece. “We could look at the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) with her after this or we could bypass New Plymouth and focus on having her ready for Hastings,” Miller said. “I’ve always thought she was as good on a dead track as she is on a heavy track and she showed that when she ran second first-up this preparation at Ellerslie. She was only beaten a nose that day and that was a Good3.” Bred and raced by Keith and Craig Pennell, Te Toro Pearl has won four of her eight starts and last start ran second to Sleeping Beauty in the Listed Rotorua Stakes (1400m) last month under the same fillies and mares weight-for-age conditions for regular rider Cameron Lammas. “That race took a bit out of her. It was a pretty testing track that day and she sat three and four wide the whole race,” Miller said. “It wasn’t Cameron’s fault. It was just the way the race was run but she still came home well. She’s done really well since then too. She galloped really nicely this morning. I’ve got my fingers crossed. “It’s been six weeks between races so we’re in the same boat as Sleeping Beauty, who hasn’t raced since Rotorua either, and she’s probably the horse to beat again. It’s not a bad field the way it’s come up but she’s in with a good chance. “She doesn’t give up. It’s just with the six weeks between races, I hope I’ve got the preparation right.” TAB bookmakers opened Te Toro Pearl as a $9 sixth favourite in a market headed by Sleeping Beauty at $4.20 and last year’s winner New York Minute at $5, but Miller has few concerns and is expecting another typically gritty effort from his mare. “She can jump out and put herself there now so with Donna Anne Billy in there, hopefully they’ll spread out a bit and she can tucked in just better than midfield. She never looks like she’s going very well but there’s always something up her sleeve.” Miller, a former accountant, is enjoying life in Cambridge after relocating south from Pukekohe just under two years ago. “I was doing it (accountancy) at the same time when I was training a small team, I was going to work and training the horses as well,” he said. “Sir Valiant won about six races and I was working at the same time. I vowed and declared if I got another good one I would concentrate on them. “Then Dasoudi came along and around then I started to cut back on the accountancy a bit and concentrate on her and that was worth it. “The Chinese bought my place at Pukekohe, everything was going berserk and it was too good to turn down. There were no second thoughts on that one. “I’m currently working five, just young horses really, though I’ve got the stables here to take a few more. “I’ve retired Waipipi Lad but I’ve got about 17 boxes here and I plan to utilise the place a bit more than what I have been doing.” Miller has been involved in racing for 35 years and said it was about 20 years ago that he took out his trainer’s licence. “I started out with Sheza Huntress, Valiant Warrior and Sir Valiant, they were the three that started it off,” he said. Miller rates Dasoudi as the best horse he has had to date, but he is hopeful Te Toro Pearl can surpass her. “I have only ever had a small team but Dasoudi was Group One placed in the Thorndon and the Otaki race (Otaki Maori WFA, 1600m). “I also had Prince of Passion who was second in the Thorndon Mile a couple of years ago. It is a race that annoys me and I’m determined to win it. I’ve only had a couple of horses in the race and I have placed second each time.” View the full article

The Racing Reform Bill has now entered its third reading in parliament and is, in the main, receiving cross-party support. What is the bill about? The Messara Report was commissioned in April 2018 to look at the status of the thoroughbred racing industry in New Zealand and provide recommendations for possible reform of the industry. The Racing Reform Bill is the first of two law-making responses that would put into effect some of the report’s key proposals. These proposals would drive the changes needed to build a sustainable future for the racing industry. What does the bill mean? The bill seeks to amend the Racing Act 2003 and the Gaming Duties Act 1971 to bring into effect a period of transition and various financial changes to the industry. The bill aims to do this by: Restructure The New Zealand Racing Board will change to the Racing Industry Transition Agency Board (RITA). RITA will be responsible for managing change in the industry and for its everyday functions, as the industry moves through its one-year transition period to a financially sustainable future. Offshore betting The bill would allow for the collecting of revenue from overseas betting operators that provide betting services to people living in New Zealand. Phased totalisator duty repeal The totalisator duty will progressively reduce over a three-year period. At the end of the period, it will look to repeal the requirement to pay the totalisator duty. Makes changes to the distribution of racing and sports revenue The bill would remove distribution formulas for the racing industry and minimum payments formulas for New Zealand national sporting bodies. The bill would allow for both to be determined by regulations. Sports betting The bill would permit relevant sporting bodies to offer betting products on sports not represented by a domestic national sporting organisation. This change will help New Zealand’s racing industry to offer betting on a wider range of sports. Who might the bill affect? The New Zealand racing industry The New Zealand Racing Board National and international betting operators Sports totalisator agencies National sporting organisations People who use betting facilities What happens next? The bill was introduced to the House on 21 May 2019 and was referred to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee. Read what the select committee said about the bill in its report. Please check the progress bar below to see which stage the bill is currently at. View Related Video

