Chief Stipe

Vengeur Masque. Sydney Cup runner-up Vengeur Masque will be missing from the spring carnival after suffering an injury in a paddock accident. The Mike Moroney-trained imported stayer won the Geelong Cup and Queen Elizabeth Stakes during the 2017 Victorian spring carnival while his spring preparation last year included unplaced runs in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups before his third in the Sandown Cup. Vengeur Masque was sent for a spell after finishing a game second to Shraaoh in the Group One Sydney Cup (3200m), the final start of his autumn campaign in April. Moroney said the gelding suffered a hock injury days before he was due to return to work. “We had our first blow the other day. Vengeur Masque is out for the spring,” Moroney said. “He had a paddock accident about four days before he was about to come back in.” He said Vengeur Masque must have slipped over and fallen. “He ended up very lame behind, with a big hock. They X-rayed it and he had bone chips. “So it’s very disappointing.” Moroney is looking to have the rising eight-year-old back for an autumn campaign next year. -AAP View the full article

Rondinella. Rondinella is set to kick off her spring campaign in the Gr.1 $A1 million New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 1, Cambridge trainer Robert Wellwood has revealed. Placed in the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie and the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Randwick before finishing fourth in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) during the autumn, Rondinella has returned to training with Wellwood and his training partner Roger James. “She’s back and she looks great,” Wellwood said. “She’ll probably have an exhibition gallop here and a trial at Taupo or Te Teko then we’ll take her straight to Melbourne. She’ll kick off in the Memsie and then we’ll pick a path to the Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m) or the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m) depending on how her form is going.” View the full article

Mega Heart. Write Article text here. View the full article

Terra Sancta. Tony Pike’s two winter Group One performers are heading home but he still plans to have a hand in the rest of the Queensland carnival. Pike has been a major Group One player during the winter carnival with The Bostonian winning the Doomben 10,000 and Kingsford Smith Cup and Endless Drama running third in the Stradbroke Handicap. The Bostonian and Endless Drama are booked to return to Pike’s New Zealand stable on Friday. “They can have a break while we decide which way they will head in the Australian spring,” Pike said. Not surprisingly Pike will consider another Brisbane trip for The Bostonian next winter. The Bostonian’s unplaced run in the Stradbroke Handicap last week was his first defeat in six Queensland starts. “Nothing went right for him from the very start in the Stradbroke,” Pike said. Pike has four horses who will remain in Queensland including Terra Sancta who will tackle Saturday’s Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m). Pike will also have Indecision in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) at Ipswich. Jim Byrne, who is coming back from injury, will ride Terra Sancta while James Orman has been booked for Indecision. “Jim has won at Ipswich on Terra Sancta last year. He has won three Ipswich Cups so it is obviously a bonus to get him,” Pike said. Terra Sancta ran sixth in last year’s Queensland Oaks after winning at Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast. She has been unplaced in two runs in Brisbane this winter but Pike is looking for a better run on Saturday. “She is out to a more suitable distance and the class isn’t as strong,” Pike said. Indecision has also been unplaced at both her winter runs over 1200m but Pike again expects improvement. “She is a Listed race winner in New Zealand and there were excuses in both her defeats in Brisbane,” Pike said. “We thought enough of her to bring her across from New Zealand and this is a race which suits from a good barrier,” he said. Pike said he would probably have runners at Eagle Farm on Saturday week and then the Sunshine Coast at the end of the month “It has been a good winter and we will be back next year. Hopefully will be competitive in the Group One races again,” he said. -AAP View the full article

Rule Number(s): 330(3)(a)This charge arises from race 2, Kope Turf Bar 2YO, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 330(3)(a). The Informant, Mr Oatham alleged that Mr Mansour broke a riding engagement for LOCHWINNOCH. Rule 330(3)(a) provides: (3) A Rider shall not: (a) wilfully or without reasonable cause break a riding engagement ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 330(3)(c)Prior to the running of race 3, Golden Grain LTD 3 YO, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 330 (3) (c). The Informant, Mr Oatham, alleged that Mr Riddell failed to make the weight for JAMES DEAN. Mr Riddell endorsed the Information that he admitted the breach and he did not wish to be present at ...View the full article

I was assisting other BOAY'ERS of a higher literacy to understand what the hell your post was about.

