Wandering Eyes

She’s Got Pizzazz arrived in time to claim the Group 3 P J Bell Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman were made to wait until the final race on day one of The Championships, but it was worth the wait as Blake Shinn piloted She’s Got Pizzazz to victory in the Group 3 P J Bell Stakes. The daughter of Zoustar went around as a +550 third favourite, with only Lilac and Clean Energy starting shorter with horse racing bookmakers in the final event. Craig Williams got Lilac to jump smartly from the barriers to find the lead ahead of Miss Busslinger (+8000), while Husk (+6000) and Love Poem (+550) settled behind them, keeping Clean Energy (+160) three-wide without cover. After controlling the race from the front, Williams lifted the tempo aboard Lilac, and she gave a strong kick entering the home straight. The swoopers swung out to make their runs by the 300m mark, and Clean Energy was quickly on the scene; however, the eventual winner was coming with big strides. With Shinn throwing everything at She’s Got Pizzazz, she put in a big dive on the line to claim victory over the fast-finishing Flying For Fun (+1000) and Lilac. Click here for all Randwick replays. Peter Moody was on course to speak about the win. “Yeah, she’s got a wonderful family,” Moody said. “Bred and retained by Rob Crabtree and it’s a family that he’s developed for a lot of years. “This was a little target race for us. We thought she was unlucky at Caulfield the other day so it was well-deserved, I think. “Yeah, I love seeing them hungry at the end of the day when they haven’t had a lot of success. “I reckon the last time I was at Randwick at 5.50pm was about 15 years ago with a mare the same colour (Black Caviar) and she won a TJ. “You might see her back here in a couple of weeks in the JB Carr. Crabby (Rob Crabtree) has got a big goal to win that. “I’d love to see her in Brisbane for a Stradbroke. So if she’s here in two weeks you’ll know the owner has won the battle. “If you don’t see her in two weeks you know she’ll probably run in something like the Fred Best on the way to a Stradbroke in about seven weeks.” Blake Shinn picked up his second winner of the day in the final race. “There wasn’t (a lot of speed on), and they really quickened into the turn,” Shinn said. “We were just marking time there from, say, the 400m to the furlong. But the leaders sort of fell in a hole which set it up for the closers.” “And she was super strong. She’s probably more effective over a bit further but she’s prepped up really nice. “I’ve had a lot of luck in these colours and it’s just great to get another win on the board.” Horse racing news View the full article

Chris Waller‘s exceptional filly, Aeliana, etched her name in the annals of Australian racing history on The Championships Day 1, delivering a dominant performance to triumph over the colts and geldings in the 2025 Australian Derby. The punters’ faith in the talented three-year-old was rewarded as she stormed to victory as the clear-cut favourite. “It […] The post Australian Derby 2025 Results: Waller’s Filly Aeliana Wins by Five Lengths appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Star Brazilian partners Stellenbosch in the Group One Osaka Hai (2,000m) a week after saluting aboard Satono Reve.View the full article

A remarkable upset unfolded in the 160th running of the Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Day 1 of The Championships, with Bjorn Baker‘s mare Stefi Magnetica defying her double-figure odds to claim the coveted title. The four-year-old daughter of All Too Hard proved to be the surprise package, delivering […] The post Stefi Magnetica Wins 2025 Doncaster Mile appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

Team Hawkes‘ incredibly consistent four-year-old, Briasa, returned to his winning ways with a hard-fought Group 1 victory in the 2025 TJ Smith Stakes on Day 1 of The Championships in Sydney. The Smart Missile gelding, who won the Group 2 The Hunter in Newcastle last spring, showed significant improvement from his fourth-place finish first-up in […] The post 2025 TJ Smith Stakes Winner is Briasa appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, April 6, 2025 First Race 12:45pm HKT (2:45pm AEST) Visit Dabble Sha Tin Racecourse is the destination for Hong Kong racing on Sunday afternoon, with a bumper 10-race program set for decision. The rail is in the B+2 position for the meeting, and although some rainfall is forecast in the lead-up, it should have little to no effect on the Good 4 rating at the time of acceptances. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 12:45pm local time. Best Bet at Sha Tin: Sky Jewellery The argument can be made Sky Jewellery should be undefeated heading into start five, with The Autumn Sun gelding having clear excuses in his two defeats. That includes his latest effort at this course and distance on March 15, with the three-year-old laying in on Hong Lok Golf as the pair spaced their rivals by 2.5 lengths. He’s the horse with upside in the Sha Tin finale, and provided the breaks fall his way from gate nine, Sky Jewellery should put them away with relative ease. Best Bet Race 10 – #9 Sky Jewellery (9) 3yo Gelding | T: John Size | J: Hugh Bowman (56.5kg) Next Best at Sha Tin: The Boom Box It was ugly viewing for The Boom Box backers in his latest outing at Sha Tin on March 9, with the Spirit Of Boom gelding suffering his first defeat at start four as he sat wide throughout the journey. He was gallant considering the circumstances, holding his position to finish alongside Armour War Eagle and Magnificent Nine. Zac Purton gets legged aboard, so punters will be forced to take a short price with horse racing bookmakers; however, with The Boom Box set to get the run of the race from gate two, this guy should repay the faith. Next Best Race 9 – #1 The Boom Box (2) 4yo Gelding | T: Chris So | J: Zac Purton (61kg) Best Value at Sha Tin: Winning Ovation Winning Ovation produced a slashing maiden victory at Salisbury on August 14 before arriving in Hong Kong, and the son of Cotai Glory seems to have settled in well to the Tony Cruz barn. His latest barrier trial at Conghua particularly caught the eye, with the three-year-old building the revs nicely in the concluding stages to suggest he’s on song for this first-up assignment. He should land in a stalking position mid-field with cover, and although the likes of Lifeline Express and Geneva will prove hard to hold out, Winning Ovation warrants respect at the each-way price with . Best Value Race 6 – #2 Winning Ovation (7) 3yo Gelding | T: Tony Cruz | J: Angus Chung (1.5kg) (58kg) Sunday quaddie tips for Sha Tin Sha Tin quadrella selections April 6, 2025 1-5 5-7-9-11-12 1-2 9 Horse racing tips View the full article