The Racing Reform Bill has now entered its third reading in parliament and is, in the main, receiving cross-party support. What is the bill about? The Messara Report was commissioned in April 2018 to look at the status of the thoroughbred racing industry in New Zealand and provide recommendations for possible reform of the industry. The Racing Reform Bill is the first of two law-making responses that would put into effect some of the report’s key proposals. These proposals would drive the changes needed to build a sustainable future for the racing industry. What does the bill mean? The bill seeks to amend the Racing Act 2003 and the Gaming Duties Act 1971 to bring into effect a period of transition and various financial changes to the industry. The bill aims to do this by: Restructure The New Zealand Racing Board will change to the Racing Industry Transition Agency Board (RITA). RITA will be responsible for managing change in the industry and for its everyday functions, as the industry moves through its one-year transition period to a financially sustainable future. Offshore betting The bill would allow for the collecting of revenue from overseas betting operators that provide betting services to people living in New Zealand. Phased totalisator duty repeal The totalisator duty will progressively reduce over a three-year period. At the end of the period, it will look to repeal the requirement to pay the totalisator duty. Makes changes to the distribution of racing and sports revenue The bill would remove distribution formulas for the racing industry and minimum payments formulas for New Zealand national sporting bodies. The bill would allow for both to be determined by regulations. Sports betting The bill would permit relevant sporting bodies to offer betting products on sports not represented by a domestic national sporting organisation. This change will help New Zealand’s racing industry to offer betting on a wider range of sports. Who might the bill affect? The New Zealand racing industry The New Zealand Racing Board National and international betting operators Sports totalisator agencies National sporting organisations People who use betting facilities What happens next? The bill was introduced to the House on 21 May 2019 and was referred to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee. Read what the select committee said about the bill in its report. Please check the progress bar below to see which stage the bill is currently at. View Related Video View the full article

Lil Miss Swiss (pictured) will be one of two contenders in the Amberley Cup (1600m) for co-trainer Kelvin and Aimee Tyler. Kelvin Tyler is hoping to spoil the favourites’ party in Saturday’s Greenwood Amberley Cup (1600m), suggesting his pair The Bumper and Lil Miss Swiss are in prime order to cause an upset in the Riccarton feature. Tyler, who trains at Riverton with his daughter Aimee, has already won the Amberley Cup twice, with Timy Tyler in 2015 and Lochan Ora the following year, and believes improving Bullbars five-year-old gelding The Bumper and proven Rip Van Winkle five-year-old mare Lil Miss Swiss are in the right form to complete a treble for the stable. “It’s just a race that has fitted well into the programme for my horses. We don’t have a lot of open mile races down home,” Tyler said. “Both horses are really well. It’s the biggest test for The Bumper but if the rain comes like it’s meant to, then he’ll be right in it.” The Riccarton track was rated a slow 9 on Thursday, with any further rain expected to suit The Bumper, who has won six races from 37 starts, five of those on heavy tracks. TAB bookmakers opened The Bumper at $21 but were forced to shorten him to $15 after early betting support as he chases his fourth straight win. Lil Miss Swiss was at $19 in a market headed by Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) winner Who Dares Wins at $3.80 chasing his fourth win from as many outings this preparation. The Bumper’s last three wins have been in lower grades but he carries just 51kg in his open class debut under apprentice Kin Kwo. “On his trackwork, he should be headed straight to the top but he’s not that genuine,” Tyler said. “But at the moment we’ve found his happy place bowling along in front so let’s hope he can acquit himself well.” Lil Miss Swiss is another whose preference is for testing heavy tracks, having scored by 13 lengths in the Wairio Cup (2115m) at Invercargill last month on heavy 11 going. “She loves a wet track and mud. The wetter the better for her. She’ll have this one and then we’ll have a crack at the Parliamentary with her. You normally get a bog at Trentham for that meeting,” Tyler said. “She’s really well too. We could have a look at the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m)with her on the way back home but she needs it wet to be really competitive over a mile. She’s well and she’s fresh and with the track already a slow 9 and making it a testing mile, she’s pretty right for this race on Saturday.” View the full article

ME playing the VICTIM? I'm FAT but I don't protest if people point that out. No there will be a real punters club on BOAY. Pete just keep pitching up to Heslop.