Chief Stipe

Bridie Ansell sports a wide grin as she guides Dr Watson home at Trentham Consistent middle-distance performer Dr Watson sprang a major surprise when he upset the open-class sprinters over 1200m on a testing Heavy11 surface at Trentham on Saturday. Placed at his last two starts over staying trips, including a runner-up finish in the Foxton Cup (2040m) at Wanganui last weekend, most punters never gave the Sylvia Kay-trained seven-year-old a winning chance over the short-course distance. Quality racemare New York Minute, successful in the corresponding event for the past two years, was sent out a hot favourite ($1.80) with fellow northern raider Comeback, bidding for his fifth straight victory, expected to be the main challenger. That scenario looked likely to play out as the pair duelled in front for most of the way before Comeback took over early in the run home. Just as Comeback looked to have the measure of his rivals fledgling apprentice Bridie Ansell urged Dr Watson between runners to collar Comeback and score her first success at just her third raceday ride. Kay sported a wide grin as she waited for her charge to return to the Trentham birdcage, delighted she could play a major role in providing Ansell with her first winning ride. “It’s the greatest thrill ever,” Kay said. “She’s (Ansell) such a good girl, she turns up every morning, will hop on anything and I’m just so pleased she has got a win.” Despite being seen mainly as a stayer, Kay was confident of a good showing despite the sharp drop back in distance for Saturday’s contest. “He has won over 1200m a while ago,” she said. “On that track he will just grind away and he is very fit. “He doesn’t need much (work) really and he just loves his racing. “He likes his little routines and he really likes Wellington. “He always tries so we might have to have a go at the Parliamentary next so that will be a bit of a step up.” Ansell was also trying to keep her excitement in check as she accepted congratulations for her winning effort. “It’s very special and I can’t believe it just happened,” she said. “He was so brave as I didn’t think for one second he wasn’t going to go between those horses. He’s just so good.” Dr Watson will now tackle the Parliamentary Handicap (2200m) that will be run as the feature flat race on Wellington Steeplechase day at Trentham on July 13. View the full article

Jonathan Riddell has Sultan Of Swing humming as he storms to victory at Te Rapa Class galloper Sultan of Swing returned to winning form with a vengeance when he dealt to his open-class rivals over 1600m at Te Rapa. The Shaune Ritchie-trained six-year-old indicated he was nearing his peak after a sound effort for second at Ellerslie a fortnight ago and franked that form with his ninth career victory on Saturday. After enjoying a cosy run against the rail in midfield throughout, rider Jonathan Riddell had Sultan Of Swing handily placed to make his challenge one-off the fence at the 300m. The pair burst to the lead shortly after and maintained a solid gallop to the line to defeat race favourite Aligns With Me, who stormed home out wide to snatch second from He’s Cavalier. Ritchie thought his charge was ready to return to the winner’s enclosure although he was hesitant to label him a winner prior to the race due to the tricky track conditions and despite being opened as the $3.80 favourite by TAB bookmakers. “I actually potted him on the radio this morning, as I thought $3.80 was too short when they opened up but obviously the bookmakers knew better than us,” he said. “I was a little concerned about the track conditions but this is the second time he has come to Te Rapa and handled a slow track. “Obviously he likes it here with that sand base.” Ritchie had always felt a winning turn was not far away as luck had deserted the Bachelor Duke gelding in his most recent starts. “He has been racing pretty well all season,” he said. “He’s had big weights and wide runs and obviously the quality of horses he was racing against in the summer was right up there. “There’s usually a nice horse coming through that can top him off, like last start, especially when they claim and you are giving them 9kgs. “He’s a good genuine horse and a great horse for his owners.” Bred and raced by Dominic Li under his IDL Racing banner, Sultan Of Swing has won nine of his 34 starts, including the Gr.3 J Swap Contractors Sprint (1200m) and over $269,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Birdsong strides clear for an emphatic debut victory Impeccably bred youngster Birdsong made a winning debut for the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable when she led all the way over 1200m in the opening event at Te Rapa. The Snitzel two-year-old had looked promising in her two trial runs before Saturday’s contest and with the application of blinkers was primed for a serious first-up effort. Rider Matt Cameron made good use of an inside barrier to kick the filly into a forward position as she disputed the pace with the Team Rogerson-prepared Roc Cha. With the field struggling in the blustery conditions on offer, Birdsong maintained a powerful gallop in the home straight to score by over two lengths from Roc Cha with Harlech making up good ground to take third. Co-trainer Andrew Forsman was pleased with the effort by his charge who was a $400,000 purchase for owners, Sunlight Thoroughbreds, from the Pencarrow Stud draft during the Book 1 session at the National Yearling Sale last year. “It was always the key, whoever got up on pace and she was the one who drew the best,” Forsman said. “She has really improved since the trials and we have put the blinkers on and she has really sharpened up. “She is a beautiful filly, well bred, and she is only going to get better with time.” Cameron was delighted with the filly’s effort after employing the front-running tactics that saw the pair avoid the sand kickback that has been an issue at Te Rapa in recent months. “That was the key (leading) as there is a lot of sand coming back as the other jocks are covered in it,” he said. “It’s good to get these two-year-olds out and in the clear. It might not be the way to ride her but you get away with it first-up.” Bred by Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Thoroughbreds, Birdsong is the first foal of the Group Three winning Galileo mare Scintillula who was a runner-up at Group One level while also placing fourth in both the Gr.1 Yorkshire Oaks (2385m) and Gr.1 Irish Oaks (2414m). View the full article