Aeliana spaced her rivals in the Group 1 Australian Derby. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The lone filly Aeliana ($2.25) has cruised to victory in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, taking on the boys to claim her maiden Group 1 success. The daughter of Castelvecchio hasn’t had much luck in her quest for Group 1 glory in the past, chasing home the colt & geldings in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 22 last time out, hitting the line well to suggest the 2400m would be no issues on Saturday. The Chris Waller-trained filly mapped to get the run of the race under Damien Lane from barrier two, and that’s exactly what eventuated, with the pair surging into the one-one after jumping evenly. Plymouth ($9.50) was heavily backed with horse racing bookmakers and was quick to take up the running from barrier three under Mark Zahra, while Mustang Morgan () was able sit to his outside despite crossing from stall 10. It allowed Lane to get the one-out one-back, while Zac Lloyd and King Of Thunder () utilised the inside draw (1) to hold the rails at the first turn. The second elect, Willydoit (), didn’t have much luck in the middle stages, forced to sit wide without cover as Michael Dee continued to slowly build into the race approaching the home turn. Lane oozed confidence as he allowed Aeliana to stride to the top in the final 400m, and as she hit the front, her rivals were simply left playing for second as she was off-and-gone for the prize. Firm Agreement ($23) and Shanwah ($9.50) finished off well to claim the minor prizes; however, it was all about Aeliana as she stormed clear by the better part of five lengths in the 2025 Australian Derby. Click here for all Randwick replays. Chris Waller was emotional as he spoke post-race. “It was a great performance and all credit to her,” said Waller. “She’s had a couple of near misses in Group Ones but she’s got her own, and she’s got it in good style. “We’ve got some good fillies in the fillies’ races, so it just seemed logical. But when she was brave in the Randwick Guineas, the Rosehill Guineas she got beaten a whisker by Broadsiding who is a very, very good three-year-old colt, and she’s done it herself today. “She’s a great filly, she deserved it. She was beaten a nose in the Thousand Guineas, beaten a nose by Broadsiding in the Rosehill Guineas, just two career-making wins. It wasn’t becoming frustrating but she deserved it. “My job is to look after her. It would be unlikely that she would back up. But, wow, I can’t wait for what’s the next chapter because she’s a rising star.” Damien Lane was ultra-impressed with the performance as he spoke post-race. “She was extraordinary,” said Lane. “She left the barriers well, just travelled great from the outset and felt a winner a long way out. “I’m not riding in the best form of my life, I’ve ridden well for a long time. You just slowly build up to these opportunities. The cattle, doesn’t matter how good you ride, if you don’t have the horse underneath you, you can’t produce. “It’s just been a really good progression the last five, six years of my career. I’ve been able to ride for bigger stables, get on better horses and get some really good opportunities. “This year has probably been as good a season as I’ve had. So really rewarding for hard work and just riding well consistently.” Horse racing news View the full article

What Mornington Races Where Mornington Racecourse – 320 Racecourse Rd, Mornington VIC 3931 When Sunday, April 6, 2025 First Race 12:50pm AEST Visit Dabble Mornington Racecourse is scheduled to host a competitive eight-race program on Sunday afternoon. Clear skies are forecast for April 6, meaning the Good 4 track rating is likely to hold true throughout the day, with the rail out 8m for the entire circuit. The action from Mornington is set to commence at 12:50pm AEST. Best Bet at Mornington: Albertville Jamie Melham made the trip to Kyneton on February 18 for one ride aboard Albertville first-up, and the Clinton McDonald-trained gelding proved too good for his rivals as a well-backed favourite with horse racing bookmakers. The son of Ilovethiscity settled outside the leader and took over at the 200m mark before sprinting clear to record an impressive one-length win. From barrier eight, Melham can push forward, lead the field up to the home turn, and give a strong kick to run away with another victory. Best Bet Race 7 – #5 Albertville (8) 3yo Gelding | T: Clinton McDonald | J: Jamie Melham (58.5kg) +180 with Neds Next Best at Mornington: Give Faith Give Faith put in an eye-catching fresh run to finish second at Cranbourne on March 21. The three-year-old filly hit the line strongly but was hardly a winning threat; however, from barrier one here, Jamie Mott will have the option of stalking the speed. The Alabama Express progeny will need a touch of luck, but with a similar finish, Give Faith will prove too hard to hold out this time around. Next Best Race 6 – #8 Give Faith (1) 3yo Filly | T: John McArdle | J: Jamie Mott (58kg) +340 with BlondeBet Best Value at Mornington: Smarticon Smarticon was unlucky not to win at Geelong on March 23 in his first start back from an 18-week spell. The three-year-old gelding was held up for a run until the final 200m, but once clear, he hit the line strongly and only went down by a long neck. He draws barrier two for this assignment, so Celine Gaudray will need to find clear air a touch earlier, but with even luck and a strong turn of foot, Smarticon should break his maiden at start five. Best Value Race 2 – #3 Smarticon (2) 3yo Gelding | T: David & Coral Feek | J: Celine Gaudray (59kg) +600 with Picklebet Sunday quaddie tips for Mornington Mornington quadrella selections Sunday, April 6, 2025 1-2-4-5 7-8-9 3-5 1-3-5-6-8 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Luke Currie returns to the mounting yard on Nicolini Vito after winning the Sportsbet Victoria Handicap at Caulfield Racecourse on April 05, 2025 in Caulfield, Australia. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Veteran sprinter Nicolini Vito stormed down the middle of the Caulfield straight to snatch victory in Saturday’s Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m), delivering a thrilling late finish under a perfectly timed Luke Currie ride. Trained by the Hayes team of Ben, Will and JD, the seven-year-old was spotting the leaders a big margin on the turn but weaved his way through the field before launching down the outside to overhaul Miss Aria in the final stride at $11 odds with the top online bookmakers. Roll On High also charged late into third, with just half a length separating the top trio at the line. Group 3 Victoria Handicap – Nicolini Vito https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caulfield-2025-Group-3-Victoria-Handicap-05042025-Nicolini-Vito-Ben-Will-JD-Hayes-Luke-Currie.mp4 “It was a terrific ride by Luke,” Will Hayes said post-race. “He kept him in rhythm, didn’t panic, and when the gap came, Nicolini really savaged the line.” Currie admitted the win wasn’t part of the original plan, with the gelding settling further back than expected. “Back on the fence wasn’t ideal, but he relaxed beautifully, and when the runs came, he had that turn of foot to finish over the top,” he said. Nicolini Vito ($11) stopped the clock at 1:22.18 for the 1400m on a Good 3 track, registering his ninth career win and pushing his prizemoney earnings beyond $925,000. The son of Nicconi is clearly racing as well as ever, and his powerful finish suggests he could stretch out further this campaign. Horse racing news View the full article

