Year: 2019

Surprise Baby books spot in Melbourne Cup

Editor BOAY

The Melbourne Cup dream is alive for connections of Surprise Baby (NZ) (Shocking), the $5,500 gavelhouse graduate who has stormed into favouritism after booking his place in the race with victory in The Gr.3 Bart Cummings (2520m). Trained by Paul Preusker at Horsham in country Victoria, this year’s Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) winner was sent out the $2.50 favourite in Saturday’s Bart Cummings (2500m) and under jockey Jordan Childs he finished over the top of his rivals to win by 1-1/2-lengths. The victory earned the lightly raced five-year-old a ballot…

Kolding heads NZ-bred trifecta in G1 Epsom

Editor BOAY

Kolding headed a NZ-bred trifecta in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m). photo: bradleyphotos.com.au On a red letter day for trainer Chris Waller, Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park) has delivered on the big stage in the Epsom Handicap, beating New Zealand cult horse Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle). Waller-trained horses won all four Group One races in Australia on Saturday with Kolding’s win over the famous Randwick mile of special significance for trainer and jockey Glen Boss. Kolding and Te Akau Shark were the $5.50 equal favourites but the winner…

Verry Elleegant back in mix for Plate, Cup

Editor BOAY

Tilts at the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup are back on the table for Verry Elleegant Photo: AAP Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) has returned to winning form with a last-gasp victory in the Hill Stakes at Randwick, putting herself back in the frame for the major spring races. Trainer Chris Waller said the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup were back on the table after the mare nailed Samadoubt in the final bound to win Saturday’s Group Two, 2000 metre race by a nose. The ATC Australian Oaks winner in the autumn,…

Fresh True Enough takes Spring Sprint

Editor BOAY

True Enough was given a masterful ride by Jonathan Riddell to land the Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings Photo: Trish Dunell Talented Cambridge galloper True Enough has made the perfect start to a new campaign, scoring a smart first-up win in the Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings on Saturday. The son of Nom du Jeu had won six of his 15 starts in previous campaigns, placing in another six including a third behind Volpe Veloce in the Gr.2 Japan-NZ International Trophy (1600m). All but…

Melody Belle makes history in Livamol

Editor BOAY

Melody Belle became the first horse to complete Hawke’s Bay’s weight-for-age Triple Crown Photo: Trish Dunell Megastar Melody Belle earned two slices of New Zealand racing history on Saturday with another commanding performance in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings. She became the first horse to complete Hawke’s Bay’s weight-for-age Triple Crown during the Bostock New Zealand Spring Carnival – the Tarzino Trophy (1400m), Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and Livamol Classic. Eight horses had previously won two of the three. It was also the ninth Group One win of…

Hastings Triple Crown History

Editor BOAY

Melody Belle Tim Barton 3 October 2019 Photo credit: Trish Dunell Eight horses have won two legs of the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown, but none has managed to win all three. That is expected to change this weekend when glamour galloper Melody Belle tackles the $250,000 Livamol Classic (2040m), the last leg in the Hastings series. Melody Belle has been a dominant winner of the first two legs – Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Windsor Park Plate (1600m) – and this week has been as short as $1.30 for Saturday’s feature,…

Moonlight Maid gives Freedman stakes win

AAP

Moonlight Maid has provided trainer Mitchell Freedman with a milestone win at Flemington. Moonlight Maid has provided trainer Mitchell Freedman an early a career highlight with her last-to-first victory in the Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington. Ridden by Ben Melham, Moonlight Maid ($41) powered home down the centre of the track to win Saturday’s Group Two race from Fascino ($19) with the $2.90 favourite Miami Bound in third place. Freedman, 30, has been training in his own right for six years after being a one-time foreman for disqualified trainer Darren…

Laver to serve up the pace

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner Blueblood 3yr-old Laver is set to serve up more excitement at Timaru on Sunday. The Geoff Dunn trained pacer turned heads and set up a track record breaking pace when leading by a big margin and holding on to run third by promising All Stars Italian Lad in his last start. Italian Lad took 1.3sec off the all comers 2000m track record at Oamaru courtesy of the sizzling speed set up by Laver. Driver Gerard O’Reilly’s front-running tactics on the son of Bettor’s Delight and Venus Serena…

The Shark – Best at Timaru on Sunday

NZHarnessNews

The Shark goes in search of Sunday afternoon harness racing winners from Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru.  For more punting information head to The Punters Lounge  Race 1 6 Highland Reign: Back in her happy place at The Mot last week when winning. Should be able to be very competitive here too. 9 Machs Mareta: Has been mixing it with some pretty hot fields lately. Finds a very suitable race and could round them up late. 11 Delight Of Texas: Hasn’t done a bad job in a short career. Right kind…