Sacred Sham Sacred Sham became the second product of former top Singapore mare Mexican Rose to score a win at his dam’s old hunting ground on Friday night. Laurie Laxon’s multiple Group-winning mare was first represented by daughter Mexican Gal at Kranji in 2014. Though the daughter of Encosta De Lago was not quite a chip off the old block, she did perform creditably for the same connections – Jupiter Stable and trained by Laxon – with four wins and four placings from only 16 starts. Whether Sacred Sham can scale to the same heights or soar even higher remains to be seen, but that first Singapore win in the $70,000 Class 3 Division 2 race (1200m) at his third local start was indicative of some ability. It was to trainer Mark Walker and Raffles Racing Stable’s owner Dato Yap Kim San, first and foremost, a relief he had carved out a first notch on his scoresheet. A former three-time winner (1000m to 1100m) for Caulfield trainer Danny O’Brien, Sacred Sham didn’t get off to the most auspicious starts at his new home. He bled before his first race and was put on the sidelines for a while. The ability was thankfully uncompromised as evidenced by his first two runs in Class 3 company in the last two months – a debut fourth in April and a fast-finishing second last month when ridden by senior jockey Benny Woodworth on both occasions. Ridden this time by Walker’s apprentice jockey Riduan Abu Bakar, Sacred Sham somehow found himself at the head of affairs with It’s Got It All keeping him company on the outside. The swoopers did make their presence felt halfway up the straight, but they had their work cut out when Sacred Sham’s four-kilo-claiming apprentice jockey allowed him to let rip. Yabadabadoo snuck up on the inside, Despacito sprouted wings on the outside, but Sacred Sham kept attacking the line to score by three parts of a length from Yabadabadoo with Despacito third another half-length away. The winning time was 1min 10.34secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack. Walker said it was not by design that Sacred Sham landed at the top of the queue, but with nobody seemingly keen to take up the role, it played into their hands in the end. “I thought there would be more speed to the race, but he ended up getting a soft lead,” said the current leading trainer. “I just told Nik (Riduan) to settle him where he is comfortable, but he led and just kept going. The four-kilo claim probably helped him, too. “He’s a horse who had a few issues when he came to us. He bled before his first start and we’ve got to manage him carefully. “Well done to Dato Yap and his racing manager Bruce Sherwin.” A stakes winner of over A$125,000 back in Australia, Sacred Sham has seen his local bank swell past the $55,000 mark for the Raffles Racing Stable with that first Kranji success. Riduan, who has taken Kranji by storm since his debut in April, has, however, seen his meteoric rise take a stumble when he incurred a three-month suspension for not riding Venus De Milo to the satisfaction of the Stewards last Friday. Beginning the ban after Sunday’s meeting, the Kelantan-born and New Zealand-trained rider would certainly take some comfort in that 10th win before the long holiday. “I was looking for a leader, but no-one wanted to go forward,” said Riduan. “When I got to the front, I took advantage of that and tried to control the race from there. In the home straight, he just kept going.” -STC View the full article