Stefi Magnetica (#8) winning the Group 1 Doncaster Mile. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au Stefi Magnetica has risen to the occasion once again in a Group 1 contest, this time at Randwick on the opening day of The Championships, to claim the Group 1 Doncaster Mile for Bjorn Baker and Jason Collett. The daughter of All Too Hard hadn’t won since her victory in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap last winter, which saw her go around as a +1800 roughie with horse racing bookmakers. Rise At Dawn (+2500) mustered early to find the front ahead of Pericles (+6000), Gringotts (+650) and Just Folk (+8000), while the eventual winner gained cover and travelled sweetly behind the leaders in fifth position. After being trapped three-wide during the early stages of the race, Royal Patronage (+1300) pushed forward to join the leading duo, and Another Wil (+750) got onto his back to gain some cover. Royal Patronage gained a narrow lead in passing the 250m mark, going past Pericles and Rise At Dawn, which allowed Stefi Magnetica to peel off their backs to make her run. Collett pushed the mare through a gap between the tiring Another Wil and Royal Patronage to let down with her finish. Encap (+5000) took a run in between horses back on the inside, but it was Stefi Magnetica who put in a big lunge in the final stride to nab Royal Patronage on the post, ahead of the fast-finishing Encap. Click here for all Randwick replays. Bjorn Baker was very emotional following the win. “I must say it’s a massive, massive thrill,” Baker said. “I’ve got my biggest clients in this horse. I’ve got a great team. From vets, everyone, Cressfield, who we bought her off, Jason Collett, I think he’s ridden more winners for me in Australia than anyone. “It’s very, very special. “I needed to win a big race at The Championships and my team did. We’re mindful of that. We’ve had a great year, great two to three years, we’ve been zero here but we’re back. “It’s one of the iconic races and so special to be here with such a great bunch of owners. Jason Collett, he’s a bit like me, we needed a big one during The Championships. “It’s very special. I’ve got a great team. “I’m the luckiest man in the world. Unfortunately (wife) Andrea, she was here earlier, but she had to go and look after our team at home. Just so special today.” Jason Collett was just as emotional in his post-race interview. “I’m kind of shocked, to be honest. I was in front at the line and was like, ‘holy hell, sh** I’ve just won,” Collett said. “I don’t know, I was just trying to get her comfortable. Most of that race they went a very slow tempo, but I was in the right spot, and her turn of foot was electric. “She looks awful in the yard, we’ve got to be frank here. “She did come on a lot from that last start performance and I liked her gallop better on the Tuesday. “I didn’t bolt as quick, it was a bit more of a sustained bolt, but she’s unbelievable. “It is. Bjorn just said, ‘get to the fence, but not like you did in the Slipper’. Sorry, I’m just a bit taken aback.” Horse racing news View the full article

Celine Gaudray returns to the mounting yard aboard Torranzino (NZ) after winning the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Easter Cup at Caulfield Racecourse on April 05, 2025 in Caulfield, Australia. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) For the second year in a row, Horsham trainer Paul Preusker has won the A$200,000 Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield with a New Zealand-bred. Preusker won the race with Savabeel gelding Captain Envious last year, and on Saturday he secured a repeat result with Tarzino five-year-old Torranzino. The Easter Cup was Torranzino’s third start in his current preparation, having run a bold first-up fourth behind Deny Knowledge in the Listed Victoria Gold Cup (2000m) in late February before a close last-start second in the Wangaratta Cup (2000m). He went to a new level on Saturday and recorded the first black-type win of his career, winning at $12 odds with the top horse racing bookmakers. Torranzino settled well back in the field as Future History set a genuine tempo up to the home turn. The field fanned across the track in an energy-sapping battle to the finish line, and it was Torranzino whose stamina and toughness carried him to a nose victory over Foujita San. The time was a quick 2:01.16. Group 3 Easter Cup – Celine Gaudray https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caulfield-2025-Group-3-Easter-Cup-05042025-Torranzino-Paul-Presuker-Celine-Gaudray.mp4 “I was actually very confident, I knew he had a very good chance in this race,” jockey Celine Gaudray said. “The Wangaratta Cup wasn’t run to suit him at all – they went really slow, he ran quite aggressively and it became a sit and sprint. “It was set up a lot better for him today and I was fortunate to get off the rail at the right time and follow the right horses. I was briefly worried his wheels might spin when they put the pressure on, but everything unfolded really well. Once I put my whip into the right hand, he went to the line really nicely.” Torranzino has now had 27 starts for five wins, seven placings and A$670,090. Preusker was represented at Caulfield on Saturday by his partner Holly McKechnie. “We thought he went super in the Wangaratta Cup and he loves Caulfield, he’s got a terrific record here,” she said. “It turned into a real tough, staying 2000m race today, and that’s his forte. He needs the right tempo.” The sixth individual stakes winner for Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino, Torranzino was bred by Payne Family Racing Pty Ltd. He is the first foal to race out of the Helmet mare Goldilicious, who is a half-sister to the Group Three winner Showbeel, who in turn is out of champion stayer Showella. Torranzino was offered by Janine Dunlop’s Phoenix Park as a yearling in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where Preusker bought him for $75,000. Horse racing news View the full article

