Championship leading jockey Joao Moreira is eager to bounce back onto the winner’s list with a full book of eight rides on Wednesday night at Happy Valley, following a two-meeting suspension. One of those mounts is Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who proved a fine ally with a smart first-up win last time and is looking to follow-up in section one of the Class 3 Belcher Bay Handicap (1200m). “It was very impressive, we had to do it tough coming from the widest gate facing the breeze three-wide, and at…
Month: November 2020
Marsh doubles up at Te Aroha
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh posted a winning double at Te Aroha with a pair of well-bred gallopers on Tuesday. Debutant Raggedy Doll (NZ) (Hallowed Crown) picked up a cash bonus for her connections when winning the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m). The four-year-old daughter of Hallowed Crown and Group One winner Miss Raggedy Ann (NZ) (Faltaat) had six trial starts on her record before her trip to the races and despite showing a lack of ringcraft, finished the best in a four- horse field. “She has been a slow…
Boss to ride Surprise Baby
Glen Boss has picked up the ride on quality stayer Surprise Baby (NZ) in Saturday’s Gr.2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown and believes the son of Shocking can put his best foot forward. The six-year-old started favourite in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) but failed to make any impression when 13th under Craig Willams. Horsham trainer Paul Preusker elected to head to the Zipping Classic after Surprise Baby recovered well from his Cup exertions, with Boss taking over from Williams. “He can bounce back. He has got an electric turn…
Sandown Cup for Etah James
Kiwi bred and owned mare Etah James (NZ) will head to the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) on Saturday and trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace believe the daughter of Raise The Flag is still on the way up, despite finishing 17th in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). “She was pretty right for the Cup, but this is only going to be her fourth run of the campaign,” Maher said. “Glen Boss won the Sydney Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) on her and he jumped on her this morning and was really happy…
Parsons mare ideally placed
Six-year-old mare Kiwi Ida (Squamosa) will start favourite in Wednesday’s Gr.3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) on the back of an eye-catching performance when second to Wekaforce (NZ) (Showcasing) in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) last Saturday. The John and Karen Parsons-trained mare is rated 18 points superior to her nearest rival in the fillies and mares feature and she has an outstanding record over 1400m, with eight wins and six placings from 18 starts at the distance. The daughter of Squamosa won the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes two seasons…
Belle returns home ahead of final campaign
Star Kiwi mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) will return home after a hit-and-run raid to Melbourne for the Gr.1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) in which she finished third behind Arcadia Queen at Flemington last Saturday. Ridden by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jye McNeil, Melody Belle added more Australian black-type to her CV as her career draws closer to the end. John Galvin, who manages the Melody Belle Fortuna Syndicate that owns the multiple New Zealand Horse of the Year, said connections were pleased with the Jamie Richards-trained mare. “Jye said she…
Mile switch for talented Communique
In-form mare Communique (NZ) (Redwood) looks one of the better chances in Wednesday’s Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton, although the daughter of Redwood has had an unorthodox preparation for the $230,000 feature. Prepared by Stephen Autridge and Kris Shailer, Communique was initially on a path towards the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m) but despite finishing a good second in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) last start, her Matamata trainers elected to change tack. “She is lightly-framed and she lost a fair bit of weight getting down…
Is today the Day of Ray?
By Michael Guerin As Ray Green started his training career he never dreamed of getting to the New Zealand Cup. He dreamed of getting to Panama. Not that there is any harness racing in Panama and Green hadn’t actually set out to go there. But it is testament to the fact that Green, who trains favourite Copy That in today’s $540,000 IRT New Zealand Cup, took the longest possible road to today’s iconic race that his path there led through Panama. While many of the trainers and drivers in today’s…
Spankem reliable and ready
By Jonny Turner In a year of unknowns, Spankem is set to offer punters some certainty when he seeks redemption in the New Zealand Cup at Addington today. With the favourites Copy That and Self Assured dominating pre-race talk, the All Stars pacer will step quietly on to harness racing’s biggest stage in his attempt to go one better than his runner-up effort behind Cruz Bromac last year. Though there is no doubting their class, Self Assured and Copy That will have to prove they have what it takes to…
Draw could favour Classie Brigade in Cup
By Jonny Turner Trainer Robert Dunn hopes Classie Brigade begins so quickly he sees a flash of red, white and black silks in what is set to be a crucial beginning to today’s New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington. The eight-year-old veteran will carry his trainer’s diamond emblazoned colours when he seeks redemption in the 3200m feature following an agonisingly unlucky third placing in last year’s event. To win, Classie Brigade will need to become the first horse since Flashing Red in 2007 to carry the number 18 saddlecloth to…