Self Assured wins second Auckland Cup

Backed into $1.40, Self Assured duly delivered in tonight’s Group One Trillian Trust Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park. It was the second Auckland Cup for Self Assured after winning in 2019. It was driver Natalie Rasmusssen’s second win too, after Vincent’s triumph in 2017. With regular driver and co-trainer Mark Purdon suspended this was Rasmussen’s first drive behind the superstar pacer and the win didn’t come without some anxious moments. Rasmussen made a mid race move to take the lead only for South Coast Arden to loop the field and…

Bolt For Brilliance upsets in Rowe Cup

The Tony Herlihy-trained and driven Bolt For Brilliance has beaten hotpot Sundees Son in tonight’s Reharvest Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park. Bolt For Brilliance went to the lead early in the 3200 metre Group One feature and while Sundees Son remain parked over the final lap, the defending champion couldn’t peg back the northern star as Bolt For Brilliance careered away. Temporale finished second with Sundees Son back in third. Bolt For Brilliance paid $4.30 for the win, the winning time was 4.01.24 It was his 18th career win in…

Taksu looming as Pike’s best chance on Queensland Derby Day

Star jockey William Pike is confident about Taksu’s chances for Joe Pride in the $250,000 BRC Sprint (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) Star jockey William Pike believes Taksu gives him his best chance of saluting in what will be a bumper afternoon of rides at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Pike will compete in eight of the 10 races scheduled for Queensland Derby Day, and he has plenty of confidence in Joe Pride’s six-year-old for the $250,000 BRC Sprint (1300m). The $6.50 winning chance with Ladbrokes has…

Our Destrier in Darwin Cup contention for Hann

Bendigo trainer Kym Hann (Picture: Racing Photos) The $200,000 Darwin Cup (2050m) is not until August 1, but at this early stage Bendigo trainer Kym Hann might well have a serious contender. Our Destrier will turn six years of age should he get a start in the Northern Territory’s feature race of the year and he definitely brings decent recent form to the Top End. The Zoustar gelding has only had 17 starts since debuting in a 1100m Bendigo maiden as a two-year-old, but three of his five career wins…

Manning looking to jump up the podium at Darwin Cup Carnival

Darwin trainer Jason Manning and partner Vanessa Arnott, an accomplished jockey in the Northern Territory, taking their horses for an early morning swim at East Point on the Darwin Harbour. Jason Manning has been training in the Top End for some 16 years, and just like his fellow counterparts he’s very much looking forward to the Darwin Cup Carnival. And who could blame Manning after he came within a whisker of taking out the two feature races last year. Agonisingly, Niewand finished second in the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) behind…

Kiwis get Flying Start with Godolphin

Godolphin has selected a dozen up-and-comers from around the world for the 2022-2024 edition of its Flying Start programme, including New Zealanders Liam Cunningham and Annabel Adams. The Kiwi pair will be joined by 10 others from Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Beginning in August at Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, the two-year programme gives trainees the opportunity to learn and experience management operations and leadership in the global thoroughbred industry with phases in Ireland, the UK, the USA, Australia, and Dubai. The…

Sargent hoping to toast with Gin Martini

John Sargent is hoping he will be toasting to a Gin Martini victory at Eagle Farm on Saturday when she contests the Gr.2 The Roses (2100m). The daughter of Rip Van Winkle placed in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) last month before resuming in the in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) earlier this month where she finished fourth. “She was a bit fresh that day. She had a week off after the Oaks and I think she will improve with that run,” Sargent told RacingHQ. “Mark Du Plessis galloped…

Pike after Derby spoils

Trainer Tony Pike is hoping the turnaround in weather can play into the hands of his Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) contender Tutukaka at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Usually lapping up the Queensland sun at this time of year, Pike and his fellow Kiwi raiders have been experiencing a deluge of rain, more accustomed to their homeland. While Pike hasn’t appreciated the inclement conditions, he is pleased to see the weather fine up ahead of Saturday’s racing. “The weather has only started to turn around in the last 24 hours. It’s…

Memsie target for Tofane

Trainer Mike Moroney’s association with four-time Group One winner Tofane is set to continue. The Flemington trainer farewelled the New Zealand-bred mare before she was sold to Yulong Investments on the Gold Coast, but to his delight he was approached to continue training the daughter of Ocean Park into the early stages of the spring. “We thought that she would make at least A$3 million, and she made A$3.1 million,” Moroney told RSN. “I was quite lucky afterwards – Yulong approached me and said they were going to put her…

Fannin seeking first training win

Top jumps jockey Shaun Fannin has been enjoying another aspect of racing lately – training. The Central Districts horseman took out his trainer’s license last season and now has half a dozen horses in work at Awapuni. “I pottered around with one or two horses last year and now I have got seven or eight around me,” last season’s New Zealand Champion Jumps Jockey said. “That is where I want to head in the future. Those seven or eight keep me really busy with the jumping at the moment.” Fannin…