After taking on elite opposition all season, Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) stepped down in class and scored a deserved victory in the Elsdon Park (1300m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The $65,000 open handicap was the first time Sacred Satono has raced below Group or Listed level in his five-year-old preparation. His seven previous starts produced a seventh in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m), third in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), second in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m), fourth in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m), second in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m), ninth in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and third in the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m). Saturday’s easier assignment brought an increase in weight to a hefty 62kg, but apprentice jockey Triston Moodley provided some relief with his 2kg claim. Sacred Satono settled just behind midfield and a couple off the fence through the early stages of the race, and he had only three behind him coming up to the 600m mark. Moodley angled Sacred Satono wider approaching the home turn and pounced at the top of the straight, striding up purposefully on the outside of Merchant Queen (Merchant Navy), Bak Da Angel (NZ) (Ace High), Pericles (NZ) (Rubick) and You Say D’Orsay (Under The Louvre). Moodley drove Sacred Satono to the front, but he was matched stride for stride by a gallant You Say D’Orsay, who had also endured a wide run after jumping from gate 10. That pair drew away to fight out a tight finish, with Sacred Satono lunging at the line and winning by a head. You Say D’Orsay finished a length and three-quarters ahead of the third-placed Grande Gallo (NZ) (Belardo). “I was very impressed with his performance today,” said Grant Cooksley, who trains Sacred Satono in partnership with Bruce Wallace. “He drew one of the outside gates and was caught wide for quite a lot of the race and had to cover plenty of ground. For him to still finish it off the way he did, fight hard and get the win was a good effort. “It was nice to step down in class and put a win on the board today, but I don’t think it was a case of him needing a confidence boost or anything like that. He’s always had plenty of confidence and competitiveness and tries his best every time he goes out on the track.” From 30 starts, Sacred Satono has now recorded seven wins and 10 placings including Group Three successes in the Counties Bowl (1100m) and Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m). He has earned $655,578 in stakes. Wallace and Cooksley will now consider a shot at the $150,000 Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie on April 19. “Depending on how he comes through this, we could have a look at the Easter,” Cooksley said. “There’s not a lot else around for a horse like him at this time of year, so if we don’t go there, he’ll probably go out for a break and we’ll save him for next season.” Sacred Satono was bred by Archer Equine Investments and is by Rich Hill Stud stallion Satono Aladdin out of the Mellifont mare Belle Joie. Herself a six-time winner over 1200m and 1300m, Belle Joie is the dam of four winners, with Sacred Satono backed by the Group Three-placed Simbaah. Belle Joie is a half-sister to 10-time Group One winner Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire) and to the dam of triple Group One winner Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux). Sacred Satono was offered by Rich Hill Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2022, where Wallace Thoroughbreds bought him for $34,000. View the full article

The form out of New Zealand’s newest and richest race stood tall on one of Australia’s biggest stages when Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) won the Gr.3 HKJC World Pool Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on the opening day of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday. Evaporate’s last start was in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March 8, where he was a gallant runner-up behind Te Akau Racing filly Damask Rose. The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Evaporate had previously been a top-flight performer in Melbourne. He began his three-year-old season with four straight wins including the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m), then finished third in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), third in the Gr.2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) and fourth behind elite weight-for-age opposition in February’s Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m). Saturday’s Carbine Club Stakes was billed as a two-horse race between Evaporate and the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m) placegetter Swiftfalcon (Exceedance) but Evaporate came out convincingly on top. Evaporate was ridden on Saturday by Blake Shinn, who had been his NZB Kiwi conqueror with a masterful ground-saving ride on Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel). Shinn slotted Evaporate into second in the Carbine Club Stakes, sitting four lengths adrift of the free-going leader Shangri La Spring (Castelvecchio) coming down the side of the track. Evaporate began to eat into that margin approaching the home turn, and then the Per Incanto gelding cruised past Shangri La Spring with 250m to run. A quality turn of foot carried Evaporate well clear, putting an insurmountable margin between himself and the favourite Swiftfalcon. That runner warmed into his work and gained ground late in the piece, but Evaporate was still two lengths in front of him at the finish line. “He felt amazing,” Shinn said. “This is a really good horse. He’s proven that he’s on the cusp of Group One level. I think he is a Group One horse in the making. “He ran great in the Kiwi. I said to the guys that I owe them one after that race, and he came here today in really good order. Everything worked in his favour and he showed his true class. “He’s mixed it with the best horses in our land and been competitive. It was probably a step back in class a little bit today, and it was just great to get the ride and win in these colours. They’re probably some of my favourite people, Francis and Christine Cook, and it’s just an honour to win for them.” Evaporate has now had 14 starts for five wins, five placings and A$1.46 million in stakes. “He’s a horse that we’ve always had a high opinion of,” Ben Hayes said. “He ran third in a Caulfield Guineas, and this prep he hadn’t had much luck. His first three runs he had excuses. He got caught three-wide in the weight-for-age Group One. Over in the Kiwi, we were a little bit unlucky and got shuffled back. “Today, in a smaller field, Blake was able to get him into a great rhythm. He just gave Swiftfalcon too much to do and he was strong to the line. But he was carrying the two extra kilos and he won quite convincingly, so we’re thrilled. I’m thrilled for the whole team. Will and JD, they’ll be very happy in Melbourne. “He’s going into his four-year-old year next season and there’s a really nice race in Sydney called the Golden Eagle (1500m). We haven’t mapped out a path or anything, I haven’t spoken to my brothers, but that would be a Grand Final kind of race to get to, and he’s done a great job this prep. He’s travelled to New Zealand, travelled back, and he’s just thrived. He looks to have pulled up fantastic.” Evaporate was bred by Little Avondale Stud, home to Per Incanto, a son of Street Cry who has sired nine Group One winners and 33 stakes winners to date including recent Group One heroics by Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto)in Melbourne and Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) in Sydney. The dam of Evaporate is the unraced Animal Kingdom mare Savanna, whose two foals to race have both been winners. Savanna’s half-sister Belluci Babe (NZ) ( Per Incanto) carried the Little Avondale colours to Group Three success in Australia for trainer Bjorn Baker, and Little Avondale will offer her colt foal by Zoustar as Lot 297 in this week’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Evaporate was bought by Lindsay Park Racing for A$330,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2023. Little Avondale’s Sam and Catriona Williams retained a share in the ownership of Evaporate, and they were on course for his Carbine Club Stakes success at Randwick on Saturday. “This is what it’s all about,” Sam Williams said. “We’re on the international stage. We’re at The Championships. We’re on the cusp of the Easter Sale, where we’re offering a close relative to Evaporate and a number of Per Incanto yearlings. So it’s just fantastic and I’m so proud of the horse. “The New Zealand form has held up with this result, and our horses really do outperform themselves in Australia compared to their numbers. It’s fantastic for the industry, fantastic for the stud, fantastic for the stallion, and go the Kiwis for the rest of the carnival.” View the full article