Hazel Schofer Promising apprentice jockey Hazel Schofer had a day to remember at New Plymouth on Thursday, riding home three winners on her home track. Apprenticed to Allan Sharrock, Schofer scored an early double for local trainer Ian Adams with Tarabeebee and Aratoka, before winning for her boss aboard short-priced favourite Come Sei in the Stable Books Supporting NZ Trainers (1400m). Schofer, who has been riding on race day for less than a month, was delighted to pick up a treble so early in her riding career. “It was pretty special,” she said. “It was good to get three at the home track with all my family there. It’s definitely my biggest day so far.” The 20-year-old rider was a keen showjumper while at school and her dedication to that sport was the catalyst for her career in racing. “I used to show jump when I was in high school and I needed a job that had good hours so that I could work my own horses after school,” she said. “Going in early in the morning worked around that. “I have always wanted to (be a jockey) ever since I was a young kid. As I got older, I thought I wasn’t the right shape for it, but luckily I put in the hard work and managed to get my weight down.” Schofer began working for Ilone Kelly before transferring to Allan Sharrock a year ago. “I started with Ilone Kelly and then when they relocated to Levin it wasn’t the same as being at home, so I came back and I was lucky enough to get a job with Allan. “I have been working for Allan for a year now, but didn’t start riding trials until earlier this year, and started riding on race day on the 11th of May.” Schofer said she has received a lot of support and has been fortunate to have been placed on some handy horses. “I get a lot of good rides and opportunities, so it makes it a lot easier when you are getting support and you are on good horses. “I have got a couple of good rides coming up this weekend.” Those rides include Art Deco for Sharrock in the Platinum Homes Taranaki 1200 at Trentham and Herengawe for trainer Joanne Moss at the same venue. Schofer retains the ride on Art Deco after finishing runner-up to Comeback in their previous two starts, and she is hoping they can turn the tables on the Team Rogerson-trained runner. “It is good to be on her (Art Deco) again, it’s a bit of a competitive field but she’s doing well,” she said. “I think Allan is pretty happy with how she is going and he has got her nice and fit.” Schofer is enjoying her time under the guidance of Sharrock and said she just wants to continue to improve as a rider. “It’s good to be with a trainer with a lot of experience and knowledge, it definitely helps my riding,” she said. “I don’t have any specific goals, I just want to keep improving and be able to work through my claim gradually and just be consistent.” View the full article

Burlington will go in to Sunday’s Nelson Winter Cup after putting an unlucky streak behind him in emphatic style on Friday. The Brent White trained 3-year-old bolted in by more than seven lengths on the first day of the two-day Nelson winter meeting. That turned around a frustrating run for the horse, after he ran in to major traffic problems in two of his last three starts. “It was a bit of a relief, really,” White said. “He had been very unlucky, so he deserved it.” Burlington’s victory in rating 52-59 company has earned him a shot at Sunday’s Nelson Winter Cup. Though the race was not exactly on White’s agenda for the horse, it makes sense for him to tackle it. “He is going for a spell soon.” “But, he is part owned in Nelson and he is up here so he can have one last run before he goes out.” Burlington steps significantly up in grade from Friday’s race to Sunday feature. That is rise the pacer should handle, considering he was able to foot it in good company when third in the Southern Supremacy Stakes Final. It is that 2700m mobile contest that gives White good hope the horse will be suited to the 3000m of Sunday’s race. “The way he went in the Southern Supremacy the 3000m should be right up his alley.” The standing start conditions of the Nelson Winter Cup are of much more concern to White. The trainer said it was a case of hoping Burlington could step away cleanly. “He is about 50-50 to go away, to be honest.” “There are only five off the front and then he his off the unruly so that should help.” “But, really, we are just going to have to see what happens.” Change Is Good will be out to make it two from two at the Nelson meeting after the win in the Nelson Winter Cup prelude. The Mitchell Kerr trained pacer made it four wins in a row when holding out placegetters, Spot On and Sociable. Though Change Is Good beat that pair on Friday, she again meets them 10m better off when starting off the front. Huey Lewis could be the improver from the Winter Cup Prelude. The Robert Dunn trained pacer ran fourth in the event, in what was his first start since January. View the full article