U May Collect. Kirsten Barclay isn’t scared of the challenges that lie ahead of Southland sensation U May Cullect. Because the way she looks at it, if taking on the best horses and trainers in the country doesn’t excite her, she is in the wrong job. Barclay is the co-trainer and driver of unbeaten pacer U May Cullect, who is very good and might even be very special. He faces the biggest challenge so far of his six-start career in the $40,000 Uncut Gems Male Pace at Addington tomorrow night, up against genuine open class horses in Classic Brigade and Triple Eight. The Uncut Gems are for horses who haven’t won a race worth more than $55,000 and didn’t run top three in the recent Jewels. With better legs, U May Cullect would be ineligible by now. He only started racing this season as a 5-year-old because he had damaged the tendon in his near-side leg twice as a younger horse. When he did finally make it to the races this season the shock value was instantaneous, with his six wins having come with an average five-length margin. While his margins and times, including a 1:52.1 mile at his second start, are those of a good horse, his explosive speed and the same pacing action that made his sire Gotta Go Cullect one of the best juveniles of his era are what set him apart from the other open class pretenders. Already a rating90 horse U May Cullect is as good as qualified for the New Zealand Cup, which would be a dream come true for Barclay, who trains him with Paul “Tank” Ellis. But the road to the New Zealand Cup, or any other serious open class races next season, leads through the pacing might of the All Stars stables, led by Spankem and defending Cup hero Thefixer. Barclay is unfazed. “We know how good these top horses are and how good trainers Mark [Purdon] and Natalie [Rasmussen] are,” she offers. “But if you aren’t excited by taking them on then I think you are in the wrong game. That is what we want to do, go up against the best and see how we go. “I am not saying we will beat their best horses but there is only one way to find out. “So if he holds together and we are lucky enough to be in a race like the Cup I’d be excited about it, not scared of them.” Although beating the elite is a far cry from beating up on Southland’s next best, some of the horses U May Cullect meets over the 2600m mobile tomorrow night would not be out of place in a New Zealand Cup so if he beats them easily the hype machine will change gear. While U May Cullect was too old to contest the Jewels, it would have been a fascinating drag race up the Addington straight had he sat on Turn It Up’s back on Jewels day, particularly as the Auckland Cup winner understandably wasn’t as sharp as earlier in the season. Barclay admits as exciting as her new equine toy is — “he is amazing to drive at full speed” — she tries not to get carried away with what the future holds. “For me it is a big deal to be going to Addington with a really good horse who we think can win. “This week’s race is a big deal for us and I’ll be a bit nervous. “Before we won with him there in April I had only ever won one race at Addington before.” That was 17 years ago so Barclay is entering foreign territory but at least she is doing so with an owner who backs her, a canny training partner she trusts and U May Cullect, who is as weird as he is fast. “Yep, he is a bit of a weirdo,” she admits. “He spends most of his time being worked at the beach and he doesn’t really like people fussing over him. He is a bit of a loner. “But he is lovely to work with and every time we find a new challenge for him he loves it.” Challenges don’t come much bigger in harness racing than the second Tuesday in November at Addington. Barclay won’t shy away. Michael Guerin View the full article

Turn It Up. Superstar pacer Turn It Up is out of the New Zealand Cup and Auckland Inter Dominions and almost certain not to race again this year. The Auckland Cup, Easter Cup and Harness Jewels winner has undergone an operation to remove cartilage damage in both his front legs, an issue which may have been bothering him in the second half of this season. While trainer Mark Purdon says the prognosis is good for a full recovery the time Turn It Up will need off to recover from the operation rules him out of the biggest races of the domestic season. “The vets have told us 12 weeks away from training,” Purdon told the Herald. “So it probably won’t even be back jogging until mid-September and that means the New Zealand Cup and the Inter Dominions in Auckland are definitely gone. “And I’d be almost certain he won’t race again this year so the Auckland Cup would be gone too. “But that still leaves some big races in Australia in the second half of the season, races like the Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile. “So while it is disappointing to not have him for races like the Cup and the Interdoms, long-term it is the right thing for the horse.”Purdon says the issues weren’t causing Turn It Up any pain when racing but they could have deteriorated with time so operating now was the best option. View the full article

The qualifying period for the 2019 McMillan Equine Feeds New Zealand Junior Driver Championship has ended. The top six North Island and South Island Junior Drivers by way of a points system will compete in this years Championship. The Championship will be run over two days with the drivers competing at Addington Raceway on the 5th July and at Rangiora Raceway on the 7th July. Congratulations to the following drivers who have qualified for this years Championship. (in order of qualifying) North Island Benjamin Butcher (Captain) Luke Whittaker Alicia Harrison Dylan Ferguson Jack MacKinnon Fergus Schumacher South Island John Morrison (Captain) Mark Hurrell Sheree Tomlinson Ben Hope Kimberly Butt Sarah O’Reilly The full qualifying table is available here: https://infohorse.hrnz.co.nz/datahrs/junior_drivers/junior_driver_points_5.htm If anyone would like any further information in regards to the Championship please contact Courtney Clarke at Harness Racing New Zealand courtney@hrnz.co.nz or 027 636 4355 HRNZ Marketing View the full article