Cambridge mare Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree) bounced backed to winning form after a lengthy hiatus away from the top step of the podium as she took out the Gr.3 Intowin.co.nz Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m) in a desperate finish at Wanganui. The Tony Pike-prepared daughter of War Decree had looked a filly of real quality during her two and three-year-old campaigns that saw her take out the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) amongst a number of fine performances. However, it had been over two years since she saluted the judge in the Lowland Stakes and she broke that drought in fine fashion on Saturday with a display of real grit for rider Lily Sutherland. Race favourite Our Jumala (NZ) (Zed) was allowed to set a farcically slow pace in front of her six rivals for the majority of the contest before things began to get serious with 600m to run. Sutherland had Val Di Zoldo sitting nicely in fourth and headed to the outskirts of the track turning for home where she joined Our Jumala, Royal Flower (NZ) (Proisir) and Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) as that quartet set down to a torrid struggle. Calling on all her reserves Val Di Zoldo rallied to thrust her head in front at just the right time to hold out a desperate finish from Nigella Lane (NZ) (Niagara), who dived through a narrow gap to snatch second from Royal Flower and Our Jumala who were almost in line for third. Pike stable representative Miranda Duthie cut a relieved figure as she welcomed the five-year-old mare back to the winners’ enclosure. “She has always had ability, but she has been unlucky and is probably the unluckiest mare in New Zealand,” Duthie said. “She was unlucky in the Cuddle Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) last time and in the Travis Stakes (Gr.2, 2000m) when Bill’s (Pinn) stirrup leather broke. “I’m just so rapt for her owner and the sable as she is just one of the easiest horses to work with and she is one of my favourites.” Bred by the late Kevin Hickman, Val Di Zoldo is raced by Robert and Kim De Courcy under their Kinsale Bloodstock banner after she was purchased for $285,000 by Bruce Sherwin out of the Valachi Downs Unreserved Young & Racing Stock Dispersal sale. Her dam is the Thorn Park mare Civetta and amongst her extended family is the star performer Fun On The Run (NZ) (Racing is fun) who won 18 races with five at stakes level including the 1989 running of the Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes. Val Di Zoldo has now won three of her 30 starts and just under $240,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh was expected to dominate proceedings in Saturday’s Barfoot & Thompson 1500 (1500m) at Ellerslie and did just that by filling the trifecta in the event, however the win by progressive galloper Penman (NZ) (Contributer) was not without incident after he was promoted ahead of stablemate Erin Go Bragh (NZ) (Vadamos), who had crossed the line ahead of him. Punters had expected topweight Penman, who had contested the rich $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at his most recent start, to be the hardest to beat as he started a warm $2.10 favourite ahead of stablemates Bourbon Proof (NZ) (Justify) ($4.40) and Dramatic Miss (NZ) (El Roca) ($6.10) in the nine-horse field. However, Erin Go Bragh ($11.80) certainly wasn’t aware he was supposed to finish behind his comrades as he jumped beautifully for rider Tegan Newman, who took the bull by the horns and set up a steady pace at the head of affairs. Erin Go Bragh shot clear heading for home and still held a handy two length buffer on his hard chasing rivals, headed by Penman, Altari (NZ) (Savabeel) and Dramatic Miss, at the 200m however he started to drift away from the rail at that point and badly hampered both Altari and Penman within sight of the winning post. The Judicial committee open an inquiry into the interference caused by the winner at the 100m and with plenty of evidence from the head on vision showing the dramatic movement by Erin Go Bragh, they changed the placings to elevate Penman from second to first with Dramatic Miss finishing close up in third ahead of Toruk Makto (NZ) (Eminent) and the desperately unlucky Altari. Marsh watched the race from Sydney where he was putting the final raceday polish on talented three-year-old filly Love Poem (Snitzel) who tackled the Australian fillies in the Gr.3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) on the first day of the Championships at Randwick. “He is a bloody good horse this guy and he is going through the grades,” Marsh said. “He is handling things so well and he freshened up nicely after the NZB Kiwi, so were confident he could go well today. “Erin Go Bragh is also a nice horse in the making but he still is quite green and has a lot to learn. He is coming along well and that run will help bring him on even further.” Marsh will wait to see how Penman recovers from the effort before deciding on any future plans, however he does have a possible Queensland Winter Carnival campaign in mind. “He will go home and take it easy for a few days, but if he comes through it like I hope he will then Brisbane in the winter is a real possibility,” he said. “He just keeps getting better and I think he could be very competitive if we do end up sending him over there.” Penman carries the familiar colours of Albert Bosma and the Go Racing Penman Syndicate who share in his ownership with Toro Bloodstock after they purchased the son of Contributor out of the Book 1 Sale at Karaka in 2023 for $60,000. He is out of the O’Reilly mare Update, a sister to talented mare Irlanda who won three times at stakes level, while also included in his extended family are multiple Australian Group One winner Mo’unga (Savabeel) and Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Chenille (NZ) (Pentire). He has now won four of his seven starts and more than $214,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Group One winner He’s A Doozy (NZ) (Zacinto) snapped a sequence of disappointing performances with a three-length runaway in the Wanganui-Taranaki Racehorse Owners Association Open (1600m) at Wanganui on Saturday. The Zacinto gelding was one of the standouts of the central districts as a five-year-old two seasons ago, winning the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham along with a successful southern raid on the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton. He’s A Doozy added an open handicap victory over 1600m at Trentham in March of last year, followed by a second in the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m), but was unplaced in all of his seven other starts in that campaign. That trend continued into his seven-year-old season, finishing no closer than fourth in his first 10 appearances of 2024-25. But that all changed on Saturday. Trainer Lisa Latta came into the $50,000 feature with cautious optimism that He’s A Doozy might be back on his game, and his performance proved her absolutely right. Jockey Kelly Myers pushed He’s A Doozy forward out of the gates and took up a position in second behind the front-running favourite Khafre (American Pharoah). He’s A Doozy cruised up alongside Khafre and appeared to be travelling better than that runner coming up to the home turn, and then he pounced at the top of the straight. Myers asked He’s A Doozy for full effort and he kicked away, opening up a three-length margin over Khafre and the late-finishing Chase. “We definitely haven’t seen anything like that from him all season,” Latta said. “But he looked fantastic in the parade ring today, bright in the eye and in the coat. “I said to Kelly that I wanted us to go forward and be right there turning in. Being a bit older, the bit of moisture in the ground has probably helped him today and he’s won really well.” Saturday’s performance was a sharp turnaround from He’s A Doozy’s last-start run at Riccarton on March 22, where he finished at the back of a 10-horse field and more than 16 lengths from the winner. “I had the vet go over him down south, and she thought he might have been having an allergic reaction,” Latta said. “We gave him a bit of treatment. I thought we had him pretty spot-on coming into today.” He’s A Doozy has been a superb performer for Latta, who bought him for $70,000 from Phoenix Park’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2019. He has now had 44 starts for 10 wins, five placings and $655,575 in stakes. Now that He’s A Doozy is back in the winning groove, Latta is keen to chase a Listed prize at Awapuni on April 25. “We’ll probably go to the Anzac Mile (1600m) next, and then we’ll just see what the weather’s doing before making any other plans,” she said. View the full article

