Day: 5 December 2021

Like most of the racegoers at Matamata on Saturday, trainer Nick Bishara was concerned about the rain forecast to strike the meeting during the day. What was different however, was that while the majority wanted to get through the day without any significant moisture, Bishara was fervently hoping for the heavens to open to assist his quality mare Cherry Lane (NZ) (Redwood) in her bid to win the open 2000m contest on the card. Bishara got his wish as steady showers saw the track downgraded from a Dead4 to a…

The abandonment of racing at Trentham on Saturday and the subsequent rescheduling of the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) to Te Rapa this Saturday has played nicely into the hands of trainers Jenny and Bob Vance and their quality galloper Royal Performer (Medicean). The nine-year-old gelding had looked to be working nicely into form with a fast-finishing effort for third behind Demonetization (All Too Hard) in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha last weekend but had his trainers in a quandary as to where to give him…

NZTR has implemented an investigation into the circumstances which resulted in the abandonment of the Wellington Racing Club’s Group One meeting on Saturday. “NZ Sports Turf Institute (NZSTI) will commence a track review tomorrow morning, inspecting both the track and the data and reports from the Racing and Track managers,’’ NZTR CEO Bernard Saundry said. “We have also requested a full report from the Racing Integrity Board (RIB) regarding the procedures leading up to and following the first race on Saturday,” he said. RACE and Wellington Racing Club are extremely…

Twenty-four hours on from the decision to abandon the Group One raceday at Trentham after just one race due to safety issues caused by the slippery nature of the track, trainer Allan Sharrock is still trying to get his head around the circumstances that caused the cancellation. Sharrock, who had seen the last four races abandoned at his local New Plymouth meeting on Thursday, due to rainfall during the meeting that caused the track to become slippery and hazardous for both horse and rider, was left shaking his head that…

overcame difficulties in the running to post her third consecutive victory at Doomben on Saturday. The three-year-old daughter of Westbury Stud-based stallion Tarzino has proved a revelation for trainer David Vandyke, after she provided no indication of her ability leading into her first start at the Sunshine Coast back in October. Vandyke didn’t know what to think after she had been beaten by every trackwork partner leading into the race as well as finishing last of five in her final trial. After getting back near last in the 16-horse field…