The Paua Diver winning for trainer driver Allan Beck The plan to take The Paua Diver to the front by trainer driver Allan Beck worked perfectly at Ascot Park today when the four year old cleared maiden ranks at his fifth harness racing start. The Live Or Die gelding showed promise early when he ran third behind the talented Zinny Mac at Winton in mid December, pacing the 2400 metres in 2-56.2. “After that first run he got himself a bit worked up. Before that he was a perfect natured horse. He’s been a bit disappointing in a couple of his runs,” said Beck who part owns the gelding with breeders Ben and Karen Calder. From Gate Six Beck used the horse’s natural early speed and took The Paua Diver to the lead. From that point he ran good solid even quarters before Flaming Jim made a lightening quick move to challenge inside the last 800 metres. Duty Bound, driven by Robin Swain, which had trailed The Paua Diver for most of the way pulled out and forced Flaming Jim three wide before taking the lead. “They showed a bit too much speed for me so I just let them go in the finish. Robin’s one was going alright.” Once Duty Bound had taken The Paua Diver to the passing lane Beck pushed the go button again and the gelding showed he was too good for his rivals, beating Duke Of Dundee by two lengths with Flaming Jim another length back in third. “He’s like his sister (Bettor Enforce). You just have to let them go. The harder you go the more they seem to enjoy it.” Coming back to the birdcage – Photo Bruce Stewart Beck trained The Paua Divers dam Their Excuse which won her first race but was unplaced in three further starts. The win with The Paua Diver was one of two for Beck today. He also drove the Brian Nicol trained Cast A Shadow to win the Sheet Metalcraft Mobile Pace. Bruce Stewart View the full article

Take A Bet and Tim Williams hanging on to beat the late charge of American Mac and Mark Hurrell Free-legged pacer Take A Bet capped off a successful stay in Southland when she won the $12,000 Ryal Bush Transport Limited Nuggets Final at Ascot Park today. The Mach Three filly has won $21,200 in the space of five weeks for Canterbury harness racing trainer Geoff Dunn whilst down here, and she’s become the first horse to win both a Ladyship and Nugget final. Punters had some anxious moments though after Take A Bet which was the favourite, galloped in the score up. Starter Ben Ward declared a false start but Take A Bet galloped round to the start point before Williams was able to pull her up. “It’s uncharacteristic for her. I think Brett (caretaker trainer Brett Gray) must have let the hopples out on her during the week (laugh). She just needs to learn how to be a racehorse,” said Williams who decided to stand in Gate Two for the re-start. When the field left for the second time the mare paced away perfectly and was taken straight to the lead where she stayed, withstanding a late charge up the passing lane by American Mac. She won by three quarters of a length. “She’s getting better each time. The trips down here have been the making of her. She’s starting to develop a bit of speed now. Brett and the team have done a good job in looking after her and making sure she’s been ready to go.” Take a Bet is raced by William’s parents Brent and Suzanne along with Gary and Keri Woodham who were all on-course today. Brent Williams, Gary Woodham, Suzanne Williams and Keri Woodham – Photo Bruce Stewart She’s out of the six win Bettor’s Delight mare Kabet which started favourite in the 2013 Southland Oaks Finals – then driven by Tim. As a broodmare Kabet has also left Above N Beyond which ran fifth in the Two Year Emerald in the recently held Harness Jewels at Addington. Kabet’s third dam is the 1994-1995 Broodmare of the Year Sakuntala which left Brad Adios the 1977-1978 Three Year Old Pacer of the Year in Australia and Tuapeka Star who was the winner of twenty two races and the dam of New Zealand Cup winner Iraklis. Meanwhile Robbie Royale capped off a consistent season by winning The Williamson Racing Stables Handicap Trot. The five year gelding trained by Brett Gray has won four races this season from twenty three starts and has banked $27,745. for his connections. Bruce Stewart View the full article