A lucrative winter could be in store for talented New Zealand-bred mare Grey Ice (NZ) (Reliable man), who made a winning return to racing in the A$130,000 Stow Storage Bill Collins Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Grey Ice rose through the grades last autumn and winter with victories over 1600m at Pakenham, 1400m at the Sunshine Coast and 2200m at the Sunshine Coast. She then went on to contest the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June, where she was unplaced behind Bases Loaded (Deep field). Saturday’s Benchmark 78 handicap was the first start since November for Grey Ice, who was overlooked as a $31 outsider among a competitive 12-horse field. But the four-year-old produced an impressive come-from-behind performance in the hands of jockey Craig Newitt. Grey Ice settled well in eighth among a strung-out field, then switched to the outside at the home turn and warmed into her work. She finished over the top of the front-running Just Glamourous (Justify) and went on to win by three-quarters of a length. “I was happy with where we were in the run,” Newitt said. “She jumped a bit better and took up a closer position than she normally does, and she travelled really kindly. She was relaxed and composed. “Her work on Tuesday morning suggested she was going to run a big race first-up. Her racing pattern just means that she relies on a bit of luck, but she was way too good for them today.” The Bevan Laming-trained Grey Ice has now had 15 starts for four wins, two placings and A$165,350 in stakes. “I was confident coming into today, but her draw (gate two) was a concern,” Laming’s son Richard said. “She takes a while to get into her stride. She ended up back on the rail, as I thought she would. “But Craig gave her a good ride and came off the fence at the right time. She had some bad luck in her last preparation, so a change of fortune first-up today is good for the owners and good for the horse. “Her work was very good during the week. She just needed the right run, got that and put them away very well. “She will get further than this – 2000m or maybe even up to 2400m. She’s bred to get up over ground, and she’s in work at the right time of year.” Grey Ice was bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey and is by Reliable Man out of Haliburton. That unraced mare is by Encosta De Lago out of the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Tartan Tights. Offered by Westbury Stud at the 2022 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Grey Ice was a $130,000 purchase by John White Bloodstock. View the full article

Promising stayer Embezzler (NZ) (Contributer) set himself up for a major autumn target when he scored a hard-fought victory in the feature distance event at Ellerslie on Saturday, the Horizon by Skycity Handicap (2200m). The Ross McCarroll-bred, trained and part owned five-year-old hadn’t been seen since finishing beyond mid-field in a rating 75 2000m contest at Matamata back in February. McCarroll was prepared to forgive the son of Contributor for his performance that day as he worked towards a start in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) in March, but an incident on a truck after a track gallop put the kibosh on those plans. Although he felt his charge would take enormous benefit from his first race back, an opinion he relayed to both rider Ace Lawson-Carroll and the other connections of the horse, McCarroll was hoping to see an encouraging return to the track as he sets him on a path towards the Listed Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup (2200m) on 10 May. Embezzler did more than that as he found an extra gear in the final 200m to dash between runners to put his head in front when it counted, taking the victory from Fly My Wey (NZ) (Sweynesse), Giacomo (NZ) (Puccini), Outback Opal (NZ) (El Roca) and Khan Hunter (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) in a blanket finish that saw a length between the first five home. “He was actually supposed to run in the Auckland Cup but he got injured on the Tuesday before the race when he got his leg over a rail in the truck,” McCarroll said. “I had to give him a week off so I told the owners not to back him (today) as he was a run short but he showed what he was capable of. “The main aim is the Rotorua Cup so after today I will probably give him one more run then aim for that.” Lawson-Carroll had also been expecting Embezzler to be caught short in the final stages after listening to McCarroll’s comments prior to the race. “He (McCarroll) came up to me as I was jumping on and said we would need the run today and although we were definitely in need of the winning post the last 100m, he found the line well,” he said. “There was a nice tempo up front and when Fly My Wey got rolling I knew it was time to follow him. He took me in to it and my guy came on really good as he is a nice horse. “I hope with a performance like that today Ross will keep me on.” Embezzler is out of McCarroll’s handy mare Stole who won three races in a limited career on the track before being retired to the broodmare paddock. His extended family includes multiple stakes winners Decorated Hero and Whilly. View the full article

