Yellow And Black ‘omen’

Germany’s ‘Paul the Octopus’ attracted worldwide attention as an animal oracle due to accurate predictions during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. But meet a pseudo greyhound tipster – more omen bet – who has filled Paul’s mighty tentacles! Yellow And Black, trained at Mount Moriac by Kevin Ward, scored on every day Richmond won during this year’s AFL finals series – including the Grand Final! In fact, he won at Horsham 25 minutes before the ‘big dance’ commenced at the Gabba in Brisbane. Here’s how a greyhound racing ‘omen’ unfolded…

Melt back in winning form after two-year hiatus

Former top filly Melt made a welcome return to the winner’s circle on her home patch at Pukekohe on Saturday. The Nigel Tiley-trained mare had kick started her career in fine fashion when successful at stakes level at the same venue first-up as a two-year-old. She then went on to win the Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) as a three-year-old before finishing second to subsequent dual Group One winner Madison County in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). An unsuccessful three-start campaign from the Chris Waller stable in Sydney, where she…

Siracusa takes Pukekohe feature

Promising galloper Siracusa (NZ) (Sebring) brought up a hattrick of wins in the best possible style when she stormed home out wide to take out the Listed Haunui Farm Karaka Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe. The Sir Peter Vela-bred and owned mare only made the final field for the race after scratchings on race morning saw her sneak into the final field from off the ballot for the day’s feature event. Apprentice Ashvin Goindasamy, who was registering his first victory at stakes level, rode a cool, calm and collected race on…

Game Crosshaven wins Carbine Club

New Zealand-owned three-year-old Crosshaven (Smart Missile) called on all his fortitude to outgun stablemate Aysar (Deep Field) in the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), the opening event of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington. The Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes-trained gelding races in the colours of Auckland property developer Daniel Nakhle and has been a model of consistency, winning five of his seven starts and entered the contest on the back of a fourth placing in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).  “He’s been in since winter, hasn’t really had a…

Telperion posts first winner

Westbury Stud-based sire Telperion made the best start possible to his stallion career when his first runner to the track was successful at Awapuni on Saturday. Stormy (NZ) (Telperion), a showy chestnut from the Tony Pike stable, showed plenty of grit and determination to win first-up over 1000m after waging a home straight war with fellow debutant Wakari (NZ) (Vespa). The two-year-old colt sat three-wide on the speed for most of the race before joining issue with Wakari at the 300m mark. The pair went at it tooth and nail…

Beaver eyes up breakthrough win in Kaikoura

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  Southland trainer Mark Shirley is hoping for some 2011 Rugby World Cup-type heroics from his first ever starter at Kaikoura on Sunday. Shirley, who trains in partnership with his wife Debbie, will line up Beaver in Race 4 at South Bay Racecourse, after two placings in his opening two starts down south. The horse is named after All Black Stephen Donald and Shirley says the horse has similar characteristics to the famous rugby player “He’ll never let you down”. But Shirley does have…

Great Chase windfall to increase opportunities for Wood ‘n’ Crete clients

Last week the team at Wood ‘n’ Crete in Ararat were celebrating from afar when the greyhound they were designated in the TAB Great Chase Grand Final at The Meadows, Dr. Tucker (pictured), crossed the finish line first and won them $10,000. We have since got in touch with Wood ‘n’ Crete’s Russell Streeter to find out more about the organisation and how they plan to spend their windfall. Q. What does the TAB Great Chase mean to Wood ‘n’ Crete and why have representatives from the group attended the…

Tommy’s Topgun Trial

By order of the Peaky Blinders, or WA trainer Steve Withers, Tommy Shelby has hit Victorian soil and has earnt a rug in the invitational TAB Topgun field. The $150,000 to-the-winner Group 1 over 525m will be run at The Meadows on Saturday 7 November and is a part of the Metro Festival of Racing, which kicks off with the Hume Cup on Monday night. The box draw for the TAB Topgun field will be conducted on Monday night at The Meadows. The WA sensation, who is named after the…