After a strong six days of trading at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 97th National Yearling Sales Series, final results have been accumulated for its Book 1 and Book 2 yearling sessions held from 29 January to 3 February. This year’s Sale saw the return of international buyers and pre-pandemic hospitality in full swing at the iconic Karaka Sales Centre. Over six days of selling at Karaka 2023, 742 yearlings sold for an aggregate of $82,158,500, an increase of over $7.7 million on last year’s figure. The combined average has risen from…
Month: February 2023
Sharrock tries different Cup approach for Ladies Man
Smart stayer Ladies Man (NZ) (Zed) will back up in consecutive weeks in his attempt to win the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on March 11. Ladies Man started a hot favourite for the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) last month after winning the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) a fortnight beforehand. He wasn’t ideally suited by the very heavy track for the Wellington Cup and jockey Craig Grylls wasn’t able to get to the favoured outside rail, as eventual winner Leaderboard (Street Cry) did. However, his trainer…
Dainton ‘stuck in the middle!’
Glenn Dainton is ‘stuck in the middle’. But borrowing from the catchy 1970s tune, ‘It’s so hard to keep this smile from his face’. Dainton’s remarkable affinity with middle distance greyhounds continued when Dookie Devil careered away with the $121,500 Group 1 Sportsbet Rookie Rebel invitational (600m) on the opening night of the ‘Unmissable’ Australian Cup Carnival. It was the Cosgrove owner/trainer/breeder’s second G1 victory; his first also came over The Meadows’ 600m course, when Black Impala won the Hume Cup in 2018. Dainton also trained 2013 Hume Cup runner-up…
Polygon to take on Australia’s best fillies
An autumn Australian campaign has been locked in for Polygon. Photo Credit: Kirstin Ledington Increased opportunities for Polygon to add to her stakes record have encouraged her connections to lock in an autumn campaign in Australia. The Cambridge Stud-bred and raced filly has been in grand form this preparation and bypassing the Group 2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) due to a heavy track earlier this month was another factor in looking further afield. “We changed tack after missing that and had a good think about it,” said Lance Noble, private trainer…
McNeil, True Mettle looking to kick on after drought-breaking win
Logan McNeil after True Mettle’s win at Werribee Racecourse on February 12. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) After returning to the winners’ circle in style at Werribee on Sunday, jockey Logan McNeil is hoping another country cup title is not far away. The apprentice rider helped True Mettle finish strongly, winning a 0-58 Handicap by three-quarters of a length in the last of a seven-race card. It was McNeil’s first victory since taking out the Burrumbeet Cup with Ashy Boy on New Year’s Day. “Running super. We had a beautiful run in…
Today’s horse racing tips & best bets | February 14, 2023
Horse Racing on Tuesday, February 14 will feature three meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for the meeting at Hawkesbury. Tuesday Racing Tips – February 14, 2023 Hawkesbury Racing Tips As always there a plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans, check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on February 14, 2023 check out our…
Kensington betting tips & quaddie picks – February 15, 2023
What Randwick-Kensington Races Where Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 When Wednesday, February 15, 2023 First Race 2:20pm AEDT Visit Ladbrokes Metropolitan racing heads to Royal Randwick Racecourse on Wednesday afternoon for a competitive seven-race program on the Kensington track. The rail has moved out +5m the entire circuit for the meeting and the track is currently rated in the good range for race-day. We should be playing on a relatively fair surface on Wednesday with the rail out. The first race is set to get underway…
‘Cyclone Gabrielle’ causes havoc with New Zealand Racing
La Crique winning the 2022 Avondale Guineas. Photo Credit: Trish Dunell On Monday afternoon, New Zealand Horse Racing officials made an early call to abandon the Tauranga race meeting that was scheduled to be held on Wednesday. The decision comes due to the current storm that has and continues to cause major flooding and related damage across the top of the North Island. Whilst no doubt taking into account that ‘Cyclone Gabrielle’ is still to make its arrival. The Tauranga race meeting that was scheduled to be held on Wednesday,…
Purdon announces change of focus at All Stars
By Michael Guerin Champion harness trainer Mark Purdon has revealed the extent of his thoroughbred training ambitions as his All Stars stable gets ready for its next evolution. Purdon is in the north this week preparing for the Harness Million meeting at Cambridge on Friday night and will have a small team based here through until Auckland Cup time in late May. After recently being joined in partnership by his son Nathan he says the most feared stable in harness racing continues to undergo changes as Purdon seeks new professional…
Devenport duo primed for Manawatu
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Otaki trainer Wendy Devenport is hoping she can take home a couple of cheques when she heads to Manawatu Raceway on Tuesday. The Elite Athlete will have his fourth start for Devenport after joining her barn earlier this year where he has placed on two occasions, including last start at Hawera. The Betting Line gelding will be having his first start at the Palmerston North track in the Wenham Seeds Mobile Pace (2000m) and has drawn handy in gate two. “He has been quite…