COMEBACK star Soho Tribeca will chase the NZ Cup, but not the Auckland Inter Dominion. The gifted pacer returns from almost a year out when he tackles next Saturday night’s Italian Cup at Melton. Trainer-driver Mick Stanley will then keep him based in Victoria, bypassing features in NSW and Queensland, to focus on an NZ Cup raid. “Obviously everything depends on how well he comes back, but you have to plan ahead and Rob (Watson, owner) I have talked through it all,” Stanley said. “The Inter Dominion, with the four runs in two weeks, just isn’t the right way to go with him after the injury he’s had. “But Rob is super, super keen on the NZ Cup and so am I. “We’re building everything around the NZ Cup at his main target this year.” But shaping plans for Soho Tribeca is just part of the exciting but challenging equation for Stanley, who boasts by his strongest stable ever. Two of his stars, Rackemup Tigerpie and Soho Burning Love, won feature races at Melton last night (Saturday). Rackemup Tigerpie’s sparkling first-up win in the free-for-all was both exciting for him and a great guide for Soho Tribeca’s progress. “They work together at home and trialled together last week where Soho Tribeca did a bit more work and Rackemup Tigerpie just edged him out,” Stanley said. “The way Rackemup won last night really gave us confidence Tribeca was right on target for next week.” Rackemup Tigerpie was first-up since finishing down the track in the Chariots of Fire at Menangle on February 16. It was the end of a campaign where he raced through the grades with 11 wins, but the best run was a mighty second to Thefixer in the Ballarat Cup. Stanley drove him with confidence despite being first-up and made an early move around the field from a back row draw to sit parked for the second half of the short 1720m race. Despite doing all the work, Rackemup Tigerpie powered to the front and top of the straight and held-on well to win by 1.7m in a 1min54.7sec mile rate, including a 55.7sec last half. “The Vicbred 4YO series is next for him in a couple of weeks. Poster Boy will be a good measuring stick in that, but I’m sure this horse has comeback better than last campaign,” Stanley said. “The best part of last night’s win for me was how quickly he dropped them when I said go at the top of the straight. He couldn’t do that last time in work and it’s a great asset to have.” Rackemup Tigerpie has the Vicbred, Breeders Crown 4YO and a dip at the Victoria Cup in October to prove to Stanley he should chase the biggest open-class features next season. Just 30 minutes after Rackemup Tigerpie’s winning return, Soho Burning Love had an easier job finding the lead after the start and cruising to a dominant 5.5m win over last-start Group 1 winner and favourite Pistol Abbey in a 1min56.3sec mile rate for the 2240m. “She’s off the Vicbred 4YO mares’ series next and she’s got the Breeders Crown 4YO as well. I’d say she’d head across to Perth for their Group 1 mares’ race later in the year as well,” Stanley said. View the full article

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Now there are no jockeys at Tamworth.

Now none of the Aussie races have jockey colours.

At least two horses showing odds R4 Eagle Farm when they've already been scratched. NOT late scratched but scratched PRIOR to the start of the meeting! Plus after jumping 33% of the pool was added. That's is win pool on close was $82k after they'd jumped $142k.

Rule Number(s): Rule 638(2)Following the running of Race 5 (ZED AT GRANGEWILLIAM STUD 1100m), Information A11607 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It alleged a breach of Rule 638(2) by Licensed Apprentice Rider Mr R Beemud. The Information alleged that: ”...Rahul Beemud (GETUP) gave a victory salute prior to the finish”. ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638(1)(d)Following the running of Race 1 (UNCLE RUSSELL GOES TO THE RACES MAIDEN HWT 2000m), Information A11606 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It alleged a breach of Rule 638(1)(d) by Licensed Class D Rider Ms E Farr. The Information alleged that: "...Emily Farr (DANGERMAN) allowed her mount to shift ...View the full article

Rule Number(s): Rule 619(b)Following the running of Race 5 (ZED AT GRANGEWILLIAM STUD 1100m), Information A11608 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It alleged a breach of Rule 619(b) by Licensed Apprentice Rider Mr S O’Malley. The Information alleged that: ”...Sam O’Malley changed his riding boots after weighing out”. Rule ...View the full article

Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) contender Vigor Winner. Exciting three-year-old Vigor Winner will attempt to add a second stakes win to his tally when he lines-up in the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Declaration of War gelding finished unplaced in his first-up Australian run in the Gr.3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) last month and while trainer Lauren Brennan said his run was disappointing on face value, it proved to be a lot more pleasing upon review. “Initially we were disappointed with the run, but then looking back on the replay he did a lot of work to get to the front, he was three-wide without cover for the whole race and was beaten by four and a half lengths,” she said. “When you look at it like that, he actually stuck on quite well and didn’t run a bad race, he was just a victim of circumstance.” Prior to his Australian campaign, Vigor Winner won three of his four starts in New Zealand, including the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) in April, and finished runner-up in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). Brennan said he has settled in well in Queensland and is hoping he can reproduce some of his New Zealand form on Saturday. “He is really enjoying his time over here and we are happy with his progress since the Fred Best a couple of weeks ago,” she said. “We have just cantered him into the race this week. We have previously designed his racing with five to six weeks between races, so this is his first back-up. “It’s two weeks since his last run, so we have just been ticking him over and keeping him happy. “I am hoping he will go a really good race. It’s his first time going a mile and I think the mile will suit him a lot more than the sprint distances that he has been running in.” Vigor Winner will jump from barrier three and Brennan is hoping jockey Corey Brown can find some early cover from that gate. “We will leave it up to Corey, he will know what to do,” she said. “The other week the rail was the place to be, I think they have pulled it out two metres this week, so I’m sure he will use the barrier draw and get a nice position without doing too much work.” Saturday is likely to be Vigor Winner’s grand final this season and Brennan said he will head for a spell in preparation for spring racing. “This will probably be his last assignment. He’s due for a holiday, so he will have a break after this and hopefully get ready for the spring at home.” – NZ Racing Desk View the full article

