Talented three-year-old Hokkaido overcame a rocky run to score an impressive victory in the A$150,000 Precise Air Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday. A late-finishing eighth on his Australian debut at Randwick late last month, the New Zealand-bred son of Satono Aladdin took a big step forward second-up. With Kathy O’Hara in the saddle, Hokkaido was checked soon after leaving the starting gates and dropped out to the tail of the nine-horse field. Checked again when he was starting to warm up in the home straight, Hokkaido regathered himself and…
Month: January 2023
Codigo heads early Marsh treble
Trainer Stephen Marsh made the early stages of the 2023 Trentham summer carnival all his own as he capped an opening treble with exciting two-year-old Codigo taking out the Listed IRT Wellesley Stakes (1100m). Marsh commenced with wins by Mercurial and Laneway Flirting and believed he had a great chance to make it three in a row with the son of Ardrossan, after the showy bay had won narrowly but impressively on debut at Matamata earlier in the month. Rider Michael McNab had Codigo quickly away from his inside barrier…
Buster Bash thrashes rivals in Group 2 Perth Cup
Buster Bash destroyed his rivals in the 2023 Group 2 Perth Cup. Photo: Western Racepix Shaun Mcgruddy and David Harrison have combined with Buster Bash thrashing the field in the Group 2 Perth Cup, with all involved, trainer, jockey and horse winning their maiden Perth Cup. After a fall marred the race two weeks ago, 16 of the runners turned up again on Saturday to do it all over again, and the five-year-old son of Trade Fair showed that he was a level above, running away with a dominant 4.2…
Frankie Lor eyes more Four-Year-Old Classic Series opportunities
Frankie Lor has 29 wins this season so far. Bidding to bolster already formidable Four-Year-Old Classic Series achievements, Frankie Lor will attempt to strengthen his 2022/23 arsenal when stablemates A Pal and Can’t Go Wong clash in the Class 2 Yuen Long Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. Lor’s band of contenders for the lucrative HK$48 million series, which kicks off with the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on January 29, is headed by 100-rater Keefy but the reigning Hong Kong champion trainer is also hoping A…
Muswellbrook best bets & quaddie tips | January 16, 2023
What Muswellbrook Races Where Muswellbrook Race Club – Racecourse Rd, Muswellbrook NSW 2333 When Monday, January 16, 2023 First Race 1:50pm AEDT Visit Ladbrokes The Muswellbrook Race Club will host a competitive seven-race program, as one of the two race meetings being held this Monday. The track is currently rated a Good 4 and with the warm weather on the forecast for Sunday and Monday, we expect to see a firm track come race day. The rail will be in the True position for the entire circuit, when racing gets…
Sha Tin racing preview, best bets & quaddie | January 15, 2023
What Sha Tin Races Where Sha Tin Racecourse – Tai Po Rd, Sha Tin District, Hong Kong When Sunday, January 15, 2022 First Race 1pm HKT (4pm AEDT) Visit Ladbrokes Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin Racecourse this Sunday afternoon for a competitive 10-race program. We come from a Happy Valley meeting on Wednesday night dominated by Silvestre de Sousa riding four winners, including the January Cup feature at Group 3 level. There isn’t any Group racing this weekend, however we do see some key gallopers step out for…
Snapper all the way in Standish for Sir Patrick
Three days after Sir Patrick Hogan was farewelled with a funeral service in Hamilton, the legendary New Zealand breeder’s influence was yet again felt in black-type company as Snapper scored a bold front-running victory in the Gr.3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. The A$250,000 sprint feature was the first stakes success for Snapper, who was bred by Sir Patrick in partnership with his wife Lady Justine Hogan. A son of Power and the stakes-placed One Cool Cat mare Onlyarose, Snapper was a $60,000 purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock…
Cognito and Bosson sensational in Guineas
Having shown a glimpse of real promise in his first preparation, a bigger and better Cognito announced his arrival among New Zealand’s three-year-old ranks in Saturday’s Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham – aided by an extraordinary ride from Opie Bosson. The son of So You Think began his career in the spring, winning on debut at Taupo before a narrow defeat to star three-year-old Sharp ’N’ Smart at Ruakaka. He spent the rest of his spring at Riccarton, making three starts for a win in the Guineas…
Levante the queen of the Trentham turf once again
Champion sprinting mare Levante returned to the scene of her inaugural Group One victory on Saturday and made it back-to-back triumphs in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) after another titanic struggle in the home straight. Last year its was subsequent dual Australian Group One winner Roch ‘N’ Horse that went within a nose of victory against the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained daughter of Proisir, while this year it was last start Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) runner-up Babylon Berlin who went to war with her in the closing…
Ladies Man cements his Wellington Cup claim
Progressive galloper Ladies Man cemented his claims to start favourite in the Gr.3 NZ Campus for Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) in a fortnight with a solid staying effort to take out Saturday’s Gr.3 Mode Technology Trentham Stakes (2100m). The Allan Sharrock-trained five-year-old turned the tables on his last start conqueror Sagunto, when he ran down the tearaway pacemaker in the shadows of the Trentham winning post after Sagunto had looked like he would lead all the way in the Group Three feature. Sharrock went within a neck of…