The tight-knit Gippsland greyhound racing fraternity is mourning the loss of a ‘favourite son’ – Lindsay Franklin, 57. A popular long-time ‘catcher’ in the region, Franklin was hit by a car on McNairn Road around 9.30pm while walking home from a Traralgon meeting last Wednesday night. He suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital in a critical condition but later died. The driver of the car involved in the fatal collision stopped at the scene and assisted police with their enquiries. A genial character, Franklin was loved by all…
Year: 2022
Topgun hero hits Hobart
After being somewhat surprisingly overlooked for a slot in The Phoenix, Topgun winner Photo Man will be at the forefront of an imposing Victorian presence in Thursday night’s heats of the Group 1 Hobart Thousand (461m). Photo Man, trained by Gavin Clifton and cousin David McKenzie, came off the reserves bench to claim a brilliant all-the-way victory in the G1 Topgun at The Meadows on the opening night of the Dream Chasers Festival. While three of the beaten brigade from the Topgun will line up in the $1.65 million The…
Three charged over Birdsville jigger photo
The photo snapped by Sharon Chapman captured Ric McMahon using a jigger during trackwork. The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) has charged thoroughbred trainer Todd Austin and jockey Ric McMahon with possession of a ‘jigger’, and for providing false or misleading evidence at an inquiry. The charges relate to an incident at trackwork during the Birdsville Cup race meeting in August this year. Austin has also been charged with commissioning an act of cruelty to registered thoroughbred Hemmerle when he engaged McMahon to ride the horse at Birdsville on August…
Golden Sixty’s after more history with a Hong Kong Mile hat-trick
Golden Sixty stretches out on the grass. Already deemed an immortal of Hong Kong racing, Golden Sixty will chase further lustre to his incredible record this Sunday when he takes aim at joining Good Ba Ba with a third successive HK$30 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) triumph. Good Ba Ba won the race in 2007, 2008 and 2009, while Golden Sixty has won the past two editions (2020 & 2021); this weekend the brilliant son of Medaglia d’Oro – who holds Hong Kong’s all-time earnings record (HK$116,250,600) –…
Rookie trainer Pierre Ng chasing HKIR glory
Pierre Ng is striving for Group 1 glory. It is testament to Pierre Ng’s ambition and talent he is preparing two runners for this year’s Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) in just his first season with a trainers’ licence. The Hong Kong training ranks are famously intense but, it is a world to which Ng is well accustomed, having first ridden work for his father Peter in 2007. The trainer can also draw on experience gained with fellow decorated local trainers John Size, Paul O’Sullivan and Francis Lui, while his…
Invador rehab continues in Waikato Cup
Platinum Invador will contest the Group 3 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell Lisa Latta should get a good guide to how the rehabilitation of top stayer Platinum Invador is going when he joins stablemate Charms Star in the Group 3 Waikato Cup (2400m) on Saturday. Charms Star and Platinum Invador head to the feature at Te Rapa after finishing second and fourth, respectively, in the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) last month. Platinum Invador was one of New Zealand’s best middle-distance horses between 2019 and…
Taranaki trio still going strong
Shamus winning at Trentham last Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock and brothers Noel and Ron Stanley have enjoyed a three-decade long association and success continues to roll for the trio. Over the years, they have also become firm friends and revelled in feature races victories from the likes of Grout, Wahid and Woburn. “I’ve been training for the boys for a lot of years. It’s at least 30 because I’ve been going for 40 years and even when Dad (Bob) was with…
Rejuvenated Hong Kong on display with IJC at Happy Valley
A galaxy of stars as the IJC cast assembles. Wednesday night’s International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley will feature the world’s best jockeys and send the first signal of a rejuvenated Hong Kong, according to Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club. “We have demonstrated that Hong Kong is back open again and this is the first phase of our opening. We hope next year to welcome tourists again but the first step was to welcome the top trainers, jockeys and owners and that…
Purton expects competitive racing as he bids for IJC hat-trick
Zac Purton is a three-time LONGINES IJC winner. Zac Purton is anticipating a tough ride in his bid for a fourth International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday, December 7. The five-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey won the championship in 2017 as well as the last two years but thinks this year’s edition has a fierce look to it. “It’s always the unknown,” he said. “I’ve just picked up my rides and I haven’t had a chance to digest their chances and the opposition yet, but one thing I…
Manzoice’s VRC Derby win the highlight for Waller in 2022
Manzoice, ridden by Michael Dee, wins the Victoria Derby at Flemington Racecourse on October 29, 2022. (George Sal/Racing Photos) Manzoice’s stunning Victoria Derby win typified master trainer Chris Waller’s uncanny ability to have his horses peaking for the big races. They were the thoughts of Waller’s foreman at Warwick Farm, Craig Ritchie. When asked to summarise yet another outstanding year for the premier New South Wales stable, Ritchie said Manzoice’s victory in the $2 million Group 1 feature over 2500m was of extra significance to him. Ritchie has worked closely…