Jockey Krishna Mudhoo winning his 100th race aboard Red Rose Warrior at Waimate on Sunday. . Canterbury jockey Krishna Mudhoo kicked off his senior riding career in style at Waimate on Sunday, securing his 100th win when riding home Red Rose Warrior for trainer Neill Ridley. Mudhoo was excited to have reached the milestone, but admitted to being a bit disappointed he wasn’t able to reach it as an apprentice. “It was pretty good to get my 100th win on Sunday,” he said. “I wasn’t actually aware I was approaching it. My riding master, Mr (David) Walsh, told me after the race that it was my 100th winner. “It was a bit of a disappointment that I couldn’t reach 100 wins while still an apprentice, but never mind, it was good to achieve it on my first day riding as a senior jockey. The Mauritius-born rider came to New Zealand in 2014 to work for John And Karen Parsons on the behest of good friend and fellow jockey Gosen Jogoo, but didn’t originally have any intentions of riding on raceday. “I came over here as a track rider,” he said. “One of my friends, Gosen Jogoo, got me a job over here. “From there I was working for the Parsons and one day they were short of riders, so they asked me to ride at the trials, and it’s just gone from there.” In his five seasons of riding, Mudhoo said the the Jo-Ann Gordon-trained The Gordonian has given him his biggest moments in racing, including his sole stakes victory to date in the Listed Riverton Cup (2147m) last year. “Winning on The Gordonian in the Winter Classic was a highlight, and I’ve also won a few cups, including the Riverton Cup with The Gordonian.” Mudhoo became interested in racing as a child and that passion was passed down to his younger brother Rohan who has also moved to New Zealand to follow a career as a jockey. “There were horses where I was living, so I always wanted to ride them,” he said. “I got a bit of work and then started riding. “I was riding track work there before I moved to New Zealand five years ago.” Being Canterbury-based, Cup Week in November has caught his imagination and he said he would dearly love to win the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) one day. “I’d like to get a few good rides during Cup week and the 1000 Guineas has always been an aim for me to win.” Mudhoo is set to ride in four races at Phar Lap Raceway on Friday and has highlighted Celine and Double Down as his best chances of the day. View the full article

Umberto Rispoli. Umberto Rispoli missed Saturday’s Sha Tin card with a back injury. That was his first absence this term and he made up for it with his first success since 5 May in race two at Sha Tin on Wednesday night, section one of the Class 4 Tong Fuk Handicap (1650m), on former New Zealand based galloper Lasting Friendship. The Peter Ho-trained galloper had not hit the mark in 11 Hong Kong starts, not since a 1200m maiden win at New Plymouth for Lauren Brennan pre-import. The gelding held race favourite Touch Of Luck, who ran on for second under Zac Purton despite the inconvenience of his unloosening pacifiers bouncing around his head before flying off completely in the home straight. “He’s a horse that I’ve been following for a long time and I was thinking he’d been unlucky a few times from a wide draw,” Rispoli said of the 29/1 shot. “The instruction had been to get cover in midfield but he jumped so good tonight, and Starlit Knight surprised me by not wanting to lead, so I took the decision to sit outside the leader. The pace was slow and my horse is one-paced, he won from the front in New Zealand so I wasn’t scared to be there. We got down to the 600 (metres) and I tried to wind him up a bit, to get him working and he kept on to the line. “That gives me some oxygen to the end of the season!” -HKJC View the full article

Ugly Warrior. Ugly Warrior won the Class 2 Butterfly Bay Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Wednesday night. Karis Teetan positioned Me Tsui’s galloper in the front pair and kicked upon straightening for home. The four-year-old son of Swiss Ace was all out with 200m to race but held on to hold Raging Blitzkrieg by three quarters of a length, taking his career tally to six from 11. “Last time things didn’t go his way but Me had him spot on for today and last week he trialled really good with me, so the horse was in form,” Teetan said “When he got there I was expecting him to quicken up but after working so much I thought he was not going to kick. Once he got there and I asked him, he kicked pretty good for a strong win.” Ugly Warrior was purchased out of Regal Farm’s 2016 Ready To Run Sale draft for $210,000 after being pinhooked as a yearling out of Westbury Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling draft. -HKJC View the full article