A determined win in Saturday’s A$250,000 Group Three TAB Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick may have earned Belle Detelle (Zed) an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of a close relative. Belle Detelle is a three-quarter-sister to the great Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed), who won the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick in 2019. That was the second of 11 wins at Group One level for the Kiwi-bred star, who was trained for most of her Australian career by Chris Waller. Waller is also the trainer of Belle Detelle, who went into the Adrian Knox with a win and three placings to her name from only four career starts. Saturday’s three-year-old fillies’ feature was a big step up for the lightly raced filly, but she rose to the occasion in style for jockey Damian Lane. Belle Detelle settled in 10th along the rail until the 800m mark, when Lane switched to the outside and began to creep closer to the leaders. Lane presented Belle Detelle out wide at the top of the straight, and she lengthened stride and surged to the lead with 150m remaining. Hot favourite Polymnia (Dundeel) chased hard down the outside, but Belle Detelle kept finding and maintained a margin of a neck at the finish line. “It’s very special to get a win like this with a close relative to Verry Elleegant,” Waller said. “We’ve always had a soft spot for her and we knew when we got her to 2000m she would start to excel because of that pedigree. But until you do it on raceday, it’s easier to talk about it than do it, so it was great to see. “I actually thought she might have been in a little bit of trouble at the 400m, Damian was at work on her, but she was really strong the last 100m.” Waller will take time to decide whether Belle Detelle will back up into the Oaks next Saturday. “Look, she’s had a long prep,” he said. “She’s going to be fit enough if we decide to, but at the same time, do we back off and go to Queensland for a Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m)? I’ll have a talk to Damian and see what he says.” Belle Detelle has now had five starts for two wins, three placings and A$192,850 in prize-money. Her performance on Saturday made a big impression on Lane. “I thought the second horse was going to get me, but she really stuck her neck out when it counted,” he said. “Her previous starts were all in Victoria and I think she just got a bit lost off the bend in her first time under raceday pressure on this leg. But once she got a bit of competition, she was able to knuckle down. “I think the 2400m of the Oaks wouldn’t be a trouble. She’s just a bit of a keen-going horse, so it’s just whether she settles well enough, and she’s lightly framed too. So I’ll leave that to the best in the business, the Waller stable, to see if she’s appropriate.” Ardmore Lodge trainer Nick Bishara, who shared in the ownership of Verry Elleegant and guided her through the early stages of her glittering career, is also a co-breeder and part-owner of Belle Detelle. The Adrian Knox winner is a daughter of Verry Elleegant’s sire Zed, while the filly’s dam Black Lace is a Towkay half-sister to the mighty mare. Belle Detelle became the 27th individual stakes winner for Zed, who stood at Grangewilliam Stud until his death in September at the age of 22. View the full article

Lightly raced two-year-old Wyndstorm (NZ) (Wyndspelle) took a big step forward in the second start of his career on Saturday and beat a talented field in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m) at Ellerslie. Bred and raced by Jen Campin Bloodstock, Wyndstorm has the pedigree to get better and better with age and maturity. His sire Wyndspelle won the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) as a six-year-old, while the dam Brambling is by Redoute’s Choice out of the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Bramble Rose (NZ) (Shinko King). Wyndstorm made his debut at Waverley on March 6, where he raced greenly down the straight but still made up good ground for a third placing. Significant improvement was expected at the second time of asking for Wyndstorm, who shortened from $16 into $7.80 in the TAB’s market. The Hollie Wynyard-trained runner did not disappoint. Wyndstorm drew gate nine in a field of 11 and was caught three-wide around the first turn as he took up a handy position behind the front-running Heloisa (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) and Perfect Habit (NZ) (Tivaci). Wyndstorm had his head to one side coming around the home turn but still warmed into his work stylishly and drew up alongside Heloisa at the top of the straight. That rival kicked again and made Wyndstorm work through the final 300m, but the big gelding slowly but surely pulled ahead. He went on to win by a neck, with the favourite Steezy (Russian Revolution) edging out Heloisa for second by a short neck. “He’s a nice, big, lovely horse,” Elliot said. “He’s big and strong, but he’s still a big baby. “He drew wide at Waverley, got back, then ducked in and did a lot wrong. But he still went to the line really strongly in that race, so coming into today, he was always going to do something. “When I let him stride forward today, he did the rest. He’s such a big, strong horse and he just took me away from them. “He’s still on the way up. He’s only going to learn from this and is going to get better.” Wyndstorm’s two-start career has now produced a win, a placing and $27,540 in stakes. His sire Wyndspelle was formerly a member of the Grangewilliam Stud stallion roster but now stands at Wyndholm Park Stud in Victoria. His oldest Australian progeny will be yearlings next season. Wyndstorm became Wyndspelle’s third winner from only 11 runners, joining this season’s three-year-old fillies Wyndsong (NZ) (Wyndspelle) and Lucid Dream (NZ) (Wyndspelle). Wyndsong also finished fourth in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) on Champions Day at Ellerslie last month. View the full article

Mornington trainer Matt Laurie capped off a memorable week in Sydney, following Tuesday’s Vinery Stud Stakes triumph, by claiming the prestigious Inglis Sires’ 2025 with his unbeaten colt, Vinrock, in a historic victory at Royal Randwick. “Lost for words. Incredible,” Laurie told Sky Thoroughbred Central, reflecting on the remarkable achievement. Kicking off the elite Group […] The post 2025 Inglis Sires’ Results: Vinrock Completes Rare Double appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au. View the full article

British jockey has high hopes for Group Three winner and promising four-year-old on the weekend.View the full article

