Month: March 2022

Former Kiwi galloper Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange) took out Monday’s Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) in emphatic fashion at Morphetville for trainer Phillip Stokes and homecoming queen Jamie Kah, who rode five winners on the card. From an inside draw, the son of Sweet Orange tracked Tigertiger (NZ) (Zed) throughout and despite sitting midfield for much of the contest, the genuine tempo injected by a looping Aurora’s Symphony and on-pacer Good Idea, made for ideal targets to chase for Daqiansweet Junior. The OTI Racing-owned four-year-old charged home to score by…

Classy Melbourne visitor Ancient Girl (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) was sent out a strong favourite for Monday’s Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600m) and connections and punters alike never had a moment of concern as she cruised to victory by just under three lengths. Ace jockey Jamie Kah sent the daughter of Turn Me Loose to the front from an outside draw and it was clear from a long way out the opposition were in trouble, with only runner-up Harleymoven making any impression late. It was the third win from six starts…

Seven-year-old gelding Black Sail (NZ) (Savabeel) made it back-to-back wins in Adelaide when successful in Monday’s Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m) at Morphettville on Adelaide Cup Day. The son of Savabeel was sent across the border by the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable to win over the same course and distance last month and clearly gleaned plenty of confidence from the win. Sent straight to the lead by Harry Coffey on Monday, Black Sail comfortably held a solid field, with runner-up Royal Mile two lengths astern at the…

The Darrell Hollinshead-trained Super Sid (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) picked off some low-hanging fruit when landing the Wrightson/Vetmed 2100 at Ellerslie on Sunday in emphatic fashion. The son of Rip Van Winkle is a three-quarter brother to Te Akau Shark and raced just worse than midfield before powering over the top of his rivals when presented widest by Darren Danis in the Rating 74 Benchmark. Super Sid finished fifth in the Nathans Memorial (2200m) at Ellerslie eight days earlier and Hollinshead resisted the temptation to run the promising stayer in…

The odds on Funtonic (Delago Deluxe) even reaching a racecourse would have been extremely high when he hurt his hind legs in a paddock accident eight months ago. But time and care has done wonders for the Cambridge four-year-old, who now has some big races in his sight after an impressive victory in the Gravity 1400, a Rating 74 event at Ellerslie on Sunday. Funtonic had raced four times for a win and three minor placings when the accident happened. “He kicked through a fence about eight months ago and…

Horses will be an absent sight from Ellerslie racecourse for at least the next 18 months. A StrathAyr track will be put in at the Auckland venue as part of several measures agreed after the amalgamation of Auckland Racing Club and Counties Racing Club into Auckland Thoroughbred Racing last year. While the club has given the industry the estimated timeframe, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Paul Wilcox said it may take longer if needed. “Our plan at this stage is 18 months but one thing I have been vocal about…

Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso and the connections of top mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir) can look forward to the Melbourne spring carnival with confidence following her bold showing in her Australian debut. They were on a fact-finding mission with the daughter of Proisir and she responded positively to finish fourth down the Flemington straight in Saturday’s Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m). Levante established herself as New Zealand’s premier sprinter this season with consecutive victories in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and the Gr.1 BCD Sprint (1400m) to set up the Melbourne scouting…