Chief Stipe

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Talented juvenile Folk Dress showed her potential at Matamata yesterday with victory in the Matley Financial Services 1200. The filly settled in behind the speed under jockey Opie Bosson before improving at the turn and kicking away in the straight to win by a length and a half. It was the first win for the Coolmore-owned filly, who has been marked as a $14 fifth favourite for the Gr. 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes on March 30. “It was a lovely ride, as you come to expect from him (Bosson),” trainer Jamie Richards said. “That’s why he is the best in the business and he gave her every chance. I thought she quickened up nicely and she’s going the right way.” Richards is taking a bit of confidence out of the race, with last year’s winner, Handsome Rebel, going on to finish fourth in the Sires’ Produce. “We won the race last year with a horse called Handsome Rebel who came out and ran fourth in the Sires’ and put in a really good performance,” Richards said. “There is no rush with her. She’s a good filly to have in work for Coolmore and they let us pick and choose where we want to go.” Bosson was pleased with the win and said yesterday’s run was another learning experience for the daughter of Pierro. “She’s always been a top-quality filly and her trial was really good,” Bosson said. “We like to teach them something and get her breathing properly and she definitely finished it off nicely.” View the full article

Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock’s Darren Dance knows the thrill of racing a horse in the Melbourne Cup, having watched Heartbreak City go agonisingly close to winning. Dance hopes the ownership group of Mr Money Bags gets that same feeling when their gelding runs in the inaugural A$5 million All-Star Mile at Flemington on Saturday. According to Dance, at least 60 of the ownership group and associates will be at Flemington to watch Mr Money Bags. “It’s their Melbourne Cup, it’s their Cox Plate, it’s their big day, a once-in-a-lifetime day for these guys,” Dance said. When the All-Star Mile was announced late last year, Dance was surprised that trainer Robbie Griffiths thought Mr Money Bags could be a candidate. Dance was thinking of another horse to race in his colours, Social Spin. “When Robbie rang me and said we should nominate Mr Money Bags for the All-Star Mile, I thought I’m not really sure about this,” Dance said. “But this horse loves Flemington and the barrier (five) is going to help him. “We’re under no illusions about the quality of the race, but from that gate it gives us some hope. I’d be rapt if we finish in the first half.” Mr Money Bags is up against Group One stars Happy Clapper, Hartnell, Grunt and Alizee along with this month’s Australian Guineas trifecta of Mystic Journey, Hawkshot and Amphitrite. Since Tuesday’s barrier draw Alizee has been easy in betting and now shares the top line at $3.70 with Mystic Journey. Happy Clapper is third favourite at $5.50 ahead of Hartnell at $10 while Mr Money Bags is considered an $81 outsider. Dance said he would also be rapt if if one of the other “lesser lights” in the race can figure prominently. “I would like to see one of these syndicated horses run out of his skin and fly home and run fourth or fifth or something,” Dance said. “I think it would be great for the race. What we don’t want to see is six of them out the back in their own little race. “Robbie’s got our bloke in great order and I’m sure he’ll run to his best.” View the full article

It was a memorable day at Matamata yesterday for Te Awamutu trainer Debbie Sweeney, who recorded her first win as a solo trainer with First Rock in the Rees Tavern 1200. Sweeney had won 260 races in partnership with her father Graeme Sanders before his retirement last year, but was pleased to get on the board on her own account. “I had been struggling to get a win, I had been close a couple of times, but it’s great to get the win today,” Sweeney said. First Rock competed in the first two-year-old race of the season back in September, and Sweeney was happy to record the win after three previous runner-up results. “On the turn she was travelling really well, so I was hopeful,” Sweeney said. “She has always shown a lot of promise and she is going to be a lovely three-year-old filly.” The win could be a sign of bigger things for Sweeney and her two-year-old El Roca filly, who holds a nomination for the Gr. 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at Awapuni later this month. “We’ll see how she pulls up from this, but we will probably have a look at that (Sires’ Produce),” she said. View the full article

Ashburton Raceday Scratchings R1: R2: 7 R3: 15,16 R4: R5: R6: 1,16,17,18,19 R7: R8: NZ TAB Meeting #4 with the first of 8 races starting at 1:07pm Doubles: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Trebles: 2-3-4, 6-7-8 Quaddies: 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8 Track conditions: Good 3 Weather: Overcast Rail: True Track: Left hand 1876m Length of straight: 382m Race 8: Best bet WELCOME did well during her Wingatui campaign over […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Rule Number(s): 638 (1) (d)Following the running of race # 7 the Advance Agriculture/Titiroa Transport an information was lodged alleging that Miss J Fawcett was in a breach of r 638 (1) (d) “…that she allowed her mount BENLACHIE to shift in crowding and checking RAISE YA CARDS (C Campbell) near the 50 metres.” Rule 638 (1) (d) ... (Feed generated with FetchRSS)View the full article

Ashburton Raceday Scratchings R1: R2: 7 R3: 15,16 R4: R5: R6: 1,16,17,18,19 R7: R8: NZ TAB Meeting #4 with the first of 8 races starting at 1:07pm Doubles: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Trebles: 2-3-4, 6-7-8 Quaddies: 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8 Track conditions: Good 3 Weather: Overcast Rail: True Track: Left hand 1876m Length of straight: 382m Todays $50 Betting Strategy Race 2: #5 FROSTED […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

This is not an exercise in definitively comparing horses from different eras, but there’s no denying the evidence that Melody Belle deserves her place amongst the very best New Zealand gallopers... Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Last week’s brilliant Northern Mares Classic winner, Dibaba, may well have run her last race in... Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Author | Mark Jones I wonder when our handicapping committee and handicapper are going to do something to help young drivers get opportunities in our industry? And at the same time give owners an option for their horses? Clearly, we need a system where we can put junior drivers on horses in open races and […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

I have concerns that a number of big names in our racing industry believe that the... Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Considering the success Stephen and Bridget Gray have had in the last 19 years, it would be an understatement to say... Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Sometimes it is important to take stock of what is really happening around you.. Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

What a shame the rain came on Auckland Cup Day, which meant... Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

The diversity of modern society and its acceptance has many threads, the most obvious being gender equality. Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

The most celebrated victory on premier night at Alexandra Park last week was definitely in the worst field on the card. Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Sometimes, even scribes like myself underestimate the enduring and unique charm of... Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Racing Minister Winston Peters contacted The Informant this week to provide an update on the progress of the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) recommendations, but then said... Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Don and Lorraine Scoullar of Tawa were well into their 70s when they decided to get involved in racing ownership, and they are pleased they did it. They are part of the Fortuna syndicate that races six-time Group One winner Melody Belle. “We are bit late to get started in the game, but we are […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article