By Adam Hamilton It was only fitting Leap To Fame headlined an Aussie dominance of Cambridge’s Night of Champions. The Queensland champion had already earned comparisons with the all-time greats of Australasian pacing and only fuelled them further with a spellbinding and almost unbelievable win. What a way to make your first splash in New Zealand. Throw in another Aussie trifecta in the TAB Trot – the second time in its two-year history – and it was one of the proudest nights for Australians in NZ. There was so much emotion and passion around Arcee Phoenix’s TAB Trot win after finishing fourth last year. And, of course, the Aussie-trained by Kiwi-owned mare Queen Elida’s second placing made her the all-time highest earning trotting mare in Australasia. But the night belonged to the pacer they call Larry. Such was the magnitude of the win, his reserved trainer-driver Grant Dixon declared it his “greatest performance yet.” The Queensland megastar did all the work, crushed Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo on a rain-soaked track and still smashed the NZ record by a staggering 1.6sec. “When you factor in travelling here (NZ) for the first time, drawing out so wide and the work he did, I think it’s his greatest performance,” Dixon said. “It took so long to get around them to even get outside him (Don Hugo), then I had plenty of instruction pre-race I had to put more pressure on than I did in the Miracle Mile. “I knew I had Luke (McCarthy, driving Don Hugo) beaten on the last bend, but I was worried about how much work we’d done and the locals coming at me late. “He’s just an incredible horse, a life changing horse and it’s much as relief as anything to come here and win a race like this.” Leap To Fame, who has won 50 of his 62 starts and over $4.3 million, will now return home for a break before his home state Brisbane Inter Dominion series, starting on July 5. He won the last Brisbane Inter Dominion two years ago. Seymour said returning to NZ for the iconic NZ Cup at Addington in November was a genuine possibility. In the TAB Trot, trainer-driver Chris Svanosio praised his late father-in-law, renowned vet Dr Alistair MacLean, for paving the way for the biggest win of his career. Arcee Phoenix led throughout to continue Victoria’s dominance TAB Trot after Just Believe led home a first four for Victorian raiders in last year’s inaugural running. Last night it was Arcee Phoenix beating Queen Elida. It was an Australian trifecta with The Locomotive running third. “Alistair was amazing with horses. We had Arcee Phoenix at home as a two-year-old, but didn’t race him. Alistair mapped out a plan, which has ultimately taken us to win the richest trotting race in this part of the world,” Svanosio said. “We all miss dearly and we’d love him to have been here for this tonight.” McLean passed away in September, last year. Arcee Phoenix ran fourth in last year’s TAB Trot, but Svanosio knew he had a better horse this time. “He was still developing and also at the end of a long campaign when he came last year,” he said. “Everything Alistair said and hoped would happen over time, has with this horse. “He’s just getting to his prime now, so we’ll miss the other big races here (NZ) and get him back home to prepare for the Inter Dominion.” View the full article

By Barry Lichter “On the night of champions, Nicky Chilcott, one of the champions of the raceway, gets her 700th driving success – what a way to finish off a crazy night …” Cambridge racecaller Aaron White was the first of many to congratulate Chilcott after her milestone win in the final race when she reined home Crazy, the rank outsider of the field. And how appropriate that Chilcott, 53, could become only the second woman to reach the mark on a horse who had confounded the best of drivers and been out of the winner’s circle for more than three years on both sides of the Tasman. “He’s certainly well named,” Chilcott said of the trotter who has been pulled up 14 times in his career and posted beaten margins of up to 1157 metres, reflected in his career record of five wins and just a solitary placing in 45 starts. “I don’t know whether we just get on well together but tonight you wouldn’t have driven a nicer horse. You could have put your grandma on him he was that lovely.” It was only Chilcott’s second drive behind the Tim Hall-trained eight-year-old after she did what few drivers before her had managed on March 18 – got him away from a stand. “But I couldn’t steer him that night so I told Tim to put a pole on him and work him in it every day. And when I did a warm-up trip on him tonight, he trotted beautifully.” And, back behind the mobile, Crazy behaved perfectly, Chilcott making sure not to touch his mouth in the score-up until 50 metres before release. “He felt as safe as houses and after I got the trail I knew he’d be hard to beat, if he let down. “Round the bend the one in front was stopping and when it got a bit tight he threw in a funny step but once he got clear it was all over and I didn’t even turn the stick.” Chilcott, who celebrated with a fist pump over the line, said she was thrilled more for Hall, a one-time White Star worker who registered his 37th win in his 15th year as a public trainer. “I had the easy job. Tim’s done a great job with this horse and spent a lot of time with him. He’s a real battler but you wouldn’t meet a nicer guy.” It said a lot for Hall’s patience as a co-owner of the horse when you consider Crazy notched a single placing during a two-and-a-half year stint in Australia, first with Craig and Tony Jamieson in Victoria then Darren McCall in Brisbane. Chilcott, who earlier in the night finished third behind Always Flyin in the Dorothy Cutts Invitational for women drivers, said it was a great night to end three months of sitting on 699. “I’m really proud of reaching 700. A lot of people have driven a lot more winners than me but I’ve never been attached to a big stable and driven mostly for owner-trainers.” Chilcott said she had great respect for the country’s leading woman driver Samantha Ottley who had rocketed past her to 850 wins. “But I haven’t been driving much at all and just been chipping away.” By comparison, Chilcott has had 18 drives this year, compared with Ottley, who would drive 18 most weeks, and has had 268 drives this season. And last year it was Chilcott 106 and Ottley 839. “I’ve been giving a lot of drives to Leah (Hibell) in recent years. You’ve got to look after the young ones coming through.” Chilcott, who has had 7916 drives since starting in 1993, was glad she delayed her celebrations – she was stopped twice on the short drive home and breath-tested. “But I’m now going to sit down with a glass of red wine and watch the replay.” View the full article

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Unplaced in her four previous starts, Impressive Shard burst into the winner’s circle at Addington last night for Leeston trainer Brad Mowbray. “That was a very impressive run, she’s aptly-named,” Mowbray told Harness Racing Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post race. “She’s quite a smart horse.” Impressive Shard was the $46 outsider in last night’s race. Starting from the outside of the mobile in the Betavet Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace Matthew Williamson took the Captain Crunch three-year-old back to last early. They then trucked into the race three wide and despite a tough run she produced a determined run to beat closest rival Elektra King by a neck. “She just kept finding,” said Williamson, “she was holding them quite easily in the last half of the straight.” “It was a big win.” Impressive Shard (Captain Crunch – Pemberton Shard) was a $45,000 purchase from the 2023 National Standardbred Yearling Sales in Christchurch. “I also trained Pemberton Shard and this one is dead-set like her mother,” says Mowbray. Pemberton Shard was a nine race winner, with stakes earnings of over $220K. It was Mowbray’s fifth win this year and followed a couple of other longshot winners he’s had in She’s Tough and Okiwi Bay. Also last night the new father-son partnership of Greg and Ben Hope had their first win with Mr Love, driven by Ricky May, while Robert and Jenna Dunn (Malakai and Tyrons Strapping Lad) and Hayden and Amanda Cullen (Hadron Collider and Harrison John) both trained doubles on the night and Brendon Hill trained the quinella in the Trade Me Property Mobile Pace with Arthur Shelby and Rockingood. View the full article