Three wonderful charities are set to share in more than $75,000 after the recent conclusion of greyhound racing’s 2020 ‘Chase for Charity’ promotion. In the first of three post-event presentations over the coming weeks, GRV CEO Alan Clayton (above right) and his pet greyhound Zoe popped into SEN’s studio this morning to present a runner-up cheque for $22,052.50 to the Victorian Men’s Shed Association (VMSA). VMSA President Lindsay Oates and CEO Derek O’Leary were on hand to recive the cheque and explained that the donation would be used to assist…
Month: November 2020
Dark Arrow’s Meadows Target
After battling injury and a loss of confidence throughout much of 2020, John Westerlo’s staying prospect Dark Arrow will be chasing a fifth straight win when he steps up to 725m at The Meadows tonight. Dark Arrow’s 26-start career can be divided into three distinct phases. The well-bred son of Barcia Bale and 2014 Sandown Cup finalist Butterfly Bling, a litter brother to Westerlo’s classy sprinter Mandalorian, won five of his first 12 starts before enduring a 10-race losing sequence. But with victories at his last four starts, he’s ending…
Jim Wakefield remembered as “one of the best”
Awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to harness racing in 2012, respected breeder, owner and administrator Jim Wakefield has died in Christchurch, aged 87 . The NZ Trotting Owners Association representative on the Harness Racing New Zealand executive from 1998 to 2010, he went onto become Chairman from 1999 to 2003. According to friend and former HRNZ chair Ken Spicer: “He will remembered as one of Harness Racing’s best leaders and administrators.” A key figure in developing the Racing Act 2003, he was also Harness Racing…
Benchester boxed for city breakthrough
A gutsy Meadows debut last weekend has record-breaking provincial speedster Benchester primed to open his city account tonight. After winning 19 of 42 starts in the bush, Junortoun trainer Mark Morrissey finally elected to bring Benchester to town in peak form, with the Shepparton Cup finalist breaking track records at two of his previous three starts. Benchester broke the 385m record at Shepparton (21.42s) on October 26, before adding Horsham’s 410m benchmark (22.66s) to his resume on November 10. “His strength is a worry. It’s pretty hard to do it…
Luckie’s life-changing Cup triumph
A greyhound racing dream came true for Luckie Karabitsakos when his brilliant sprinter Hard Style Rico unforgettably smashed the Sandown Park 515m track record in the Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup Final on Friday night. It was a fifth appearance in a Group 1 event for Hard Style Rico, which Pearcedale-based Karabitsakos also bred and owns, with his best previous finish coming when runner-up to Simon Told Helen in the Maturity Classic. While Karabitsakos had to bide his time in the quest for Group 1 glory, it was undoubtedly worth…
Age catches up with Cruz Bromac
2019 New Zealand Cup winner Cruz Bromac has run his last race. The nine-year-old, who amassed 23 wins from 56 starts on both sides of the Tasman and over a million dollars in stakes, has been retired. “Cruz Bromac was the best horse without doubt that I’ve trained. He put up some phenomenal runs over his career and his victories speak for themselves,” Geelong-based trainer Dean Braun said. “He was a lovely horse with a kind attitude. He was still working super on the track at home any day of…
Gun Kiwis downed at Albion Park
Local pin-up pacer Colt Thirty One has hit career-best form just in time for Queensland’s biggest race. And he gave a couple of outstanding former Kiwi pacers in Turn It Up and One Change a reminder of just how good he is when he upset them both in the Group 3 Be Good Johnny Sprint (1660m) at Albion Park. It was a race he had no right to win and it gave him a staggering 41st win around his home track at Albion Park. Colt Thirty One drew outside the…
NZ Racing and Breeding News – 30 November 2020
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Maui continues family legacy
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Maui continued his family’s legacy when winning the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Mobile Trot (1980m) at Addington Raceway on Sunday. Trained and driven by David McCormick, Maui hails from a breed established by McCormick’s father, Doug, which stretches back five generations. McCormick is now continuing the lineage through Maui’s dam, three-win mare Shezadorabil, and four-win mare Cathy Combo. “Dad bought into the family well before I was born,” McCormick said. “When he died a couple of years ago I was left with two…
Knight of the Realm
Manila Knight became a ‘Sir’ of the staying scene with a brave frontrunning display in tonight’s Group 1 Bold Trease final (715m) at Sandown Park. Trained at Tuerong by Mario Briganti, Manila Knight defeated a star-studded field and took out a $105,000 first prize. Owned by Phillip Smith in Benowa, Qld, Manila Knight (May ’18 Barcia Bale x Angie Rocks) notched his 15th win from 36 starts. His earnings spiralled to $165,020. It was his seventh win in nine starts from Box 8. Manila Knight ($6.70) was stalked twice in…
