Delson gearing up for raceday return

By Josh Smith – Harness News Desk Connections of promising trotter Delson are hoping he can pick-up where he left off when he contests the Happy 40th Glenn Wallis Handicap Trot (2200m) at Cambridge Raceway on Sunday. The Graeme Rogerson-trained gelding overcame his 40m handicap to dominantly win over 2700m at the Waikato track in March, but he will need to draw on all his talents to replicate the result over this weekend’s shorter distance. “That’s (last start) what he is capable of and he did that with a few…

Trainer to follow today at Cambridge

By Michael Guerin Steve Telfer’s not-so-secret weapon makes him the trainer for punters to follow when horse racing returns to the North Island for the first time in over two months at Cambridge today. There is a somewhat sad irony in racing returning there today as Cambridge were supposed to host the $1.275million Jewels yesterday but they were cancelled because of Covid-19. But while no crowds will be allowed today the return to racing will be welcome in the Waikato and Ardmore trainer Telfer is the man to follow. He…

Master Montaro books ticket to Hong Kong

Ready To Run Sale graduate Master Montaro receives a pat from Michael Walker when winning at Geelong on Friday Photo: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos Master Montaro (Toronado) will do his future racing in Hong Kong, after winning his second start in effortless fashion at Geelong on Friday in a BM70 Handicap over 1140m. The New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduate came from last to amble past his rivals when winning on debut at Pakenham in March for trainer Richard Laming. The three-year-old gelding was part-owned by a group of…

Caulfield Cup a spring target for Kinane

Trainer Chris Waller has declared the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) as a spring target for Kinane (NZ) (Reliable Man) after pulling the pin on his winter campaign. Waller said the Gr.3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) winner had been in work for a long time and the decision was made to give him a break after his defeat as a short-priced favourite in the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1800m) at Eagle Farm last week. “We are going to give him every opportunity to get to the Caulfield Cup, obviously qualify first and…

Tavistock fillies salute at Geelong

Desert Realm winning at Geelong on Friday Photo: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained three-year-old filly Desert Realm (NZ) (Tavistock) broke maiden ranks in impressive fashion at Geelong on Friday, landing a maiden over 1540m in the hands of Craig Newitt. The daughter of Tavistock was a $25,000 yearling purchase at Karaka from the draft of Brighthill Farm and had one trial for Cambridge trainer Mark Brooks before relocating across the Tasman. “I don’t know what the horses were like behind her but she did it with…

Son of Snitzel takes up Hawke’s Bay stud duties

Sneaking To Win, a son of Snitzel, will take up stud duties in Hawke’s Bay Photo: Supplied The Hawke’s Bay breeding industry has been bolstered by the announcement that Sneaking To Win, a well-bred son of Snitzel, will commence stud duties for local breeders Steve Brougham and Jenni Tomlins this season. The imposing chestnut raced on three occasions and showed good ability for Peter and Paul Snowden, including a second placing behind subsequent Gr.3 Up & Coming Stakes (1300m) winner Master Ash. A $450,000 yearling, Sneaking To Win’s career was…

South Island Sale underway online

Gus Wigley of Inglewood Stud is a strong supporter of the South Island Sale Photo: Trish Dunell New Zealand thoroughbred auctions have moved into uncharted territory this week with the launch of New Zealand Bloodstock’s South Island Sale on Gavelhouse Plus. The southern yearling session was originally scheduled to be held in Christchurch in April, but was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead it is taking place online on the enhanced Gavelhouse Plus platform, running for 11 days from May 28 to June 7 with a 65-lot catalogue. All…

Equine exports nearing return

Ongoing Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) testing is providing optimism that the discovery of Theileria equi infection is a single, isolated case. The horse concerned was imported to New Zealand by Cambridge Stud for breeding purposes in February 2019 and returned a suspected positive test for Theileria equi as part of standard export certification prior to onward shipment to Australia. Further MPI blood tests confirmed the horse was positive, although it had displayed no signs of illness in its time here. At the time of import, the horse met all…

Bolton’s Blaze Seven bound for Sydney

Blaze Seven (outside) finishing runner-up to Palm Springs at her only start Photo: Race Images PN New Plymouth trainer Warren Bolton has never had a large team in work, but the astute horseman generally has some promising gallopers within his select stable. Bolton, who has produced and traded a number of quality gallopers since taking out a trainers’ license some 25 years ago, is looking forward to having his cake and eating it too with promising filly Blaze Seven. The two-year-old daughter of Sacred Falls finished second in her only…

Clotworthys prepare to resume bumper season

Shaun Clotworthy, who trains in partnership with wife Emma, is looking forward to resuming a career-best season when racing commences in July Photo: Trish Dunell After the coronavirus pandemic brought their career-best season to a sudden halt, Shaun and Emma Clotworthy are hoping to pick up where they left off. The Byerley Park couple have trained 22 winners from just 164 runners so far in 2019-20, placing them among the top 15 on the national trainers’ premiership. That is their best result from three seasons as a team, beating their…