The New Zealand Government has given approval for horses that have been in Conghua to be exported from Hong Kong to New Zealand on the same basis as other horses in the Hong Kong population. The new arrangement is effective immediately. Following an assessment by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) of the Conghua Equine Disease Free Zone (EDFZ) including the biosecurity systems of the Club’s Conghua Racecourse (CRC), the New Zealand Government has confirmed Conghua EDFZ in maintaining a health status equivalent to that of Hong Kong SAR and approved extension of the existing Hong Kong SAR conditions for the export of horses to New Zealand to include the Conghua EDFZ in Mainland China. This means that horses that have been in CRC are no longer required to achieve 180 days continuous residency in HKSAR prior to export to New Zealand. Mr. Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director, Racing, said: “This approval greatly enhances our horse movement arrangements with New Zealand and will be of considerable assistance to racehorse owners. The Club appreciates the efforts of MPI and the HKSAR Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.” – The Hong Kong Jockey Club xt here. View the full article

Yogi. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Yogi will begin his winter campaign at Rosehill on Saturday when he contests the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill. The dual stakes-winning son of White Robe Lodge stallion Raise The Flag hasn’t been sighted on raceday since his unplaced performance in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) in April, but Maher is expecting a strong showing from his gelding on Saturday. “We’ve targeted this race for him and then he can roll into the two-mile race (Stayer’s Cup), which will suit him nicely,” Maher told Racing.com. “He’s had a freshen-up since his last campaign up there (Sydney) and he seems in pretty good order. He’s free and he’s pretty right to go.” Maher said the six-year-old does suffer from a few soreness issues, so will benefit with the light freshen-up. “I think he won here at Caulfield fresh-up up over 1800m so I think he does like a bit of time between runs,” he said. “He does get a few niggles and pain. His fitness is still pretty good as he’s only had a little freshen-up, so I think he’ll run well.” Yogi began his career in New Zealand where he was trained by Mel And Warwick Coles. He was purchased as a yearling for just $1,000 from the New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale. View the full article

