Zac Purton bracing for the ultimate challenge in Stewards’ Cup

California Spangle is set for a rematch with Golden Sixty and Romantic Warrior. Revered as a master tactician, Zac Purton believes the HK$12 million Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) will be decided by the smallest factors as Hong Kong’s three top-rated horses – Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior and California Spangle – square off in a heavyweight clash at Sha Tin on Sunday. Assessing the potential pitfalls of a race which features three of the world’s premier gallopers against three multiple Group 1 victors – Waikuku, Russian Emperor and Panfield –…

Cranbourne meeting abandoned due to track condition

Cranbourne’s Friday night meeting has been abandoned. Despite it being a perfect Friday evening in Melbourne’s south-east, Friday night’s meeting at Cranbourne Turf Club has been abandoned due to the state of the track. The track in itself was rated a Good 4 in the lead-up to the opening event on the eight-race program. Senior jockey’s riding at the meeting conducted a track inspection and raised concerns over a part of the track in the home straight about 200m out from the winning post. Despite the firmness of the remainder…

Sunday’s Sha Tin racing preview & best bets | January 29, 2023

What Stewards’ Cup Day Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, January 29, 2023 First Race 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) Visit Ladbrokes Ever since the Hong Kong International Races, all punters have been thinking about is the possibility of the three stars of HK racing meeting up in the Stewards’ Cup, and that’s exactly what we get on Sunday afternoon. Golden Sixty, California Spangle and Romantic Warrior will all line up in the Group 1 over the 1600m, so make sure you…

O’Shea backing Pizarro to step up in Expressway Stakes

John O’Shea has confidence his developing four-year-old gelding Pizarro will step up to Group 2 level in the Expressway Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. John O’Shea is backing improving sprinter Pizarro to step up and compete well against stars Golden Mile and Forbidden Love in the Expressway Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The four-year-old goes into the $250,000 feature over 1200m as a $9 winning chance with online bookmakers. Last year’s Canterbury Stakes and George Ryder Stakes winner for Michael Freedman, Forbidden Love, is a $3 fancy. Reigning Caulfield…

Sapphire Coast racing tips, top odds & quaddie | Sunday 29/1/2023

What Sapphire Coast Races Where Sapphire Coast Turf Club – 1695 Sapphire Coast Dr, Wallagoot NSW 2550 When Sunday, January 29, 2023 First Race 1:15pm AEDT Visit Ladbrokes Country racing heads to the Sapphire Coast on Sunday afternoon for a competitive eight-race program. We’ve got two feature races with a combined total of $130,000 of prizemoney on offer in the Showcase Sprint and Showcase Cup. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit for race-day, and while the track is listed as a Good 4, predicted rain on…

Cunningham counting down to Karaka

Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham is heading into Karaka 2023 in a buoyant mood after the success of his farm’s graduates last year. The farm had four individual Group One winners and seven individual stakes winners, showcasing the quality of athlete raised at the Waikato thoroughbred nursery. “All those horses give you every encouragement that there are more good horses to excel from the same paddocks as they grew up in,” Cunningham said. Curraghmore will offer a 27-strong Book 1 draft, with the sale kicking off at 11am on Sunday, and…

Group One farewell program for quality mare

Well-performed mare Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) will see out her career in the best of company before she is likely to be sold as a broodmare prospect. The daughter of Shamexpress is a dual top-flight winner and will strip in top order when she bids to add to her record in the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Coventina Bay finished runner-up two starts back in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) before she was unplaced after beginning awkwardly in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and will now…