Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh has lower North Island assignments for a pair of his higher profile gallopers over the coming weeks. Five-year-old gelding Vernanme (NZ) (O’Reilly) will contest the Gr.3 Powerworx Taranaki Cup (1800m) on Saturday after being well-held in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day, while in-form mare Tabata (NZ) (Savabeel) is nominated for the Listed Property Brokers Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Tauherenikau on Monday. Despite dropping back in grade with Vernanme, Marsh is concerned that he again meets Group One winner Concert Hall among…
Month: February 2021
McKay excited about promising juvenile
Peter McKay reached the pinnacle of New Zealand racing with Puccini and now the Matamata trainer is vying to reach the same heights with his son, Wolfgang (NZ). The promising juvenile became his sire’s first stakes performer when he finished runner-up to Quattro Quinta by a half head in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m) at Trentham last month. McKay was pleased with his run and said his charge is improving with every start. “It was a really good run and he had improved a lot off his previous start, which…
Evergreen galloper primed for local WFA
White Robe Lodge principal Brian Anderton is looking forward to racing at Wingatui on Saturday, a meeting that has long been one of his favourite days on the racing calendar. Anderton sponsors the feature race, the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m), and has fond memories of the meeting over a number of years. “We have been the sponsors of it for a very long time,” he said. “We started way back when I had Mellay, so it goes back a long way.” Anderton once again has a…
The trans-Tasman mane drain
Two of the north’s best pacers are joining the mane drain to Sydney but at least one them will be back in a month. Stablemates Bad To The Bone and Mach Shard will both be in Sydney by the weekend, with Bad To The Bone already there to race this Saturday while Mach Shard flies over on Friday. Bad To The Bone has joined the Paul Fitzpatrick stable for a Chariots of Fire campaign which begins in a qualifying race the $50,000 Hondo Grattan at Menangle this Saturday. Co-trainer Barry…
Team Teal to get major boost
Just a day out from the opening Teal Pants meeting for 2021, the campaign has received a major financial boost. Regan Todd’s Racing stables (Todd racing) will donate $50 for every race won by female drivers between now and March 14 on behalf of an owner. Last year Team Teal female drivers won 72 races, with $50,000 raised in total. It’s a campaign the benefactor feels privileged to be part of. “My father died from cancer – it is such a good cause and I urge others to get…
News Briefs – Feb 3
The Box Seat is back : Harness racing’s big show The Box Seat is back for 2021. Hosted by regulars Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin the first episode for the year is available now on hrnz.co.nz. The show will also be broadcast on Trackside three times a week, at 9 am on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Further riches in store for Majestic Man Majestic Man is a hot favourite to claim more Group 1 glory on Friday, after his success in last weekend’s V L Dullard Trotters Cup . The…
Quality not quantity for Alabar
In the lead-up to the NZB Standardbred national yearling sales we look at how the major studs are approaching both Auckland (Feb 13 and 14) and Christchurch (Feb 15-17). In the first of the series Michael Guerin talks to Alabar’s Graeme Henley. By Michael Guerin Graeme Henley had a hunch last year that he is pretty certain he got right. But he hopes the proof comes on the first day of the National Yearling Sale at Karaka on Sunday week. As the boss of Alabar New Zealand, Henley has seen…
The Box Seat – Feb 3
Join hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin for the first edition of The Box Seat for 20201, including an interview with man of the moment Brad Williamson.
Fiscal Fantasy primed for Taranaki Cup
Diminutive galloper Fiscal Fantasy (Skilled) will be vying to boost her pedigree page even further at New Plymouth on Saturday when she contests the Gr.3 Powerworx Taranaki Cup (1800m). The Frank Ritchie-trained mare has won at Group Three level on three prior occasions and finished runner-up in the 2019 Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (1600m). The daughter of Skilled disappointed when tailing the field home in the Group One feature on Boxing Day last year but rebounded with a solid runner-up effort in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) last month. Ritchie was…
Classic winners impress at Rotorua
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is looking forward to autumn racing with a couple of last season’s Classic winners after their pleasing trials at Rotorua on Tuesday. Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) showed a good turn of foot when coming from the back of the field to take out her 1000m heat by three-quarters of a length. “I was really pleased with her trial today,” Pike said. “She’s a Group One filly you expect to trial well. “She came home nicely off the slow speed…