Igraine will contest Saturday’s Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2400m). Igraine has proven to be an astute purchase for Brent and Cherry Taylor of Trelawney Stud. The Taylor’s purchased the Galileo mare as a broodmare proposition for 65,000 Guineas in England through bloodstock agent Paul Moroney and she has quickly added to her value under the care of Robert Priscott. Igraine has won four of her 11 starts for the Te Awamutu trainer, including the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) in November and she has also finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) and Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m). The six-year-old mare finished third in the Gr.3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm last start and Priscott believes she is primed to add another stakes victory to her record when she lines-up in the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. “She has done really well over here. She’s one of the better ones I have taken away,” he said. “She has done everything right here. A little bit of experience in England, coming through quarantine, has paid off. She has been very good. “She was a little bit fresh the other day (in the Premier’s Cup) and just wanted to overdo it in front a little bit, so hopefully that run into her will have taken the edge off her for the mile and a half.” While originally aiming towards a Sydney campaign with his mare, Priscott said those plans were shelved after Igraine tailed the field home in a 1400m race at Hastings in February. “We originally thought we were going to go to Sydney, but she didn’t fire in the sprint at Hastings, so we backed off her and targeted her towards here,” he said. Priscott is hoping for some rainfall before Saturday’s race where Igraine will jump from barrier 12 with jockey Ron Stewart aboard. “A little bit of rain would help a lot,” he said. “She has been on firm tracks, which doesn’t seem to make much difference to her, but she has shown a preference for rain-affected tracks. “Hopefully she can get a bit of cover, but her draw doesn’t lend that way. She will have to go forward and maybe end up in front again, but ideally a bit of cover would be great.” TAB bookmakers have marked Igraine as a $13 winning chance in the Brisbane Cup behind $3.80 race favourite Sixties Groove. – NZ Racing Desk View the full article

Cyber Attack will follow the same path as stablemate The Bostonian when he lines up in the Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Tony Pike believes he has found the recipe for three-year-old success in Queensland and he will begin to follow that formula at Eagle Farm on Saturday when Cyber Attack contests the Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes (1200m). Pike’s dual Group One winner The Bostonian won the race last year before going on to win over 1350m at Doomben and then the Gr.3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m), and Cyber Attack is being set to follow the exact same path. The stakes-winning son of Shamexpress booked his ticket across the Tasman with a first-up win at Te Rapa last month and his connections are hoping he can replicate his stablemate’s Queensland form over the next month. “We gave him a run at home and the owners said if he runs well they were keen to come over and have a crack,” Pike said. “I was really impressed with his first-up run, but he’s a hard horse to get a line on. “He was on and off the bridle, he never looked to be travelling at any stage of the race, but he was quite dominant in the end. “He’s probably going to be the same tomorrow. They are going to go pretty quick in this race and you probably won’t want to be on him halfway through the race, but he is a pretty genuine racehorse and I’m sure he will be hitting the line nicely late.” While Pike believes dual stakes winner and $2 favourite Plague Stone will be tough to beat, he is expecting a strong showing from Cyber Attack when he jumps from barrier five with Blake Shinn aboard. “He has drawn well, he will get back,” Pike said. “They will probably outpace him a little bit, but as long as he is hitting the line strong late, it will set him up nicely for the rest of the carnival. “Plague Stone is going to start a really short-priced favourite on Saturday and he probably should win. “Going through the rest of the field, there are probably no superstars in it, so you hope the form holds up reasonably well.” – NZ Racing Desk View the full article

