Snitzel colt Meritable is likely to be the only Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) representative for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. He booked his passage south for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored feature with a last-start second behind the unbeaten Pareanui Bay (NZ) (Lonhro) in the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa on Labour Day Monday. “He was very good and just got left in front a fair way out, which was frustrating, and a very good horse ran over the top of him and they obviously…
Year: 2021
Busuttin-Young Derby contenders thriving
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young ran one-two in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) last Saturday with Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) and Commander Harry (NZ) (Reliable Man), and the expat Kiwi trainers are hoping to repeat the feat in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday. The couple has been pleased with the way Forgot You has come through his weekend run and said he is thriving ahead of his Derby assignment. “He has come through it super. He had a tough enough run on Saturday but we…
Maiden training win for Doran
Amy Doran’s faith in a mare who bled and then put her leg through a fence has led to her first victory as a trainer. The Pukekohe horsewoman’s mare Five Schillings (NZ) (Iffraaj) scored an easy maiden victory at Te Rapa on Monday, leading all the way in the hands of Sam Weatherley to score a 3-1/4 length victory. Doran is best-known for her time as the strapper for 10-time Group One winner Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire), and her main role as a pre-trainer for horses raced by Mufhasa’s owner, David…
I’m Thunderstruck set to strike in Golden Eagle
He’s secured Group One spoils in Victoria and now New Zealand-bred gelding I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) has travelled north to plunder the riches on offer in Sydney on Saturday. The son of Shocking will contest the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill after winning the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield earlier this month. Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are looking forward to the weekend with their charge where he will jump from barrier 10 in the 18-horse field. “He has had a really good prep and…
Wellington win fine-tunes game filly for Guineas
It is all systems go towards the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) for gutsy filly Bellacontte (NZ) (Burgundy). The Chrissy Bambry-trained daughter of Burgundy tuned up for the Riccarton assignment with a tenacious victory over 1200m at Trentham on Sunday, with the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) winner using the Wellington hit-out in lieu of a trial. “She is a very genuine little horse. I was only going to trial her before her next start in the Guineas but she has put on 15 kilos since her…
TAB and Thompson team up for TAB Phoenix
TAB has teamed up with one of Australia’s greatest greyhound trainers, Jason Thompson, as it ramps up its effort to win the inaugural edition of the TAB Phoenix. A greyhound trained by Thompson will run in TAB’s slot in the $1,145,000 race, which carries a $750,000 winner’s purse. But, in an exciting initiative, precisely which greyhound will carry TAB’s hopes will not be known until closer to the race, which will be held at The Meadows on December 18. TAB will have exclusive rights to the greyhound of their choice…
Bookmaker sign up codes and referral offers
There are numerous Australian betting sites that feature sign up codes as a way of enticing new customers to join. These bookmaker sign up codes, or referral codes replaced bonus codes and promo codes in recent years, following the ban of new account incentives in Australia. Promo codes are essentially another name for bonus codes and referral codes, with this terminology changing from bookie to bookie, or month to month. Australian bookmakers often will change how their promo codes are issued with changes often enticing different types of customers. As…
HRNZ Awards Update – 27 October
The Harness Racing New Zealand awards for the 2020-21 season have been postponed indefinitely. Initially it was planned to hold the awards evening at Addington Raceway on Saturday, October 16 but Covid restrictions meant that wasn’t possible. “It’s disappointing for a lot of people because the awards are always an eagerly anticipated event,” says Harness racing New Zealand Chief Executive Gary Woodham, “but we have little choice.” Thought was given to holding a virtual event, or a smaller than usual awards ceremony in Christchurch, though Woodham wasn’t keen on either…
2021 Victoria Derby runner-by-runner preview & betting tips
What 2021 Victoria Derby Where Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031 When Saturday, October 30, 2021 | 3:45pm AEDT | Race 6 Prizemoney $2,000,000 Distance 2500m Status Group 1 Race Conditions Set Weights | Three-Year-Olds 2020 Winner Johnny Get Angry (5) | Trainer: Denis Pagan | Jockey: Lachlan King (57kg) Watch Live Streaming Live at Sportsbet The Group 1 Victoria Derby is set to be run at Flemington on Saturday afternoon to help kickstart the Melbourne Cup Carnival. HorseBetting’s Victorian form analyst presents his runner-by-runner preview, top…
Away He Goes ruled out of Melbourne Cup with tendon injury
Away He Goes during trackwork at Werribee Racecourse on October 22, 2021. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Another international runner has been ruled out of next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup, with Away He Goes suffering a tendon injury while quarantining at Werribee. Trained by Ismail Mohammed, the six-year-old gelding had cleared all pre-travel scans before arriving in Australia. The withdrawal is yet another blow to jockey James McDonald, who had quarantined in Melbourne for a week to ride Zaaki in the Cox Plate before his scratching and now misses out on a ride…