Day: 2 October 2022

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s endeavours to make the best of a difficult situation in the wake of Saturday’s Hastings abandonment have met with the approval of the majority but not all stakeholders. The cancellation due to a water-logged track of the second day of the Hawke’s Bay Racing spring carnival has resulted in the Gr. 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and Gr. 2 AHD Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) being rescheduled to next Saturday’s Team Wealleans Matamata Cup day. The original Matamata programme remains unaltered, resulting in the unusual scenario of…

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s endeavours to make the best of a difficult situation in the wake of Saturday’s Hastings abandonment have met with the approval of the majority but not all stakeholders. The cancellation due to a water-logged track of the second day of the Hawke’s Bay Racing spring carnival has resulted in the Gr. 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and Gr. 2 AHD Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) being rescheduled to next Saturday’s Team Wealleans Matamata Cup day. The original Matamata programme remains unaltered, resulting in the unusual scenario of…

Talented staying three-year-old Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) touched down in Sydney on Sunday as he prepares for a two-start campaign in the Harbour City. The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained gelding will step out in Saturday’s Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Randwick where Ben Melham is booked to ride. A son of Redwood, Sharp ‘N’ Smart won over 1400m at Ruakaka in early September and enjoyed a hit-out at the Waipa trials last week to fine-tune him for Saturday’s assignment. “He flew over this morning (Sunday) and looks fantastic,” Graeme…

It’s all systems go for Cambridge Stud bred stayer Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock) with a possible start in the Caulfield Cup before she fronts up again for another tilt at the Melbourne Cup. Tralee Rose’s trainer Symon Wilde said the results of her recent scintigraphy at the Ballarat Veterinary Clinic gave him the all clear to continue with her spring campaign. Wilde said they had done small treatments on her niggling issues and she was right to go. “We’ve ticked all the boxes and given her every opportunity. She’s ready…

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard knew in the early stages of the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu that star New Zealand bred mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) would not be in the finish of the French feature over 2800m. The 2021 Melbourne Cup-winner failed to fire a shot eventually finishing seventh in the field of 10 runners after jumping from what was expected to be an advantageous inside draw. “She had the worst scenario possible,” a despondent Graffard said post-race. “At the first bend, when I saw where we were, I said…

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER

A powerful Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) audition by Mr Maestro capped a special day at the office at Flemington on Saturday for Andrew Forsman. The Cambridge trainer saddled two runners, and both won stakes races. Group One-winning filly She’s Licketysplit took out the Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m), and then four hours later in the final race on the card, Mr Maestro strode to a dominant win in the Listed ABC Bullion Super Impose Stakes (1800m). “It’s been a great day, two for two and I’m really rapt with how…