By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Robert Dunn has long held Master Musician as the best horse he has trained, his email address even bears the pacers name, but his near 30-year reign in that pinnacle spot could be coming to an end. Sundees Son is quickly coming after that crown and inched closer at Addington Raceway on Friday when taking out the Gr.1 Fred Shaw Memorial NZ Trotting Championship (2600m). It was the ninth Group One victory for the seven-year-old gelding and he once again stamped himself as the…
Month: April 2022
Darling Me set to sizzle again
By Jonny Turner After lighting up Southland last month, Darling Me returns on Saturday with the Southern Belle Speed Series Final in her sights. The Steve and Amanda Telfer trained mare heads south after blitzing her opposition in a sensational 1.51.8 mile time in a heat of the series when was last seen south of the Waitaki. That effort, before running second to Heza Sport on a premier night at Addington, came from s tough draw in barrier 9. Driver Tim Williams is looking forward to the mare being handed…
Compliance romps to Ballarat glory
Rising star Compliance claimed his first Group event on Friday night when turning the G2 SJC Concreting Ballarat Cup final (450m) into a one-act affair with an explosive front-running exhibition. Trained at Pearcedale by school teacher Karen Pitt, Compliance was lining up in his third feature final, having led everywhere bar the winning post when runner-up in the G1 Silver Chief on New Year’s Day and finishing unplaced in last month’s G2 Shepparton Cup final. The complexion of the Cup final changed dramatically on Thursday with the shock scratching of…
Steward reporting model set to change
GRV’s Stewards Reports are set to be modernised in a change that will affect some form guides. A new Steward reporting model will come into effect at Victorian greyhound race meetings from Monday 11 April that will use a more concise, integrity and outcome-based approach consistent with Stewards Reports produced in other jurisdictions and racing codes. Victorian Stewards Reports will continue to include vital regulatory information such as swab samples, suspensions, stand-downs, inquiries, late scratchings, race incidents, veterinary examinations and satisfactory trial outcomes. However, to improve accuracy and efficiency in…
Tigertiger to relish heavy conditions
It’s looming as another Heavy track in Sydney on Saturday for day two of The Championships and while some trainers are lamenting the expected conditions, Rob Blacker is unfazed. In what’s a competitive Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) field, the Mornington-based horseman knows a strenuous two miles on a Heavy surface suits Zed six-year-old Tigertiger. “He’s been trained specifically for two miles, he’ll run the trip, the only thing that will maybe find us out would be class,” Blacker told Racing.com. “A couple of them might be too sharp for us,…
Grand Annual hero Gold Medals retired
Grand Annual Steeplechase hero Gold Medals has run his last race, with trainer Symon Wilde confirming the gelding’s retirement from racing on Friday. The rising 13-year-old was being prepared for a fifth-consecutive run in the race that he has never finished further back than second in, but Wilde said he told the horse’s owners on Thursday that the veteran was struggling to make it to event after suffering some soft-tissue injuries in his preparation. “It’s a really good way to go out,” Wilde said. “The team has managed him brilliantly…
Candle lights up at Awapuni
A stakes target is now in the offing for promising filly Candle after her impressive win in the Rich Hill Stud Autumn Sprint Series Qualifier (1100m) at Awapuni on Friday. The daughter of Super Easy settled midfield for jockey Johnathan Parkes who had to navigate to the extreme outside when turning for home where Candle was able to show her superior turn of foot to run home a 1-1/2 length victor over Bradman, with a further short neck back to Pure Incanto in third. Candle now boasts two wins and…
Charms Star lands important Group victory
Trainer Lisa Latta was confident of a good showing from Group One performer Charms Star in Friday’s Gr.3 JAPAC Homes Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) at Awapuni and under a positive Wiremu Pinn ride the four-year-old mare narrowly saluted from the fast-finishing favourite Sinarahma, with Samiam Seussie back in third. Latta and Pinn combined for a treble on the day with Wild Moose and Lincoln Star also successful on the undercard, but it was a case of job well done with Charms Star. A daughter of Per Incanto, Charms Star had…
Didham looking to Mazzini to continue stable roll
Peter Didham’s stable was in imperious form at Wanganui on Thursday and he is bullish about adding black type to his haul at Riccarton this weekend when progressive filly Mazzini opens a two-race southern campaign. The Awapuni trainer produced Champers, Heidi Belle and St Nancy to win on Thursday with all carrying the colours of Wellfield Lodge’s Bill Gleeson and also a breakthrough success for Miss Sailor added to his tally. “It was a very good day, it was a pity it was a midweeker and not a Saturday but…
Hoard The Bourbon on Queensland Derby path
Trainer Stephen Marsh was delighted with the performance of promising three-year-old Hoard The Bourbon, who took out The Oaks Stud 3YO 1600 at Awapuni on Friday. The son of Iffraaj previously won well at Matamata when resuming, having shown good ability last spring in a campaign that was cut short. “He’s a horse we have always thought was well above average,” Marsh said. “He was nominated for the 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m). His run in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) was very good where he ran the best sectionals…