Month: March 2021

A track invader who jumped three fences and stood in the middle of the Trentham course while the field went around him fronted court on Thursday. The NZ Herald reported that Justin Bergman, 24, appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court, where he pleaded guilty to creating a criminal nuisance by unreasonably disrupting a public meeting, knowing it would endanger the safety of the public. The report said Bergman was sentenced to 12 months supervision, 100 hours of community service and fined $8800 – the same as what his actions…

Talented three-year-old The Irishman (NZ) (Tavistock) made a winning start for new trainer Mark Newnham when successful over 1400m at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. The Irishman had three starts in New Zealand for former trainer Tony Pike, for whom he won on debut at Avondale in September and finished runner-up in the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day in his last start in his homeland. Ridden by apprentice Tom Sherry, The Irishman came from midfield in a moderately run affair to prevail by a nose from…

Victorian trainer Brett Scott is set for scans and surgery on Thursday after being kicked by a horse. The popular Mornington trainer was airlifted to hospital on Wednesday afternoon following the incident and was placed in an induced coma. The expat Kiwi has fractures to his skull, bleeding on the brain and a severe laceration to his head. An astute horseman and former champion jumps jockey, Scott trains Kiwi galloper Irish Flame whom he won the A$500,000 Ballarat Cup (2000m) with in spring and regularly places his horses to good…

Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman will have a rare afternoon off on Saturday, but his eyes will be firmly fixed on high-class three-year-old Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls), who will start a warm favourite in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) in Sydney. Forsman, who trains in partnership with Murray Baker, part-owns the undefeated son of Sacred Falls and, courtesy of the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) meeting being postponed at least 24 hours due to a Covid scare in Auckland, he will have the opportunity to join his fellow owners the…

Canterbury trainer Ross Beckett is in no hurry for his talented filly Larpower (NZ) (Power) to break a winning habit. Power three-year-old Larpower goes into Saturday’s Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui having won in all six of her public appearances, four at the trials and both her raceday starts. “She’s done a great job so far. Winning is a pretty good habit to have,” Beckett said. Larpower won trials at Rangiora, Ashburton and Riccarton before making a winning debut at Timaru in late December, beating three horses who…

Promising two-year-old Drum Major (NZ) (Epaulette) will be on trial for a tilt at Group One glory when he lines-up in the HR Jones & Co Ltd 2YO (1200m) at Awapuni on Saturday. The Team Rogerson-trained colt has placed in both of his starts to date, and if he makes a good account of himself this weekend he could head to Ellerslie next week for the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), or return to Palmerston North next month to tackle the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). “He is…