Horse ambulance fleet complete

New Zealand can now boast the world’s first dedicated national horse ambulance service, following the commissioning of the country’s ninth and final horse ambulance. The ambulance was unveiled by the NZ Horse Ambulance Trust on Thursday in Karaka, where sponsors and supporters of the Trust celebrated the achievement. “We’ve been on a mission to deliver a national fleet of horse ambulances and today we are proud to say we’ve done it,” Chair of the NZ Horse Ambulance Trust and General Manager of Welfare & Sustainability for NZ Thoroughbred Racing Martin…

Sha Tin double for Per Incanto

Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto continued his good run in Hong Kong on Wednesday when he scored a double at Sha Tin. His son Flying Dragon recorded his second win when taking out the Class 4 Hap Mun Bay Handicap (1200m) for trainer Dennis Yip, while Duke Wai’s victory in the Class 1 Silvermine Bay Handicap (1200m) has earnt the gelding a tilt at the Gr.3 Shat Tin Vase (1200m) in May. Upstaging Kurpany and Majestic Star, who are both being aimed at the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at…

Little Avondale takes two shots at TJ Smith

Three weeks after rocking the Australian sprinters with a Group One boilover in Melbourne, Little Avondale Stud has two chances of a repeat result at Randwick on Saturday. The Wairarapa nursery’s green and yellow colours will be carried in the Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) by Roch ‘N’ Horse, who defied 100-to-one odds in an extraordinary Newmarket Handicap (1200m) triumph on March 12, along with the in-form Belluci Babe. “Having two runners in our colours in a Group One race during The Championships at Randwick – it’s ‘pinch yourself’ stuff,…

Isdale hoping Big Story lives up to his name

Clinton Isdale’s time with Big Story will be short and he is hoping to make an early impact with the youngster before he heads offshore. The Cambridge trainer has a healthy opinion of the juvenile, who will make his first appearance in the Auckland Alarms 2YO (1300m) at Avondale on Saturday. Big Story was bred by Luigi Muollo under his Explosive Breeding banner and the Novara Park principal recently sold an interest in the gelding to OTI Racing. Terry Henderson’s Australian-based operation is a major supporter of the New Zealand…

Thurlow trio to tackle home targets

Waverley trainer Bill Thurlow is looking forward to racing at his home track on Friday where he will have a trio of runners. His charge will be led by Darlington County who drops back to rating 72 grade after running sixth in the Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m) at Trentham. Thurlow was pleased with her effort in the race and believes she is a strong chance in the Steelformers Wanganui Race (2200m). “I thought she went really well. She got well back but she drew wide so we didn’t…

Eagle Farm best bets & quaddie picks | Saturday, April 2

What Eagle Farm Races Where Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, April 2, 2022 First Race 11:53am AEST Visit Ladbrokes Eagle Farm is set to play host to nine metropolitan races on Saturday, April 2, and HorseBetting’s Queensland racing expert presents his best bets and quaddie selections for the program. While Brisbane received quite a bit of rain throughout the week, the surface at Eagle Farm drains notoriously well and has come up a Good 4. There aren’t any Group races on this program,…

How to spend $50 on TAB’s ‘All In’ Ballarat Cup market

Six brilliant heats of the Group 2 SJC Concreting Ballarat Cup will be staged on Friday night. TAB has put up ‘whirlwind’ Typhoon Sammy $5.50 ‘All In’ favourite for the $50,000 to-the-winner event – “and rightly so”, according to The Watchdog. But the expert form analyst also concedes the Group 2 Traralgon Cup and Group 2 Horsham Cup winner, which also holds the Bendigo 425m and Traralgon 395m track records, has a “tough heat”. “He comes up against Compliance and Americano Miss … Typhoon Sammy can’t afford to make any…

Morphettville tips, odds & quaddie picks | Saturday, April 2

What Morphettville Races Where Morphettville Racecourse- 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville SA 5043 When Saturday, April 2, 2022 First Race 12:07pm ACDT Visit Ladbrokes Metropolitan racing in Adelaide on Saturday afternoon is set be held on the course proper at Morphettville, where the action will get underway at 12:07pm ACDT (12:37pm AEDT). HorseBetting’s James Herbert brings you his best bets and quaddie numbers for the nine-race program, including a tip in the featured Manihi Classic (1100m). The track has come up a Good 4, with rail out 6m for the entire…

The Championships Day 1 betting tips & race-by-race preview

What The Championships – Day 1 Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Saturday, April 2, 2022 Feature Race Race 8: Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) First Race 12:20pm AEDT Visit Ladbrokes It is Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday – one of the greatest days on the Australian racing calendar. Four Group 1 races will be run and won – the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes, Australian Derby, TJ Smith Stakes and Doncaster Mile – along with the $500,000 Country Championships Final.…

Lighthouse under injury cloud before Doncaster Mile

Lighthouse wins the Group 1 Coolmore Classic in March 2022. (Photo: Steve Hart) Coolmore Classic winner Lighthouse will have to pass a veterinary examination on Friday in order to take her place in the $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) on Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Co-trainer Ciaron Maher has advised Racing NSW stewards that the mare is lame and has a pulse in her near-fore foot. She is receiving treatment and will be assessed by vets Friday morning. Lighthouse was imported from America last year…