Savvy Oak will contest his third Derby of the season at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Expat New Zealand trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young will be hoping third time’s a charm for their talented three-year-old Savvy Oak when he lines up in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The son of Savabeel has contested two previous Derbys this season, finishing seventh in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in November, and runner-up in the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) last month. They were happy with his run in the South Australian Derby and believe he has developed into a better three-year-old in the autumn. “He got a beautiful run and I thought he was the winner on the turn (in the South Australian Derby),” Busuttin said. “I was looking for the ones behind him and then the filly (Qafila) was off and gone, but he’s honest and tried hard. “He was always going to improve in the autumn, as most of them do. “He’s finally settling down. He has got a few traits and is a bit quirky, but he’s starting to settle down and is learning what it’s all about now.” Busuttin is pleased with how Savvy Oak has settled into his new surroundings in Queensland and expects a bold showing from his charge after being impressed by his track work on Tuesday. “He’s up here enjoying the Queensland sun and he is going very well,” he said. “He worked up on Tuesday morning with Bjorn Baker’s horse, Fun Fact, at Eagle Farm and he hasn’t put a foot wrong. I think he will be thereabouts.” Savvy Oak will jump from barrier two with Michael Walker aboard and is marked as an $18 winning chance by TAB bookmakers behind favourite Nobu at $4.50, while the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Bobby Dee and Lord Arthur are both $19 chances. Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Savvy Oak was purchased through their 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale draft for $90,000. – NZ Racing Desk View the full article

Temple Tiger. Trainer Gary Hennessy has his sights set on another stakes winner in his Matamata team. With the retirement of triple Group Two winner Ocean Emperor, Hennessy’s focus is now on promising young horses, though it is one of the older stagers, Temple Tiger, whom he hopes will give him his next black-type success. The seven-year-old Temple Tiger is being set for the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth next month after recovering from a setback since his fourth at Rotorua last month. ‘’He’s had a bad hoof abscess, but he’s come right,’’ Hennessy said. ‘’He’ll run at Tauranga (on June 22) then go for the Opunake Cup. He’s very genuine and handles most going.’’ Temple Tiger is a son of Tiger Prawn and has won six times and been placed on a further 19 occasions from 41 starts. Youngsters in Hennessy’s ownership include an Ocean Park half-brother to Brutal, winner of the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick in April. “He’ll be two next season and I’m excited about him,’’ Hennessy said. “I’ve also got a brother to Ocean Ruler, who I sent over to Paul Jenkins on the Sunshine Coast and he won first-up at Ipswich.’’ View the full article

The Ian Adams-trained Tarabeebee was sent out a $2.40 favourite in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) at New Plymouth on Thursday, and proved too strong for her opposition. Ridden by local apprentice Hazel Schofer, Tarabeebee was eased back to sit off the pace after jumping from barrier six, before she was sent forward at the 700m mark. Turning for home Schofer elected to navigate Tarabeebee towards the rail from her wide position, which proved to be the winning of the race for the three-year-old filly who was able to gather in Beckidboo to win by a length, with a further 8-3/4 lengths back to Rare Breed in third. Adams was pleased with Schofer’s ride and he believes Tarabeebee will develop into a nice four-year-old next season. “She rode her quite well,” he said. “I thought she was going to go out, but then realised she wasn’t going to get a run out wide, so she eased back to the inside, it was a good ride. “She is going to be alright. As a four-year-old mare next year she is going to be quite handy, she is still maturing. It’s good to get a win with them early on anyway.” With her victory, Tarabeebee collected the Pearl Series Level B bonus of $11,500 for her connections. Adams and Schofer teamed up again two races later to win the Stable Books Pike Racing Maiden 1600m with Aratoka. The three-year-old daughter of Road to Rock distanced her rivals to score her maiden victory by nine lengths. View the full article

Well it won't happen in New Zealand. We need every starter we can drag out.

Only serves to weaken the breed. Geez I remember the day when horses raced TWICE in one day!

I don't think so. I've seen it before with Politician "lifers". The moment they leave the hallowed halls they slide rapidly downhill. The adrenalin is gone as is the purpose. Winnie has been there 40 years. He will slide quicker than Muldoon did.

Do you mean Hedley? I used to have the same problem until I learnt his language and then found that he had some wonderful insights into the industry. What helped me was when I showed his posts to a colleague at work and said that he writes exactly like a Government Department Policy Analyst. I then felt embarrassed for having taking the piss out of him a few times on another site. We all write in different ways, we all communicate in different ways. Everyone is welcome on BOAY.

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