Aaron Kuru winning aboard Des De Jeu at Awapuni last year. Saturday’s Awapuni racemeeting marks 12 months since jumps jockey Aaron Kuru and steeplechaser Des De Jeu became the talk of the racing world and the duo will be reunited when they contest the L J Hooker Manawatu Steeplechase (4200m). The low-key rider became a media sensation after staging one of the most remarkable comebacks ever witnessed on a racecourse. Kuru and Des De Jeu fell at the first of 13 jumps to seemingly extinguish his prospects in a maiden steeplechase. But showing incredible horsemanship, Kuru was able to keep hold of the horse’s reins and remount the jumper as he scrambled to his feet. Despite losing more than 10 lengths, the pair went onto win by half a length. Video and images of Kuru’s spectacular feat traversed the world on both traditional and social media and the usually reserved horseman was thrust into the spotlight. “It was all a bit of a blur really,” Kuru said. “It was the first race of the day but I didn’t really reflect too much on what happened because I had the Awapuni Steeplechase and Hurdles coming up. “I was focussed on those two races but after that I had time to reflect on what happened and it obviously didn’t hit me at first but it was a great feeling. “I enjoyed it more because my main supporter, Paul Nelson, didn’t have a single runner there but I still managed to ride two winners and two seconds on the day.” Kuru was initially overwhelmed by the public interest in the story and the 27-year-old went to ground for a few days. “I had no choice but to turn my phone off for a few days,” he said. “It absolutely buggered my phone, it went berserk. Luckily (fellow jumps jockey) Matt Cropp and I went out hunting the next day and it took my mind off things.” Although not a natural media performer, Kuru was the subject of numerous radio and television interviews across Australia and New Zealand and said the publicity was good for the sport he loves. “I didn’t really want to do it but going forward it put New Zealand jumps racing on the map and in a good light as well,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of mates that live around the world and a lot of their friends didn’t realise there was jumps racing in New Zealand. As a result we have had a few more point to point riders that were interested in coming to New Zealand, so that has got to be a positive.” Twelve months on from the incident, Kuru, who was New Zealand Champion jumps jockey two seasons ago, was still pinching himself. “I still don’t believe what happened, but it happened,” the modest horseman said. “I want to say it didn’t change my life, but it did. It didn’t interfere with the rest of my season because I was pretty focused on riding as many winners as I could. “But because of what happened, Racing Victoria wanted me to go over and ride in the Grand National. They got me a couple of rides and I ended up running third in a maiden hurdle and I just missed out on winning the Grand National. “There are plenty of opportunities for me to go over there but I learnt my craft here and I am pretty happy to stay in New Zealand. “My partner and I are trying to set up a few of our own things here so mainly I am just focussing on New Zealand jumps racing. I love it here and it is where I learnt how to ride.” Kuru rode Des De Jeu twice last season and greeted the judge first on both occasions, but he isn’t expecting the winning run to continue when the gelding steps out in an open steeplechase for the first time this year. “It will be his third run for the prep. He had one run on the flat leading into last Saturday’s third in the maiden hurdle,” Kuru, who partnered No Tip to victory in that event, said. “Looking at the replay, it was a really good third. He should be thereabouts on Saturday but we will be trying to get him back and settle him and find the line late.” Despite having a jumps jockeys’ premiership to his name, Kuru said that was not his main mission. “I never try and ride for the premiership. I just try and ride as many winners as I can and if that happened then that is just a bonus,” he said. “What excites me are maiden hurdle winners, like what we saw with No Tip down in Wellington, that have a future. “A lot of our older horses at Paul Nelson’s have retired so we have a stable full of young maiden hurdlers, so I am just excited about getting them up and going. They are the future. “I love seeing a nice young maiden hurdle winner that wins well because they go through the grades like Napoleon.” Before Saturday’s meeting, Kuru will ride at Wanganui on Thursday where he partners Look Out and Teapot in Highweights but he is equally as enthusiastic about the prospects of a horse he is not riding. “Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal have a horse called Revolution who had an outing at the same meeting last year that No Tip ran in and showed quite a lot, so he is quite exciting,” Kuru said. “He has had a couple of schooling sessions so he will probably have a spin around at the end of the year.” An all-round good sport, Kuru has previously represented New Zealand at softball and revealed he has recently ventured back into one of his favourite pastimes. “I took a few years off from softball because I wasn’t enjoying it like I used to,” he said. “I got back into it again over the summer at a club up in Northcote on Auckland’s North Shore. They got hold of me and managed to twist my arm. “I actually really enjoyed it and we had a great season. I will be going back again this summer. “It is quite demanding like any kind of sport and it is pretty hard to perform at the top level when I am trying to ride because I have to keep the weight down.” Kuru said he did not harbour ambitions of representing his country again at softball but was loving watching his friends compete on the world stage. “I don’t think I would have a look in with the team anymore. They have a great culture, they are over in Prague at the moment getting ready for the World Series, which starts in a few days. “I have been tuned in to the racing and I have been tuned into following the Black Sox. They have been going really well. They just finished a pre-tournament and they came out on top.” Kuru said the balance between putting on enough weight to compete at the highest level at softball and then getting his weight down again to ride in winter was one of the reasons he walked away from the sport. Between softball and riding over jumps, Kuru also rides work for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike but makes regular visits to Hawke’s Bay to ride for Nelson and McDougal. “It actually all fits in really well,” he said. “My family all live down in Hastings and I go down three or four times before the season starts to school the horses. I will do that on a Saturday so I can spend Sunday with my parents. Tony is really good about being flexible and very understanding.” – NZ Racing Desk Race replay: View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(7A)(b)Mr Renault alleged that Mr Hurrell (WOMAN IN CHARGE) moved inside the track marker line to obtain a run in the early stages of the run home in race 2, the THANK YOU KEITH HOTTON PACE 2200 metres. Rule 869(7A)(b) states: “Every horseman who moves inwards shall ensure that any part of the sulky does not ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(7B)Mr Renault alleged that horse number 2, WOMAN IN CHARGE, breached the provisions of r 869(7B) when Mr Hurrell moved inside the track marker line to obtain a run in the early stages of the run home in race 2, the THANK YOU KEITH HOTTON PACE 2200 metres. Rule 869(7B) states: “Where any horse or its sulky ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 869(2) and cl (c) of the Whip RegulationsMr Renault alleged that Mr Franks (SVELT) used his whip in an uninterrupted manner over the concluding stages of race 1, the ALDEBARAN PARK HANDICAP TROT 2700 metres. Rule 869(2) states: “No horseman shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations made ...View the full article

On a freezing cold morning. But in my experience those horses that were that smart were good ones!

Rule Number(s): 638 (1) (d)Following the running of Race 1, the Maxwelton Pony Stud and Blair-Edie Genetics Maiden 1840, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr M Davidson, against Class B Rider, Ms T Comignaghi, alleging careless riding in that she directed her mount NIFTY outwards near the 150m causing crowding to ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638 (1) (d)Following the running of the Maxwelton Pony Stud & Blair-Edie Genetics Maiden 1840 Stewards lodged an information alleging Mr G Saejorhor rode carelessly when he ”…permitted his mount (Fine And Dundee) to shift outwards near the 75m mark causing Acre (J Fawcett) to be checked.” Mr Saejorhor appeared ...View the full article

I've known horses to step on human feet deliberately!