Month: March 2022

Galaxy Witness, Flying Ace remain unbeaten at Sha Tin

AAP

Galaxy Witness overcomes difficulties to win in style. Galaxy Witness has emerged as an early contender for next season’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series after brilliant victory for Caspar Fownes and Joao Moreira as Leading Fortune upstaged a cluster of this month’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) hopefuls to continue the championship-leading seasons of Zac Purton and John Size at Sha Tin on Sunday (6 March). Galaxy Witness remains unbeaten after three starts, managing the rise in class and distance with aplomb with a driving triumph in the Class 3 Hyacinth Handicap…

Vintage Cheddar goes 3 from 3

NZHarnessNews

Former Southland pacer Vintage Cheddar has re-found his mojo on the other side of the Tasman. After struggling to re-capture his best form here the seven-year-old has gone three from three for new trainer Andy Gath. The latest win came at Melton over the weekend, with driver Kate Gath impressed at how the former Kiwi has adapted to Australian racing. “There’s no doubt this horse was up with New Zealand’s best when he was going good,” Kate Gath told the trots.com.au. “Andy liked him a couple of years ago when…

Allamericanlover back on track

NZHarnessNews

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Smiles were back on the faces of the Stonewall Stud team at Methven on Sunday when Allamericanlover was a dominant winner of the Hororata Cup (3000m). The Steve and Amanda Telfer-trained mare gave the dual-Island barn a bit of concern after the way she pulled up following her fourth placing in the Gr.1 NZ Breeders Stakes (2600m) at Addington Raceway last month, but showed she was back on track on Sunday. “She pulled up quite distressed after the Group One race and was a…

Mascarpone suffers season ending injury during exhibition gallop

NZRacingDesk

Last start Gr.1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m) winner Mascarpone (NZ) (Shooting To Win) has had his latest campaign halted after suffering a suspensory injury during an exhibition gallop at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Team Rogerson-trained five-year-old was preparing for a possible tilt at the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at the venue next Sunday when rider Ryan Elliot felt him falter in his action during his workout. A subsequent examination revealed heat in his off foreleg with the injury forcing a complete break from training and throws…

Waller confirms Verry Elleegant agenda

NZRacingDesk

Melbourne racing fans may have seen the last of champion mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) with Chris Waller confirming that the six-year-old would by-pass the All-Star Mile. The reigning Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) heroine received more votes than other runner in the $5 million event, to be run at Flemington on March 19, but Waller said she would run in the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on the same day. “There is a chance that her next two runs could be her last in Australia if we are to…

Swords Drawn on target for Auckland Cup bid

NZRacingDesk

A narrow but emphatic win in the traditional Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) lead-up event, the Nathans Memorial (2200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, has trainer Shaune Ritchie convinced he has enigmatic stayer Swords Drawn (Camelot) near his peak for the two-mile challenge. Ritchie will be looking for a measure of revenge with the six-year-old gelding he prepares in partnership with Colm Murray after Swords Drawn was hampered at a vital stage in the 2021 edition of the Cup, before running on resolutely to finish eighth behind Ocean Billy…

Tofane and Icebath into All-Star Mile

NZRacingDesk

Millionaire mares Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls) are officially in the race for the world’s richest mile race following the official withdrawals of Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) and stablemate Espiona (Extreme Choice) on Saturday. Racing Victoria announced on Saturday night that as first and second emergencies on the provisional list for the $5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on March 19, Tofane and Icebath were included when the Chris Waller pair were excluded. Verry Elleegant had topped The All-Star Mile polls and Espiona finished seventh…

Syndication a winner for Little Avondale

NZRacingDesk

Syndication is proving an invaluable tool in aiding Little Avondale Stud’s ongoing commitment to build on the quality of its broodmare band. The Bjorn Baker-trained Belluci Babe (NZ) (Per Incanto) is the latest success story for the Masterton farm following the dependable five-year-old’s victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick. Belluci Babe never saw an auction ring and was syndicated with the aim of adding race performance to her pedigree, as was Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto), also by stud resident Per Incanto, who is a…

Derby winner highlights another bumper day for Curraghmore

NZRacingDesk

On the eve of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Curraghmore’s Gordon Cunningham was again pleased to see the farm’s past-graduates do the talking on the track, no doubt paving the way for further confidence for the product he will present at auction this week.  The Karaka Sales will commence from 11am on Monday and pedigree updates don’t come much bigger than offering a full-sister to a Derby winner.  But that is exactly the position Cunningham finds himself in following the authoritative victory of Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) in Saturday’s…