Aussie News – February 5

by Adam Hamilton  It was a big night for the Kiwis at Menangle last night. Republican Party secured his Chariots Of Fire spot with an easy win in the Group 3 Hondo Grattan Stakes, while B D Joe made a move towards the Miracle Mile by winning the free-for-all. With Blair Orange at Melton, Carter Dalgety took the reins and coasted to a 4.2m win on Republican Party to win by 4.2m in a 1min52.4sec mile. It was really a dash home with a 26 sec flat last quarter. B…

Copy That suffers bleed in Honolua Bay’s Hunter Cup

By Adam Hamilton A minor bleed and 28-day ban for Kiwi star Copy That marred an otherwise memorable Hunter Cup at Melton last night, won by Honolua Bay and top driver David Moran. The setback continued Copy That’s horror run of “issues” on Melbourne raids, but trainer Ray Green is adamant it won’t impact his quest to win the $1 million Race by Grins at Cambridge on April 14. Copy That became fired-up after an unsuccessful burn to take the lead from pole marker Spirit Of St Louis. He over-raced…

Impressive Aquacade now Auckland Cup favourite

Smart stayer Aquacade (NZ) (Dundeel) put her rivals to the sword at Tauranga on Sunday, cruising to a six-and-a-half length win in the J.A. Russell Ltd 2100 on a Heavy 10 surface. The Lance Noble-trained mare has rocketed to favouritism in the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) with TAB Bookmakers marking the four-year-old as $4.50 market leader ahead of Dionysus, Ladies Man and Self Obsession who are all rated an $8 chance. Bred and raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, the Dundeel mare has now…

Phelan unveils promising staying 3yo

Three-year-old gelding Humboldt (NZ) (Sacred Falls) made a winning debut at Tauranga when landing the Kiwi Truck Tyres Maiden 3YO (1400m) and looks to have a bright future over ground. Despite being a trial winner, the son of Sacred Falls was sent out the $5.10 outsider in the four-horse field but proved a class above when coming from last under Kelsey Hannan to win going away by a length-and-a-half from favourite Our Milly Bee. Cambridge trainer Shaun Phelan was surprised by the lack of market support for his charge and…

Honest mare provides Beck with stakes triumph

A textbook ride from in-form jockey Jasmine Fawcett aided eight-year-old mare Honesty (NZ) (Postponed) to land the prize in the Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui on Saturday. The mare provided trainer Leda Beck with a breakthrough flat stakes victory. The Winton horsewoman has previously enjoyed good success with stable stalwart Firoden and Grand National Hurdle (4200m) winner Gargamel. “It was a big thrill,” Beck said. “My previous stakes win was Gargamel winning the Grand National.” Beck wasn’t on-track at Wingatui on Saturday and had…

Derby double for Mr. Beets

Brilliant young sprinter Mr. Beets celebrated back-to-back Derby victories with a dominant all-the-way win in the $29,920 Listed Western Districts Derby Final (450m) at Ballarat on Friday night. Owner/trainer Gary Peach’s Midas touch has continued, with Mr. Beets winning 10 of his 13 starts, his past four in a row, also including last month’s Warrnambool Derby. With Mr. Beets emerging as perhaps Victorian greyhound racing’s next big thing, Cape Clear-based Peach’s last four starters have all won. Australian Cup-bound Action Girl (31 wins from 45 starts) was victorious at Bendigo…

Hackett rates her chances at Hawera

by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Teal Pants ambassador Crystal Hackett looks a driver to follow on the second day of the Hawera meeting today. The talented junior driver’s good book of drives includes $3.80 favourite Nelson’s Boy in the day’s feature, the South Taranaki Club Hawera Cup Handicap Pace at 3.34pm. Nelson’s Boy was a hard luck story on Friday, galloping just as he looked like he was going to take out the Colin Jones Memorial Stratford Trotting Cup. He still managed third behind Hesashorething and Franco Hoffman.…

Qld thoroughbred racing to adopt lower Clenbuterol drug limit from April 1 2023

The racing industry’s latest move to crack down on drug cheats is to reduce the screening limit for the equine drug clenbuterol. Veterinarians prescribe clenbuterol to treat equine airway disease as a bronchodilator, however, in high doses it mimics the muscle-building properties of anabolic steroids. In accordance with a new International Screening Limit, Racing Australia (RA) has adopted a new, lower screening limit for clenbuterol that will apply to the thoroughbred and harness racing codes. The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC)’s Analytical Services will implement the lowered screening limit of…

Horse Racing History: This day in Racing 5th February

This day 5th February in horse racing news history From the extensive Horse Betting news archives we present the all the thoroughbred racing action in Australian and overseas racing news in history. Delve in and enjoy our walk back in horse racing time. Australia horse racing news 34 mins ago Qld thoroughbred racing to adopt lower Clenbuterol drug limit from April 1 2023 The racing industry’s latest move to crack down on drug cheats is to reduce the screening limit for the equine …Read More Australia horse racing news 2…

Rockhampton trainer & jockey couple banned for 6 months over animal welfare issues

The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) has disqualified two thoroughbred racing participants for six months for failing to provide proper and sufficient nutrition to two racehorses. Trainer Julieann Lancaster and Jockey Mark Barnham were charged after stewards conducted a stable inspection at the couple’s Rockhampton property and found retired racehorses Marquant and Perfectly Aligned in poor health and in need of proper food and care. Under Australian Rules of Racing AR 231(1)(b)(iv), a person in charge of a horse must not fail at any time to provide proper and sufficient…